As it happened: Purple reign extends to 24 straight Round 1 wins

Super Cooper: In 23 minutes of game time debutant Cooper Clarke had nine runs for 85 metres and three tackle breaks before leaving the field clutching his ribs.

Stats tell the tale: The numbers will make ugly reading for Jason Ryles with his team making just two line breaks compared to 13 by the Storm and 1234 run metres as opposed to 2092 metres. That's two years in a row the Eels have ventured to AAMI Park in Round 1 and been taught a lesson - 56-18 last year and 52-4 tonight. With only 41 per cent of possession for the night and a completion rate of 62 per cent the Eels gave themselves little hope of quelling the Storm.

Double ton: Stefano Utoikamanu ran for a career-high 242 metres from 19 runs and was ably supported by edge forwards Joe Chan (15 runs for 181m) and Ativalu Lisati (18 runs for 147m).

Full-time: That's 24 consecutive Round 1 wins for the Storm with Sua Faalogo and Harry Grant bagging doubles. The livewire fullback ran for 173 metres and racked up five line break assists while Grant toyed with the Eels around the ruck.

77 min: A razzle dazzle special from the Storm to bring up a half century as Tyran Wishart breaks free and picks up Tui Kamikamica before the big man offloads for Cameron Munster and the champ sends the last pass to Sua Faalogo who completes a double. Nick Meaney makes it eight from nine for the night. Storm 52-4.

74 min: Will Warbrick leaves the field for a HIA.

74 min: Preston Conn comes on for his NRL debut for the Storm.

73 min: A rare error from the Storm as Josh King puts the ball down and the Eels get a reprieve.

67 min: Another set, another try! Cameron Munster picks up a low pass and then grubbers into the in goal for Ativalu Lisati to follow through and score. Nick Meaney fails to convert. Storm 46-4.

66 min: More drama for the Eels when Bailey Simonsson is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul after laying all Stefano Utoikamanu, who had made 50 metres with a monster run.

64 min: Moses Leo explodes into the back field and after he is dragged down it's another Storm speedster, Sua Faalogo, who chips over the top and regathers to dot down under the posts. The onslaught continues. Storm 42-4.

60 min: Harry Grant hobbles off the field and slumps to the ground to be treated by a trainer for an apparent hamstring injury. Cooper Clarke also goes off with a suspected rib injury.

56 min: Slick Storm hands to the left with Cameron Munster finding Sua Faalogo who sends Moses Leo over for another try as the Eels defence is cut to ribbons. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 36-4.

55 min: Debutant Cooper Clarke powers over the stripe and tries desperately to ground the ball but loses the ball in a three-man tackle.

54 min: Isaiah Iongi spills a bomb and Ryley Smith picks it up in an offside position. Storm penalty.

51 min: Two six-again calls go the Storm's way as they dominate the ruck and Harry Grant cashes in with a trademark try out of dummy half despite the efforts of two defenders to try and stop him. Grant now has two tries, 79 run metres and four tackle breaks in a stellar display. Storm 30-4.

47 min: The mastery of Harry Grant at dummy half earns the Storm a six-again and their superstars go to work with Jahrome Hughes putting Joe Chan through a hole untouched for Melbourne's fourth try. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 24-4.

44 min: A poor offload by J'maine Hopgood turns the ball over in good field position.

43 min: Jahrome Hughes chooses to run the ball on the last and is swallowed up by the Eels defence.

Prop star: Stefano Utoikamanu got through 11 runs for 111 metres and ensured the Storm took control of the middle. He was ably supported by bench man Tui Kamikamica, who had eight runs for 75 metres in 23 minutes of game time.

Half-time: Eight errors in the first half have hurt the Eels after they made a fast start. Centre Will Penisini ran for 100 metres for Parra and looked dangerous while fullback Isaiah Iongi came up with six tackle breaks.

39 min: Jonah Pezet drifts across the line but Joe Chan shuts him down and forces an error with a solid tackle.

38 min: A big moment for Storm teenager Cooper Clarke as he enters the game on NRL debut.

37 min: On the back of a six-again call the Eels mount concerted pressure and Kitione Kautoga is dragged down just short. He loses the ball as he tries to play it and the opportunity is lost.

31 min: Isaiah Iongi leaves the field for a HIA. The Eels' No.19 Joash Papalii enters the game. Iiongi passed the HIA and returned after half-time.

29 min: A brilliant kick return by Isaiah Iongi puts the Eels on the attack and Will Penisini follows up with a barnstorming charge towards the corner, three Storm defenders needed to deny him.

27 min: Jahrome Hughes jumps into dummy half from close range and picks up Jack Howarth who plunges over for the Storm's third try. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 18-4.

26 min: A poor offload by Junior Paulo hands the ball back to the Storm who then receive a penalty for a high shot by Brian Kelly on Sua Faalogo.

24 min: Jahrome Hughes goes to the air and Will Warbrick brings the ball down but is swamped by the Eels defence.

23 min: Brian Kelly has his arm chopped by Joe Chan as he tries to pass the ball. The referee rules a knock on. The Eels lodge a captain's challenge and come up empty.

20 min: The sides trade errors through Jack Williams and Joe Chan and it's the Eels who make the most of their chance to make big ground down the right through Mitch Moses and Will Penisini, who is dragged down just short.

15 min: A piece of Harry Grant magic as he scoops the ball up at dummy half and busts the Eels open to dart 30 metres and score. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 12-4.

14 min: A turnover by the Eels after Jonah Pezet spills a Sean Russell offload and the Storm take over on halfway.

11 min: The Storm hit back through Will Warbrick courtesy of a superb long ball from Jahrome Hughes. The conversion from wide out is a beauty from Nick Meaney. Storm 6-4.

5 min: On the back of a Moses Leo error under a high ball the Eels strike on the left when Mitch Moses and Jonah Pezet combine before Isaiah Iongi tips on for Sean Russell to score. Moses fails to convert. Eels 4-0.

2 min: The Eels are under the pump but a three-man tackle forces an error from Stefano Utoikamanu and the blue and gold come away.

1 min: Alec MacDonald catches J'maine Hopgood's shoulder as he takes a hit-up and leaves the field for a HIA. Hopgood is placed on report and sent to the sin bin for direct contact to the head. MacDonald is ruled a Category 1 and will not return.

Late Mail

Storm: No changes in Thursday's final team update, with Davvy Moale, Cooper Clarke and Preston Conn still in contention to make their Storm debut off the six-man bench as Craig Bellamy looks to keep his 23-year Round 1 winning streak alive. Jack Howarth will make an early return from a groin injury and will line up in the centres, with Moses Leo the other centre and Nick Meaney shifting to the wing in place of the injured Xavier Coates. 

Eels: Parramatta will also line up 1-19 after confirming an unchanged side in the 90-minute update. Jordan Samrani was the man to drop out after Charlie Guymer and Teancum Brown dropped out of the squad in Wednesday's team update. The absence of Josh Addo-Carr (thumb) will see Sean Russell line up on the wing and Brian Kelly make his club debut in the centres. 

Numbers Game

• The Storm are aiming for their 23rd consecutive Round 1 victory.
• Storm hooker Harry Grant has scored eight tries in his last seven games against the Eels.
• The Eels have won only one of their last five games at AAMI Park.
• The Storm have won their last five games against the Eels.