For the past 18 years the Storm have won their first game of the NRL season, while Souths have never beaten Melbourne in Melbourne.

In fact, across 33 games at any stadium the Rabbitohs have beaten the Storm just five times and only twice in the past decade.

The numbers make for terrible reading for Rabbitohs fans, but hooker Damien Cook said it's a good time to break the streak.

"It's not the best record," he said.

"We haven't won down there and I think Bellamy has got a good record of round one victories as well.

"But records are made to be broken.

"I enjoy it down there.

"One of the good things about footy and all sports is you want to come up against the benchmark of the competition and at the moment they are, they have been for a while."

This year is the first time since 2002 the Storm are starting a season without former skipper Cameron Smith in the side with the veteran hooker yet to make a call on his career.

There is no doubt his absence is a huge loss to the Melbourne side, but Souths are wary of putting too much focus on who isn't there and forgetting who is.

To Cook, Melbourne is still Melbourne without Cameron Smith.

"We've seen players go down there who were on the bench for another team and their careers have gone to another level down there," Cook said.

"I know they're missing Cameron Smith but they're lucky enough to have two other hookers ready to go.

"(Cameron) Munster is a big part of their team, and Cameron Smith controlled the game very well and that's what the other hookers will do.

"They'll get some go forward and allow (Ryan) Papenhuyzen and Munster to do their thing off the back of it."

Australian Associated Press