Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos highlights: NRL live scores, blog

Expert

16th March, 2017

12779 Reads

Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox League and Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel Go and NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Storm $1.58, Broncos $2.45
Overall record: Played 40, Storm 26, Broncos 13, drawn 1
Last meeting: Round 25, 2016 - Storm 16 defeated by Broncos 26 at AAMI Park
Last five: Broncos 3, Storm 2
Record at venue: Played 7, Storm 4, Broncos 3
Referees: Gerard Sutton and Matt Noyen

Melbourne Storm
1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. William Chambers 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Tim Glasby 9. Cameron Smith 10. Jordan McLean 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Christian Welch 15. Joe Stimson 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Vincent Leuluai 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Jesse Bromwich

Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Korbin Sims 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh Mcguire
Interchange: 14. Alex Glenn 15. Tevita Pangai 16. Herman Essese 17. Jai Arrow 18. Benji Marshall 20. David Mead

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Melbourne have been a successful side for years, despite having a small network of juniors. (AAP Image/David Moir)

Scott Pryde

Expert

16th March, 2017

217

12779 Reads

Billy Slater makes his long-awaited return to kick-off Round 3 as the Melbourne Storm host a Brisbane Broncos side coming off a heart-breaking loss. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).

The Storm have been at their bruising best to start the season, picking up two away wins in ordinary weather conditions, drawing on their defence to get over the line against the Canterbury Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors.

Belmore was the scene for Round 1, and two early tries set the win up in a low-scoring encounter. Despite losing Jesse Bromwich, their forward pack dominated, and continued to in Round 2 as they demolished an ordinary Warriors outfit.

Youngster Jordan McLean has led the charge along with Felise Kaufusi, Dale Finucane and Kenny Bromwich. Jesse Bromwich is in the extended squad for this match, and given the Storm have won forward battles without him, it’s scary to think how good they can get.

The return of Slater pushed Ryley Jacks out of the side, with Cameron Munster reverting to the halves.

For the Broncos, it’s been a mixed start to the season. After getting the better of reigning premiers the Cronulla Sharks in a scrappy first round affair, they took on the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 2 and were beaten in another classic that went all the way to golden point.

The jury is very much still out on the Broncos for the season, but this game will tell us a lot about their premiership credentials.

If Brisbane are to win, it must come through forward domination. Given few teams are able to rough Melbourne up through the middle of the park, Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford need a strong kicking game.

Prediction
Billy Slater’s shoulder is the key talking point, but Brisbane haven’t shown enough yet to convince me they can beat Melbourne.

Storm by 8.

Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the Round 3 opener from 8pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.

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Scott Pryde

Expert

Scott has penned over 3000 articles and is one of The Roar's longest-serving writers, covering a wide range of sports. When he isn't writing about sport, you'll find him umpiring at the cricket, or on the hill at Kogarah supporting the Dragons.