The Melbourne Storm secured a commanding victory at Suncorp Stadium against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night.
Holding just an eight point lead at half time, the Storm were able to lift in front of a hostile Suncorp crowd to secure the 22-point win.
FINAL SCORE:
Storm 30
Broncos 8
The Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm will clash on Friday night with both sides looking to cement a place in the top eight. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm (AEST).
Brisbane enter the clash in sixth position with Melbourne in eighth.
The Origin period has been cruel to Melbourne, with Cooper Cronk out for an extended period. His return following Origin 3 boosted the Storm and they were last-start winners over the Canberra Raiders, 28-14.
Brisbane are also coming off a last-start win, defeating the New Zealand Warriors 28-22. Of course the big story during the week was the return of supercoach Wayne Bennett, who announced he would return to the club in 2015.
In team news, the Storm see Ryan Hinchcliffe move to lock, with Jordan McLean dropping back to the bench. Dayne Weston and Young Tonumaipea have been added to an extended bench.
The dumped trio of Jack Reed, Daniel Vidot and Corey Oates have all been added to an extended Brisbane bench, with Matt Gillett returning to the starting back row.
Melbourne have had the wood on Brisbane in recent years, with the Broncos last triumphing in 2009.
Obviously Melbourne have the Big Three. Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will once again take the pitch and run the side. Cronk’s combination with Slater is one of the best in the history of rugby league and Brisbane’s defence will be asked plenty of questions by the skilful halfback.
Brisbane will be hoping that their off-season recruit, Ben Barba begins repaying some of his price-tag this week. The diminutive speedster has been out of form recently, with fans baying for blood. The shining light though for Brisbane, has been Ben Hunt. The halfback has been in superb form, which saw him named in the Queensland squad.
It’s hard to go past Melbourne. Their Big Three have so much experience and their forwards merely need to hold their own against Brisbane for Cronk to do his thing. Brisbane do have the playing style to upset Melbourne’s structures but I don’t believe they have enough firepower to get across the line.
Melbourne by 8.
Join The Roar at 7.40pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Scrubbit
Guest
He's still struggling with his groin I think. Those are very long term niggling injuries.
Jack
Guest
At least we were beaten by the best player in the comp in Cronk. I don't think Hunt had a shocker but was off, particularly with his kicking choices. I hope Hook puts him in front of the TV to analyse Cronk's game so he can learn from the best. We also need to pick more props and Granville on the bench. He gives us another option in attack, like a second halfback. He played a lot of fullback when he was younger and is apparently our fastest player over 40m. My bench would be Granville, Oates, Kennedy/Hala and Jarrod Wallace.
Jack
Guest
You realise that McCullough came off right? The poor passing from dummy half came when he was off, and we had Glann, Hodges and even Hunt himself going into dummy half. I was there and didn't see a bad ball from Macca.
steveng
Guest
tears tears tears boby, I feel so sorry for you, come on they are a good team but just don't have what it takes to beat the top teams,
steveng
Guest
Not if the rabbits have anything to do with it...lol
Scrubbit
Guest
The storm got away with a lot in this game. But in they end they scored 22 more points. I had this pegged as my broncos make or break game and hopefully they were just off due to the hook drama. Doesn't get any easier from here though with manly, rabbits, dogs, and another storm game.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Hunt isn't exactly the source of that problem, he has too much to do by foot (as he's apparently the only one who can kick) so he's trying odd things to try and get a clean kick away instead of being constantly pressured by pretty much the entire opposition team on the 5th (fair enough, especially with Hinchcliffe and Smith out there). Didn't help that McCullough had an absolute shocker -- some of the ball Hunt was getting was abysmal and he wasn't focussed enough to make bad delivery work.
Bill Larkin
Guest
Sorry, a team getting away with anything? In Brisbane? I think you should call the Waambalance right away. The Storm was too good. Full stop.
belrose eagle
Guest
I have never seen a team get away with more professional fouls in one game than that Slater tackling player in the air no prob Slater tackling a player without the ball no prob shadowing a runner so he can't get a go at the ball no problem pushing a support runner without the ball over no prob and that's just the first 20min Slater great player but has to be the biggest cat to play its always something its like if there isn't any rule saying you can't do it he thinks its ok even if it risks the other players health there are some things you shouldn't need to be told not to do the only sportsmanship or decent act I have ever seen him do is when he didn't move when Wolf man broke his neck but really who would move if U knew
V.O.R.
Guest
They should achieve more structure with Bennett. Hunts kicking game has been an achilles heel all year as well. Very evident tonight with Cronk and Smith holding up a mirror.
darren
Guest
Melbourne. Storm to good getting ready for the finals go the storm
Emcie
Roar Guru
From that to a short kick off next play... Some strange decisions in the first couple minutes
V.O.R.
Guest
I think the last 3 games Brisbane has been behind by two tries within the first ten minutes. Maybe they should lose the essential oils in the dressing shed? Kicking early on the 1st set with no platform laid was puzzling....not sure what type of game plan that is.
V.O.R.
Guest
$13 a couple of weeks ago...I was surprised they were that long.
John
Guest
Well so much for playing for 'Griffo'... That game is what happens when a side with a gameplan [i.e. Melbourne] play a team bereft of a gameplan [i.e. Brisbane].
V.O.R.
Guest
Yep...spot on....they'll be in the semi's and anything is possible from there with the personnel they have.
eagleJack
Guest
Probably around 10 bucks. You can never discount the Storm. Quality football team. They'll need to finish Top 4 though
Rumor
Guest
From 7th or 8th? They will sneak into the four. Never listen to the experts, they've written the storm off every year. Storm had 5 origin players in game 3. 3 game changing superstars and arguably the best coach in the game. A team full of confident players with the never let you down attitude. Very dangerous side
Renegade
Guest
Storm dynasty is far from over it seems... What are their odds for the title?
Rellum
Roar Guru
So it feels like the club is already getting ready for next season.