[VIDEO] Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos highlights: NRL scores, blog

What are you talking about Alex L, Storm did fantastic despite only losing by 2 they really put the challenge up to the Broncos if you think you could have done better go for it but remember Storm was without 2 of their good players so don't be too critical.

Wayne Bennett summed it up perfectly: "If you are not going to play good with the ball, you have to be prepared to defend and we did that and that's what I like about them." Pretty basic stuff, sure Brisbane were poor at time with ball in hand but balanced the ledger by digging their toes in and putting in one of the greatest defensive displays in NRL history. Everyone seems to be bagging Brisbane even though they scored 3 tries to 2 and won despite having to make 130 more tackles than the opposition. Either hard markers or Bronco Bashers, not sure.

Reed continues to irritate me by playing well preventing my weekly drop him for (insert name here) rant. Very good !

No, it will help them not loose the Grand Final.

That sort of play in the second half will win them the grand final!

Broncos v Cowboys Grand Final anyone?

Simple. Drop Reed for someone who will play terribly, then you can rant about how they should be dropped for (insert name here).

Everyone will rave about the Brocos performance, but I think the second half was poor from them, great goal line defense but the maturity, patience and decision making with the ball in hand was poor. That means they never really got themselves out of trouble and had to rely on their defense. Come finals that sort of play in the second half will cost them.

Having just come home from watching the game, my frustration at the Storm attack is finally fading. In the 2nd half Storm repeatedly went to the right, while overlaps went begging on the left. I got the impression that orders were to attack on the right, and just keep on doing it. The Broncos had their number and were never going to let them through on that side. Frustrating - and the last play when they could have gone right and finally had an overlap, some one buggers it up!

Broncos are miles ahead of the Cowboys IMO. They dominated Manly, defended out Melbourne for what, 100+ tackles more? Dragons are ahead too on my mark. Cowboys have had some very fortunate calls at the right times, some poor finishes from the opposition with 15 minutes of brilliance out of 80. They've been far from convincing especially given most of the wins are against bottom of the table teams (Eels, Manly etc) and yet still relied on a hail mary play at the death to win.

Joe is right. As a Brisbane fan I was thinking Melbourne are going to score from the simple weight of possession - one missed tackle, one good inside ball, one bad read and it's a try. They certainly weren't stretching the defence much at all. Should have won two games with all that footy.

Take your pick. I thought Oates was mammoth from the wing as well. Reed continues to irritate me by playing well preventing my weekly drop him for (insert name here) rant. Boyd was huge, Kahu, Glenn, Thaiday. Even Blair made some big defensive plays and a few strong runs. Great team effort to steal that one and keep pace with the Cowboys.

Green was probably the best player for the Storm apart from Cam Smith but the plays were pretty repetitive hoping for a different result. After the first few forays it was obvious they were going to Green and Bromwich. With that many repeat sets and tackle sets inside the twenty two tries from Green taking the line on and Cam Smith I would say their attack was pretty poor. Also HInchcliffe/K Bromich off the bench offered nothing. The two rookies Asofa Solomona and Kaufusi (even with his mistakes) at least offered a point of difference.

Every time he went to the left edge it died with Mann who should be dropped. Apart from Chamber's the Storm team have nothing. Mann and Hampton are barely first grade material. Munster seems to have skills but the Storms strength has always been running set plays with players running great lines. Not one up running to the defense and dancing around trying to get through like these 3. It's a big loss Slater and Cronk but if the Storm don't figure it out they'll very soon be out of the 8.

Mann has benefited greatly from playing inside Koroibete, who is out at the moment. He also barely touched the ball in attack tonight, see above remark about Green.

McGuire would have been my MOTM. He has got a great motor, runs as hard on the last as he does on the first.

Mann has had a great season. What are you talking about?

Tough marker Joe. I wouldn't say the Storm attack was nothing, they asked plenty of questions. No doubt Cronk would have made a difference but Hampton was good. Green was excellent. Brisbane were down a few troops as well, including our Captain and VC.

Storm just have no strike power on the edges besides Chambers. They really didn't ask any questions of the Broncos. Fonua is somehow both too big to be fast and too small to barge over and the left outside backs barely touched the ball because Green seems to believe going to the edge would shame his family or something.