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.
Moonboot
Guest
Chambers lost control and Sutton ruled no try so could not be overturned
Moonboot
Guest
I thought players were allowed to bump each other going for the ball as its too hard to tell if it is deliberate or not
Minefield
Guest
Sutton will get an SOO after this - again. The game before the AFL has started was a showpiece and Sutton let too many dirty tactics - not a good look but he delivered in the end. Perfect Free to air fodder
Ken
Guest
Did any of you see Thaiday trying to rebreak Bromwich injured thumb when he was being held near the tryline , pretty ordinary
Ken
Guest
Yeh so one eyed they disallowed a obvious try by chambers , they missed Thaiday trying to rebreak Jesse Bromwich thumb when he was being held in a tackle ,guess we are all one eyed when it comes to our teams hey
The Barry
Roar Guru
I went into that game as a neutral. Not a fan of either team. No money on the game. Closest I came to a vested interest was that I tipped the Storm. I didn't think the refs were that bad. The Broncos seemed to be pushing the envelope at every opportunity. Roughing up players in tackles, blatantly taking out chasers pretty much every time the Storm kicked. It looked to me that the Broncos did it as a deliberate tactic. Broncos had Melbourne down in their own end. McGuire lifts a leg for no reason. Sims puts a very good hit on Vunivalu then elbows him in the head three times on the ground. Thaiday runs ten metres to shove a winger in the back for the mildest push and shove I've ever seen. Should have been binned. I don't think looking at the penalty count you can automatically say "the refs were one sided". What were the penalties that shouldn't have been blown against the Broncos and the ones they should have got? The Broncs used to have Thaiday and McGuire as loose cannons in their pack. Then they added Blair. Now theyve got Sims as well. I'm not sure you can complain too much about penalty counts when you've four renowned loose cannons in your pack. Not sure on this but I'd like to see the stats for how many penalties were given away when these four were on the field together versus when they were off. To suggest that was some sort of systematic conspiracy against the Broncs is laughable. As is the notion that the footy show is the bastion of justice. Let's put it down to disappointment at a close loss.
Richard Maybury
Guest
bad reffing is not so much a problem when its even handed but the broncs were definitely pushing the line tonight.
rob brearley
Guest
Hello, we we watching the same game tonite? It was the worst one sided reffing job I've seen in many a year. Maybe you share same optomitrist as the officals?
Mathew Stealer
Guest
Roberto you need skill and half a brain to play in the A-League. That rules him out
rob brearley
Guest
Have just seen two great teams in action tonight. Unfortuntely the result was determined by the refs and whoever controls them rather than the skill and detemination of the players. Cannot recall the last time I witnessed a more one sided refs game , broncos renown for having minimal penalties against them; V storm , always controversial and heavily penalized. Of course these days cannot comment on GODS ( refs ) performance , no criticism allowed, no review allowed - but even the most even handed viewers in my bar tonight were at a loss to understand the mass of penalties against the Broncos, that without a doubt eventually led to their loss tonight. I am personally so peed off at the game I seriously doubt we will bother running a tipping comp next year in the face of what appears to be deliberate knobbling of a team. Unfortunately shows like the Footy Show who might be in a position to question and strive for the best interests of the game are so far in bed with the organization that impartiality is nowhere in sight.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fully agree and I'm not a Storm or Bronco fan. That Sutton has no fiber to referee these sorts of games, he should have used the sin bin (either way) earlier and the game would have been better for it. Pushing but especially holding back, should have been a professional fouls by Moga and he should have been sin binned as should have the dirty plays. That disallowed try, was a try The more deserving team won as far as I'm concerned.
Ken
Guest
Sam Thaiday is a deadset grub , benefit of the doubt disappeared when Jesse Bromwich was held in a tackle an Thaiday was shown to run in an attack Jesses broken thumb trying to bend it backwards ,wow , just as bad as when Paul Gallen attacked a guys bandages years ago during a game Just disgusting .
Richard Maybury
Guest
He was definitely rusty tonight but there were flashes of the old Billy. He will be better for getting this game under his belt.
Richard Maybury
Guest
The penalty count should have been far more in favour of the storm, deliberate foul play, professional fouls tackling a player without the ball and so it goes on. Melbourne were dudded on 1 try plus Brisbane should have Moga sin binned. The ref lacked backbone and never stamped his authority on this game which lead to a lot of dirty play from the broncos and retaliation from the storm. The best team won in the end but gee this was close to being a travesty.
Ken
Guest
Did u see Thaiday the dirty grub try An rip jesses thumb backwards when he had his arm held , just really something I didn't think was his go , cheap An gutless
The Barry
Roar Guru
Even if you accept that's true, if Moga's not changing his line and bumping into Slater, Slater has no opportunity to milk the penalty. It was a dumb play especially as Slater was unlikely to get to the ball.
Roberto
Guest
The wuss Slater took a dive, Moga barely bumped him. Watch it again, Slater should join the Victory in A-League.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That Tautau Moga should have been sin binned at least 2 times for his dirt, 1 Storm try disallowed because of the bunkers stupidity and outrageous decision, there should have been lots more given both ways. Badger is not a referee for this type of game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Refs fault has started early this year. In some ways I agree...the Storm do seem to hold down for a long time in the ruck without getting pinged. But the Broncos weren't getting pinged for staying in the tackle too long, it was all the rubbish they were carrying on with in the tackle plus a couple for tackling kick chasers. It was just silly play from them at times.
Bill larkin
Guest
Boo Hoo. The best sporting team in Australia wins with a subpar performance against credible opposition. Whinge away.