The Melbourne Storm will host the Brisbane Broncos in a preliminary final at AAMI Park on Friday 22 September with kick-off scheduled for 7:55pm AEST.
The Storm won their way through preliminary final first by finishing on top of the ladder after a dominant season that meant they had the minor premiership wrapped up weeks out from the finish line.
That saw them host a qualifying final against the Parramatta Eels which they were expected to win comfortably, but it would up being a greater challenge than they thought.
They did come away with a narrow victory in the end however and that was enough to secure them a home preliminary final at AAMI park.
Having finished with the No.1 seed, the Storm have their prelim on a final night, giving them the longest possible break before the grand final, should they win through.
The Broncos finished the season in third and line up in the first week of finals up against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
It was a close affair but the Roosters narrowly won through last week, leaving the Broncos to host a semi-final in the Brisbane.
They came up against the Penrith Panthers, who had made it through to the match after defeating the Manly Sea Eagles.
The Broncos took first blood on the scoreboard against the Panthers and ultimately led the game all night, eventually running out the winners 13-6.
While they’ve now made it through a preliminary final, they’re definitely going to be up against it trying to upset the raging premiership favourite.
If they can knock off the Storm then they’ll certainly rocket into favouritism themselves, but Melbourne will enter as the heavy favourites to win and qualify for the grand final for the second year in a row.
Joelo
Guest
The Broncs will definitely be up against it, but ol' man Bennett will have them fired up for this one...Storm only won by 2 in their last game,and while the week off looks good,it can sometimes be a killer this time of year. The Broncos are building and are on a roll. I believe they'll get there. Broncos by 8.
Riggs
Guest
Agree. Winner of this wins the comp.
Rick K
Guest
Melbourne beat Parramatta because of Parramatta ill discipline, and I thought they would beat the Cowboys, because of ill discipline they lost again, I thought Morgan was JT's clone he just kept the pressure on the Eels in all the 2nd half and deserved to win the game. I don't like predicting games as usually I am wrong, the Storm = Bronco game will be great game and I will leave it at that. as for the Roosters and Cowboys I will leave that one alone as well.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Well at least we know that we wont get an all Sydney grand final. Pretty much whom ever wins this game will be the premiers