Craig Bellamy has joked he didn’t go into Melbourne’s NRL clash with Brisbane thinking he’d sign to coach the winning team next season.
But with the Storm trumping the Broncos 32-16 in their Sunday clash at AAMI Park, it may have given him food for thought.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Melbourne Storm 32
Brisbane Broncos 16
The Melbourne Storm will look to get back to their best when they host the Brisbane Broncos in what should be a cracking Sunday afternoon encounter. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10pm (AEST).
The Storm haven’t quite been at their best during the first half of the season. Craig Bellamy is unlikely to allow his team to continue rolling like they have been, but then, there is only so much a coach can do.
Still, they have won seven of their 12 games to sit in sixth spot on the ladder and are still unlikely to miss the finals, given the amount of talent in their squad.
Apart from not having Dale Finucane, Billy Slater or Curtis Scott, everything seems to be favouring them for this one. With Cameron Smith stepping down from Origin duties, he will be fresh, while Jahrome Hughes is one of the best up-and-coming halves in the competition.
Melbourne held on for victory against the Cowboys a fortnight ago and with Tim Glasby pushing for an Origin spot and both Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona in good form, their pack will be hard to stop.
They have a staggeringly good record against Brisbane as well, having won 30 of 43 matches.
If Melbourne have been away from their best, then the Broncos’ inconsistency has known no bounds.
It can be best highlighted by Darius Boyd, who was overlooked for Origin, but a rotating door in the halves, poor defence and a team drifting in and out of their games has left Brisbane clinging for life at the edge of the top eight.
A lot of how this match ends up will hinge on their forwards, with two figureheads, Andrew McCullough and Josh McGuire, backing up from Origin. With McCullough having the job of stopping Smith, Brisbane need him to play 80 minutes if they are a chance, but that seems unlikely off such little rest.
The Broncos don’t fall apart without their hooker, but they aren’t the same team without him.
Before their bye, Wayne Bennett’s side had won four of their last five, but that included victories over a yet-to-be-firing South Sydney, the Bulldogs, inconsistent Roosters, and Eels, so while they have played what was in front of them, improvement is needed for a win in the Victorian capital.
Prediction
It’s time for the Storm to turn things around after a bye and with nearly every factor pointing in their direction, this might get lopsided.
Storm by 20.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 4:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved throughout by dropping a comment in the section below.
DJ
Guest
Broncos are rudderless. Milford and Nikorima are both the same player. Time to look for a specialist half back that can organize and has a kicking game.
Nico
Guest
The Munster strip on Oates being called a knock on against Oates irks me most, Munster clear as day makes a play at the ball, doesn't seem to be any consistency with the rule
Craig
Guest
The gulf between Smith and McCullough is huge. Let’s be honest, he’s probably the worst hooker to play origin, he’s a solid club player at best.
thomas c
Guest
The broncs threatened the storm's left edge when they got the chance. And that's without the halves really clicking still. They could have run away with the first half, but Smith put in some clever play. In the second half, I don't recall them getting that much play in good field position. Beyond this, it was a bit of a reversion in terms of refereeing. After minimal penalties over origin, the refs seemed determined to not let it affect their averages.
Nico
Guest
True Nikorima and Milf missed 5 tackles between them but the bigger blokes also need to step up to cover them. Milf was left badly exposed for the Kaufusi try while Nikorima had to make 31 tackles, too many for a half to then turn around and be an effective game manager
PNGBF88
Guest
You are on to something, the points differential is shameful as it is. Nikorimo and Milford are turnstiles in defence. I thought the pundits were wrong about the halves but it's obvious as day, Milford's game management is non-existent.
Big daddy
Guest
The pocket ref was making Cummins look like a joke. He gets so flustered when player's get frustrated and starts blowing penalties for nothing.
Nico
Guest
Milf will probably get a lot of flack as per normal but geez Brisbane's defence this season has been ordinary. Their goal line defence offered very little resistance against the Storm today. At the completion of game 13, Brisbane have conceded 296 points. To put that into perspective, when Brisbane finished 12th in 2013, by this stage of the season they'd only conceded 261, the side that finished 10th in '10 had conceded 287, even the '99 side that won one game from the first 10 had only conceded 243. This side is well on track to be the Broncos' poorest ever defensively.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Yeah, I got video ref. Just tell me what sort of bets you put on and I'll keep you in mind. Jennings or Hayne first try scorer might be a shot.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Ha ha, at least you're honest. By the way, the Storm got a massive dud call in the 2006 grand final.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
Of course we weren't complaining then but everybody else sure was so let us have our turn.....
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Complaining about the ref? You weren't complaining when calls went your way in games against the Roosters and Bulldogs. Broncos led 10-2, then it went 30-6 from Melbourne after that. Was that all down to the ref?
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Mate it's worth a go there is no way you could worse then the ref today.
Jara W
Guest
I really thought the game lacked any clear momentum or sustained pressure. Timing of penalies and errors always seemed to break the flow every single time the players looked like locking into a contest.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
I found an NRL Referees license in my Weet Bix packet this morning. I went to the website and registerd for a referees poosition and got a positive reply almost immediately . I’ve been handed the Eels v Rabbitohs game on Thursday night as one of the onfield referees, so be nice to me. Does that mean I can’t put my winnings on the Rabbitohs again or should I not mention it.
Jara W
Guest
Of course. I’m a big Macca fan, but Cam certainly looked the part today is all I’m saying.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
I'd assume it was the nature of the comment. You can question calls but I am guessing McGuire did it in a not so nice way (he most likely swore at him).
Scott Pryde
Expert
As you'd expect when McCullough is off four days rest and Cameron Smith has had a fortnight off.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No dramas. Cheers for tuning in.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call mate