Adam Reynolds has said that the Broncos have to use the ‘shitty feeling’ of copping a massive 60-12 loss to Melbourne to help them to win the last two games of the season and secure their spot in the finals.
Brisbane had looked like they would walk into the post-season, but the crushing defeat at the hands of the red hot Storm has left them needing a result from next week’s game with Parramatta to avoid a last day showdown with the Dragons that could see their for and against, now perilous, come into play.
“We have to use this as motivation going forward,” said captain Reynolds. “It’s always a shitty feeling sitting in the sheds knowing that you haven’t done your job and the result hasn’t gone your way. It’s about moving forward now.
“We can bounce back – there’s two weeks to go in this competition and they’re must-win games for us. When they’re must-win, you have to perform. It’ll be interesting to see how we respond. I’m sure we will.”
Melbourne, for their part, underlined their late season surge and marked themselves out as Premiership contenders again after a midseason wobble that saw them lose four on the spin.
The Storm built on the impressive defensive performance that kept Penrith at bay, but added some scintillating attack.
Harry Grant, in NRL game 50, scored one and set up two in a man of the match performance, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona – one brain fade aside – was devastating both in the middle and on an edge.
“If someone said to me he had a milestone game tonight, I would have thought it would have been 100,” said coach Craig Bellamy. “He’s been at our club a long time and he’s been in reserve grade because of Cameron Smith.
“He’s had a real long apprenticeship, and he probably didn’t need that. He’s playing some unbelievable footy and we all know that. That wasn’t just proven tonight, he’s done that for a couple of years now.
This was the latest instalment in one of the most one-sided of NRL rivalries: the Storm have now won 12 straight over the Broncos, 11 straight against them at Suncorp and their last five clashes have seen a collective score of 258 to 62 in Melbourne’s favour.
It didn’t all go Melbourne’s way. They lost Xavier Coates to a concussion, then his replacement, Tyran Wishart, departed with a syndesmosis injury, while Tui Kamikamica also nursed a back complaint.
For the Broncos, this was a rude awakening to the levels that they will face in the finals, if they make it. They will have to do it without Kurt Capewell, who left in the 52nd minutes with an ankle complaint and did not return. Kevin Walters rated him as unlikely to face Parramatta next week.
The logistics of the finals are one thing, but getting there would be near-pointless if they turn up and played like this. It wasn’t even close, with the Storm dominating the ball, rolling downfield with ease and getting over the stripe far too easily.
“It was a good lesson on how to play rugby league for our boys,” said Walters. “First half, not a lot of things went our way and we didn’t have that resilience in the second half to get ourselves back in the game.
“It was a terrific performance from the Storm, not so good from us. I’m expecting a good reaction from our players. I’m quite surprised with the result because I know the guys are working hard, but we didn’t have that resilience tonight to stop the Storm.”
The Storm started with intent. Asofa-Solomona lined up Ezra Mam – as had been threatened all week – and flicked the ball out the back door for Young Tonumaipea to score.
Brisbane then butchered a try through Kotoni Staggs, but were gifted one by some horrendous Storm play.
Asofa-Solomona tried another no-look back flick in the middle of the field, sending the ball well behind the line, and his mistake was compounded by Xavier Coates’ attempt to keep the ball in play, which went straight to Kurt Capewell for an easy run in.
The Storm didn’t let their mistake bother them. Grant slipped Tui Kamikamica in on a crash play to get back in front, before Justin Olam smuggled a late offload that David Nofoaluma touched down.
The Broncos were behind, but managed to change the tempo. Kobe Hetherington went straight down the middle to get them into position, from which Mam went very close. On the other side, Selwyn Cobbo might have scored, but also failed to make a good opportunity count.
If you miss against Melbourne, they invariably make you pay. With time running out on the half, Grant kicked for Cameron Munster, and when they came back out for the second half, the hooker managed to find his own way over to make it 30-6.
It continued. Olam shrugged off Staggs in a dismissive manner to score one, then moments later, got on the end of a superb Kenny Bromwich pass for a second.
Corey Oates grabbed one back, which sufficiently spooked Melbourne that, when presented with the chance, they chose to kick a late penalty goal and take time off the clock.
Not that it mattered, as Jahrome Hughes put the tin hat on the result with a well-taken individual try. Asofa-Solomona then redeemed his early mistake from a short side play and Nofoaluma showed Cobbo a clean set of heels. Nick Meaney added the goal to make it a round 60 as time elapsed.
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Gold class. Where the crawdads sing. Must see movie!
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
After finishing 14th last year 8th is well above a pass mark Added a quality half and back rower, Lost a strike center for half a season Ikin seems to have the roster in order Looking forward to next year
Thing Me
Roar Rookie
At least these guys are not on the streets causing mayhem.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Absolutely agree. Gamble is a much bigger body who tackles with aggression to tighten up that edge defence. Ezra tries, but he is quite small and lacks a bit of experience. You can't put an old head on young shoulders. I am very concerned about the Broncos spine next year. Walsh/Niu, Mam, Reynolds and Walters would have to be the smallest spine in the competition. Edge forwards will have a field day.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
I'm a bit more pessimistic about this year than other Broncos fans it seems. Limping into the finals in 8th (hopefully) instead of shoring up a Top 4 spot isn't a pleasant ending to a much improved season. I think Walters got very lucky with some injuries forcing his hand, and his B Team players like Gamble and Martin - who have a bit more experience and passion than their first-choice counterparts in Niu, Kelly, Turpin - led the Broncos on a 7 game winning streak. Since then, he has made some frankly baffling selection decisions that has coincided with a drastic slide in form, and the loss of any defensive structure and passion from the team. Suddenly, the Broncos have that 2020/21 vibe about it again. And to top it all off, the Broncos are now happy to let Tyson Gamble walk, who has been an absolute revelation this year and should either be the starting 6, 13, or 14 in my opinion.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
After their record semi loss to Parra last time, how hard should the Broncos be pushing to re-visit CommBank Stadium in a few weeks ?
JennyFromPenny
Guest
2 played 3 last year, did they not? The GF teams meeting in week 1 has happened so many times. The only combo that can't eventuate is 5v8 and 6v7.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That is still a choice you realise?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
The eight will remain as is, Canberra will contrive to lose at least one of their last three, possibly more.
Mon
Guest
If they had resigned him they would most probably have lost 2-3 younger high calibre players. And Reyno wasn’t really excepting ‘unders’. He wanted 3 instead of the 1 year that was tabled. There was no forward thinking, smart business choice available to the club other than not accepting his terms. He chose to leave more than being shown the door.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Those chose to keep other players. That is them letting him go by choice.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have just watched the replay. What a pathetic effort. What a joke. So many arm grabbing tackles, so little effort to put a runner down. I was not in the best of moods starting to watch that but seriously, 60 points. Clearly our players are scared of the Storm. It is a massive mental issue for the club now. The Falcons could play for the Storm and put 40 on us. Staggs is meant to be the power centre but go run over constantly by Olam. So many attempts at interceptions which in the context of this game was just players not wanting to make a tackle. James's effort on the try line was the worst of the lot. At least we weren't out of position in defense but the tackling was as bad as it has ever been. Then we go onto the handling and passing. It was like they had never played together. The dropped ball is now at a crisis level. That has to stop and repeat offenders need to be dropped for guys who hang onto it. Cobbo's talent is the only thing saving him from the drop. I would hate to think what his error rate has been since he came back. At least he keeps turning up. This losing to Melbourne thing is now gotten very old and the club needs to beat them.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Melbourne have really had the wood on Brisbane for years but did expect a closer match . Now we're really going to have to work for 8th spot.
Dionysus
Guest
You see to be under the impression that I am a Broncos fan, I am not. I bat for the other team in last nights match. I understand the SC issue and to some extent Melbourne are going through the same just now with Munster however, if there is a long standing high calibre player that a club really wants to keep then there is usually a way to shuffle the cards to keep him particularly when that player is willing to accept unders. It just all seemed to be rather strange how souths seemed to back Reynolds into a corner. I still maintain that he was a good pick up for the Broncs though.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I am new to the League site, I have finally convinced my wife to allow me time on here :stoked: I am a Panthers supporter since a youngster watching the Alexander brothers, it is great reading posts here with the banter. Storm are my second team as I have always enjoyed the way that they play, physical mixed with flair. They have suffered with injuries this season but you can never write them off! I look forward to getting to know the League supporters on here, the genuine ones that is.. :thumbup:
Tony
Roar Guru
:thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That pass from Mitchell was poor and never really on. The best option under the circumstances at that stage of the game was to take the tackle and keep possession and good field position instead of rolling the dice. That said Paulo should have caught it even if it meant stopping dead I'm his tracks to catch the ball instead of continuing on his run.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Only Souths were the home team and got anything but the rub of the green, Tim. I think the NRL is only too aware of how important the western Sydney demographic is for the growth of the game and has done all they can to ensure the continued success of the Panthers. That obstruction TRY ruling and repeatedly turning a blind eye to the Panthers spoiling tactics and infringements in hanging onto tackles and slowing down the Rabbitohs play-the-ball was a clear indication of that.
Greg
Roar Pro
he was out of the side due to a concussion then dropped for disciplinary issues (allegedly turned up to training still under the effects of the drink from the night before).
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Yes Phil, Souths also contributed to their own downfall. None more so than Jaxson Paulo who had a shocker but who is still the best option at right wing given Souths current squad. However, both the Cook (Tatola offside) and Edwards obstruction "tries" were NO TRY's and BOTH should have been ruled as such. I also think the grubber kick TRY for the Panthers had question marks and was never reviewed and scrutinised properly for a touch by the Panthers but I have not harped on about that because it was probably a 50/50 call. Allowing that obstruction TRY to stand has set a dangerous precedent now for the rest of the final series which will only attract more criticism of the referees and the bunker for their inconsistent rulings. They bring it on themselves so I have no sympathy. In the real world the rest of us are answerable for our mistakes and not immune from criticism. These guys are paid close to $100K to do a job a lot of us would do for next to nothing and unlike us they face no repercussions for their incompetence and repeated mistakes. I remember both Greg Hartley and Bill Harrigan copped plenty of deserved criticism during their time as referees and I don't believe either of them ever cried themselves to sleep over it. We should stop babying referees. They need to be accountable for their mistakes. Particularly big ones like allowing a blatant obstruction TRY or allowing a captain's challenge when the rules don't allow it (i.e. Tigers vs Cowboys).