Round 23 of the NRL Premiership continues tonight when the Brisbane Broncos host the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:55pm (AEST).
With just three rounds remaining, teams in the semi-final race are now jockeying for position. Barring a minor miracle from Canberra, the top eight appears set. However, the placings within the eight are far less certain. We may have a better idea after tonight.
Brisbane got back on the winner’s list last week after two consecutive losses, but their 28-10 win over the Knights was far from convincing.
Adam Reynolds is the Broncos’ key player and he approached his best against Newcastle. There’s no doubt the Storm will target him so the Broncos pack need to cut out their errors and match Melbourne up front.
Kevin Walters has named an unchanged squad. Kobe Hetherington has been named to start despite suffering a head knock last start, with Ryan James moving back to the bench.
Rumours of Melbourne’s demise may have been slightly exaggerated. Sure, Penrith were missing a host of stars, but a 16-0 shutout does signal that the Storm’s defensive intensity may have returned in time for finals.
Cameron Munster is one of the few elite players who can win a game on his own. He was involved in everything against the Panthers, ably supported by the big Melbourne forward pack.
Playmaker Jahrome Hughes returns after missing Round 22 with a shoulder complaint. Young Tonumaipe’a will start in the centre with Marion Seve dropping out due to a hamstring injury.
Prediction
Brisbane will make the eight but, despite last week’s win, I feel they are ailing at the wrong time of the year.
The Storm are still below their best but they may just be building again.
Adam Reynolds might be in for a torrid night.
Storm by 14.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:55pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV/Stream: Fox League, Channel Nine, Kayo Sports
Odds: Broncos $2.45; Storm $1.55 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Broncos
1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Jake Turpin 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Corey Jensen 17. Ryan James
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Young Tonumaipea 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Chris Lewis 17. Tyran Wishart
Kurt S
Roar Pro
How many interstate GF have current Panthers team won? Is it more than 1?
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
It's in the vault.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Not giving up is the Bunnies, things going wrong is the Bunnies on Thursday night but, this Bronx side just gave up and made no effort to tackle and limit the Storm points scoring as the Storm are not a 48 points better side than the Bronx.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Last round 2007, Parra 68-Broncos 22. 59-0 v Roosters Rnd 4, 2020 and 58-0 v Parra, finals 2019 the biggest finals loss in history barring Newton's 55-7 v St George in 1944, which would have been 66 if not for 3 point tries.
Tyron
Roar Rookie
Fair point. I've never liked Walters. I don't like his team selections at times. He had a losing record with Catalan and Slater showed up how better he can prepare a Maroons team (but some of that is idiotic Filter decisions haha). I don't want Walters leading the Broncos in 23 and 24 but I don't think you've got much options.
Davooo
Guest
Yeah, I'd say it is wrong that the afl plays their grand final in Melbourne every year despite professing to be a national game. And as we all know, two wrongs don't make a right. I understand the attachment the nrl and afl have to the states that they grew from, but times change, and if they truly want to push for a national game profile/status, they can't just default to their respective 'the grand final has always been played here positions. Put it like this, does the superbowl get played In the same venue every year? Do they play the soccer world cup in the same country and venue every time? The answer is of course no. At the end of the day, if the pennies aren't in the grand final, will you be there in the stands regardless because it's Sydney? I doubt it If the game is to grow and expand, it needs to move past being the nswrl and friends.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Is the other sport more widely followed in Victoria, somehow wrongfully played at the MCG each year ?
andrew
Roar Rookie
I can't remember the Broncos conceding 60 points.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Griffin will keep selecting him at 9 no matter what, just like he refused to drop Norman last year.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Why weren't you playing at Suncorp last October ?
Kurt S
Roar Pro
based on a sample size of 1? Storm have been heroic for about 10 years at Suncorp.
matth
Roar Guru
It was very quiet considering there were 42,000 at the ground. The Storm guys sitting behind me were pretty vocal though
matth
Roar Guru
59 to nil I believe
matth
Roar Guru
I was there and they didn’t give up. It’s just that everything they touched turned to mud. Plus the Storm bossed the middle and have way too many creative attacking threats for Brisbane to handle
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Very sad ???? isn’t it, something not to look forward to on Sunday
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Seems that way, but yeah, Brisbane, a Rugba League heartland, drew a crowd.
Davooo
Guest
I think you underestimate the willingness of fans to travel. We've seen sell out grand finals in Sydney with no nsw teams in the game, so why couldn't Brisbane, Melbourne or anywhere else achieve the same. True fans will find a way to attend, regardless of venue
Davooo
Guest
It must be hard for some to admit that storm played a good game of footy :laughing: :laughing:
JennyFromPenny
Guest
If Broncos were in the GF, I'd support it, even though would be tough for any visitor, but once they are out of play, the one team town would very quickly decide not to give a cr*p who plays the GF, would only care deeply about the double admission price being charged.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
But Panthers own the interstate GF.