Melbourne Storm
32
Match Complete
Brisbane Broncos
20
| 77 |  | E. Mam | ||
| N. Meaney |  | 76 | ||
| J. Hughes | | 74 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 65 | ||
| D. Ieremia | | 63 | ||
| D. Ieremia | | 56 | ||
| J. Hughes | | 38 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 35 | ||
| C. Munster | | 34 | ||
| 28 | | K. Staggs | ||
| 26 | | S. Cobbo | ||
| 25 | | K. Staggs | ||
| 24 | | C. Oates | ||
| 17 | | C. Oates | ||
| N. Meaney | | 10 | ||
| T. Kamikamica | | 8 |
| 6 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
For the first time since round eight of the 2021 NRL season, AAMI Park in Melbourne will play host to Friday night NRL action as the Melbourne Storm face the Brisbane Broncos. Join The Roar for live scores from 7.55pm AEST.
Despite injuries threatening to derail the Melbourne Storm, they sit comfortably in second place with a points differential of +197, the second-best points differential after defending premiers Penrith Panthers.
Their supercoach Craig Bellamy continues to wave his magical wand and produce results amongst his playing roster. Ryan Papenhuyzen was named on the team list in the reserves, but the superstar will be out from action for at least another week after testing positive to Covid-19. Thus, the Storm backline remains the same with youngster Grant Anderson given another chance on the wing after an impressive debut against the Roosters at the SCG.
Just like how the Aussie DNA got the Socceroos through to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Broncos DNA got them through in an injury ravaged gritty victory against Canberra in their previous game. However, this has come at a cost with Adam Reynolds ruled out of the clash against the Storm and centre Herbie Farnworth set to sit the rest of this season and possibly the 2022 Rugby League World Cup on the sidelines. Despite this, the Broncos welcome back Selwyn Cobbo, Kurt Capewell and Kotoni Staggs to ensure they travel to Victoria with a relatively strong squad to take on the Storm.
Prediction
Since the beginning of the 2019 NRL season, only the Canberra Raiders have travelled to AAMI Park and won there more than once. It is arguably the hardest ground to win for opposition teams over the past ten years in the NRL. With no Reynolds, Gamble and Farnworth for a huge away game, the Broncos winning streak may finally come to an end. Cameron Munster and Jahrohme Hughes to run the show in front of their fans and produce a Melbourne victory.
Storm by 8+
Game information
Kick-off: 7:55pm AEST
Venue: AAMI Park
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Nine Network
Odds: Storm $1.18, Broncos $5.00 – odds via PlayUp
Melbourne
1. Nick Meaney 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King
Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Trent Loiero 17. Chris Lewis
Brisbane
1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Interchange: 14. Jake Turpin 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia
steveng
Roar Rookie
That's not the point I'm trying to make, the Bunnies are "trying" to play a style of footy that they played under Reno which doesn't work, and they need to search for a Reno type of half as Ilias is not that guy, or they need to change completely as he's doing nothing as is Walker and we have two duds in the most important attacking positions, that are bottlenecking everything, hence the results we are getting.
John
Guest
Based on his hate for the storm lol
Adam
Roar Guru
You had a Reynolds. How many other clubs have a Reynolds quality half? 3 maybe? Comparing anyone to Reynolds is pretty tough
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Haha. Fair enough.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Nah Adam, Ilias brings nothing to the Bunnies, his kicking game is ordinary, he brings nothing for Walker and hasent got a kicking game up close to setup anything, while and when Reno was at his 15th game stage in 2012, he was a game winner and just a dynamic part of the Bunnies all that year. I remember against the Dogs in the semis, I was doing security at the ANZ in the sheds and got to know Reno, in that game he got injured and after he came off we lost, as he was one of our key players. Ilias is no where near that good and hasent got anywhere near Renos talent at 15 NRL games and dosent look like ever having that. Thats the difference mate, we need a better half as hes not what we need.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Kurt Capewell in the press conference looks like he's expecting somebody to jump out and attack him from stage right.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
They (Broncos) beat the Rabbitohs without Reynolds... Thanks for proving my point Adam. See my reply below to Red Rob, "Not as much as Souths do."
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Slow, disjointed & lax ball control, just for starters.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed… it amazes me how many players target above the ball and then complain when their tackle ends up high They say it’s to wrap up the ball, but I don’t see too many players offloading when someone’s driving up under the ball into their ribs…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Ilias simply isn't ready for first-grade. He has no organisational skills, no kicking game and he doesn't want the ball in his hands for big plays and when he gets it he doesn't know what to do. Oh, and that dropped ball from the opening kick-off didn't help his cause either. I am comparing him with Adam Reynolds when he debuted in 2012 and Ilias comes up well short.
Yeah good point, the responsibility and expectation on the newbie is low very low esp compared to the seniors.
Adam
Roar Guru
They get the vast majority of calls correct. But just make some weird, what I'd call procedural errors. Like the two try calls the ref got wrong tonight. I think by the reaction of the try scorer he could have easily got the call right both times without the bunker
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hate to say I told you so… “Do what I want becoz I wanna…”
Boom! Just reading those names gives me the chills.
He Haasnt the same since his "announcement"
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
You think !!!! . With Pete the pirate and Annesely death riding them and then Papi on a one man intense dislike of all referee’s but geez your right they’ve all been pretty ordinary this year . Nothing to get excited about with no Cecchin an The Badge .
:laughing:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Cheesy as all get out, but that song is a masterclass in lyric writing :happy:
Joe
Roar Rookie
The Kiwis are going to be strong because their front row of Fisher-Harris/Tapine/JWH/Jessie/NAS with B.Smith at hooker is going to set a helluva platform for their backs.
I thought he was alright, he def tried hard, but to me didnt have the speed. But, yes, I remember that magic round too... Paps (aka Kevin Bacon from Footloose) danced his way to the no1.