Broncos buck the Storm

v BYE

The Brisbane Broncos have ambushed the Storm in Melbourne to announce themselves as a real premiership threat tonight in front of 20,263 fans at AAMI Park, celebrating Broncos legend Sam Thaiday's 250th NRL game in style.

After an horrific mid season slump, which almost saw last year's runners up slip out of the Top 8 at one stage, the Broncos have now strung together four wins on the trot, in a very timely run from Wayne Bennett's men just one week away from this year's finals series.

Rookie Jai Arrow scored a sensational try with 12 minutes remaining, having just come onto the field, when he dived on a Jordan Kahu kick in goal which sealed a shock victory for the visitors. Another Broncos rookie, centre Tom Opacic also had a night to remember scoring 2 tries in a brilliant performance from the young centre in just his seventh first grade match. 

The loss for the Storm now leaves the door ajar for the Cronulla Sharks to snatch the Minor Premiership should they defeat the Roosters on Saturday night, potentially setting up and almighty clash for the Minor Premiership next Saturday night in the final round. 

The Broncos defence was simply outstanding close to the line, as the Storm threw everything at the Broncos time after time but were repelled by their rock solid defence. Brisbane's defence was a hallmark in their 2015 campaign which as we know, fell just seconds short in last year's heartbreaking Grand Final loss to the Cowboys. Tonight they proved that they have rediscovered their steely resolve and are ready to give the competition an almighty shake again this year. 

Brisbane came into the match with a game plan to shift the ball wide and move the big Storm pack around and it paid almost immediate dividends when Brisbane shifted it to the left and had the Storm scrambling. In his 250th match for the club, Sam Thaiday darted out of dummy half catching the Storm defenders by surprise, he then got an arm free and found rookie centre Tom Opacic, who scored to give the visitors a dream start to the match leading 4-0 after just two minutes. 

Minutes later the Broncos were in again, this time shifting the ball to the right which found halfback Ben Hunt who hit Matt Gillett on his outside got the ball back on the inside and then threw a superb ball back out wide to find winger Jordan Kahu who spectacularly got the ball down in the corner and the Broncos were up 8-0 leaving the home crowd stunned.

Melbourne didn't panic however and continued to stick to their game plan and when interchange forward Jarrod Wallace made an error with his first touch, halfback Cooper Cronk managed to get a repeat set. This was followed by a penalty against Sam Thaiday for being offside close to the line. The Storm made the Broncos pay, when hard running forward Tohu Harris found himself one on one with a Broncos defender and he reached out to score and get the Storm on the scoreboard. 

Brisbane then got themselves some good field position and were again pressuring the Storm line, when Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith was penalised in front of the posts. Jordan Kahu took the two points on offer and Brisbane extended their lead to 10-4. 

Just before halftime Storm winger Marika Koroibete made a horrible handling error just metres out from his own line, presenting the visitors with a golden opportunity just before halftime. The Broncos didn't let the opportunity go to waste, when they shifted the ball to the left where five-eighth Anthony Milford found Opacic, who muscled his way over for a double. Milford couldn't convert from the sideline and Brisbane lead 14-4 at the break. 

The Broncos extended their lead in the 52nd minute, when Darius Boyd hit the ball at speed off a superb inside ball from Milford and muscled his way over for the Broncos 4th try of the night. Skipper Corey Parker then took back the kicking duties and nailed the conversion making it 20-4 putting the visitors in control. 

The Storm hit back however, when interchange utility Ben Hampton scored off a great set play from Smith and Cronk, with Hampton using his speed to score next to the posts. Cameron Smith kicked goal number 900 of his career to make it 20-10.

However the Broncos took the game back from the home side when Anthony Milford exploded through a gap and Arrow scored his decisive try off the back of Kahu's kick off the next play.

A late try from Cameron Smith typified the Storm's attitude and to their credit the home side never gave up on an unlikely victory, even in the final minutes of the match.

Brisbane now face a resurgent Roosters next Thursday night in the side's last home match for the season, but will need arch rivals North Queensland to slip up against the Gold Coast for them to be a chance of finishing in the Top 4. As mentioned the Storm now face the second placed Sharks in a game that may well decide the Minor Premiership next Saturday night at AAMI Park.