Broncos dominate Storm in second
half

Fulltime score: Round 19 BRISBANE BRONCOS 28 v MELBOURNE STORM 15 Match summary: The Brisbane Broncos have put in a dominant second half effort to outclass the Melbourne Storm 28-15 at Suncorp Stadium today.

The competition front runners opened the scoring after just six minutes when five eighth Darren Lockyer scored under the posts.

The Broncos were in again five minutes later through centre Shaun Berrigan and at 10-0, the home side looked to be well in control.

But the Storm struck back with tries to half back back Matt Orford and prop Dallas Johnson. Two penalty goals put the Storm further ahead before Orford slotted a surprise field goal just before the break.

At half time, the Storm held a 15-10 lead and in a reversal of fortunes, looked to be the team controlling proceedings.

But the Broncos are never to be underestimated and came out firing in the second half. A brilliant piece of play from Lockyer up the middle of the ruck, and a try to forward Brad Thorn in the 44th minute, set the tone with the Broncos gaining the ascendncy despite being behind on the scoreboard.

With prop Shane Webcke (pictured) leading the way, the Brisbane side gained control of the middle ground before a penalty goal in the 55th minute saw the Broncos back in front.

Tries to half back Brett Seymour (61st minute) and Berrick Barnes (70th minute) put the match beyond doubt.

Leagueunlimited Man of the match Shane Webcke may have a case to answer after being placed on report for a lifting tackle on Storm winger Jake Webster in the 66th minute.

Scorers: BRISBANE BRONCOS 28 Tries: Lockyer, S Berrigan, Thorn, Seymour, Barnes Goals: Lockyer 4/7 MELBOURNE STORM 15 Tries: Orford, Johnson Goals: Orford 3/4 Field Goal: Orford 1/1

Suncorp Stadium Crowd: 32,738 Referee: Russell Smith Half time: Storm 15-10

Live commentary: A beaut sunny afternoon in Brisbane and a huge crowd on hand to see 1st placed Broncos take on the 4th placed Storm. Both sides pretty much as per the card, Storm back Greg Inglis will not be playing after taking part in an earlier match. Referee Russell Smith calls time-on and Cameron Smith kicks off for the Storm...

5 min: NEWS- Broncos getting the early field position with back-to-back sets. The Storm hanging on.

6 min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Lockyer scores under the posts. Follows chip-kick from Brett Seymour, Tonie Carroll regathers and finds Lockyer in support on the inside. Conversion Lockyer. Broncos 6-0

11 min: TRY - Broncos. Shaun Berrigan scores 10m wide of goal. Follows a big bust from half way with Lockyer into space. He then kicks ahead and Berrigan gets the favour of the bounce to score. Conversion attempt from Lockyer is a poor one. Broncos 10-0

15 min: TRY - Storm. Matt Orford scores out wide. Set up by winger Matt Geyer who makes a break after clearing the ruck. Orford unable to convert. Broncos 10-4

20 min: TRY - Storm. Dallas Johnson crashes over from close range, the Storm striking back. Orford converts just wide of the posts. Its all locked up. 10-all

24 min: PENALTY GOAL - Storm. Orford makes no mistake from almost in front. Broncos penalised after Seymour is ruled offside after picking up a loose ball in front of a team mate. Storm 12-10

25 min: NEWS - Broncos kick off and kick out on the full! Storm then get two more penalties as the Broncos are guilty of a number of infringements, includig a head high tackle from Shane Webcke. Looks like Orford is going have another shot at goal.

27 min: PENALTY GOAL - Storm. Orford makes no mistake, almost a carbon copy of the earlier shot. Storm 14-10

29 min: HELD UP - Storm come within a whisker of scoring when Dallas Johnson is held up over the line by Justin Hodges on the last tackle. The Storm playing all over the Broncos at the moment.

33 min: NEWS - Tremendous run from Storm winger Matt Geyer who takes a bomb, evades the chasers, and runs 30m.

38 min: FIELD GOAL - Storm. Matt Orford slots it beautifully from 30m out. No one expecting it. Storm 15-10

Half time: Storm 15-10 (Half time pic above: Shane Webcke) A big turnaround from the early stages with the Storm dominating for a good 25 minutes of the half. The Broncos need to re-capture the form of the first 10 minutes and they are the come-back specialists. Despite the Storm looking the goods in the first half, there's still only 5 points in it - this match too close to call.

Second half underway...

44 min: TRY - Broncos. Brad Thorn scores 8m wide of the uprights, crashing over after being set up by Lockyer. Lockyer also involved in the previous play when he put Karmichael Hunt into a gap with a beaut inside pass. Conversion attempt from Lockyer is ordinary to say the least. Storm 15-14

49 min: NEWS - Broncos close to scoring when Hunt make a wonderful break up the middle of the park. The Broncos however, are unable to finish off the movement when the ball goes to ground.

55 min: PENALTY GOAL - Broncos. Darren Lockyer makes no mistake 15m in from touch, a more difficult angle than previous misses. Follows penalty against Storm for a double tackle on Hunt. Broncos 16-15

60 min: NEWS - A flurry of penalties now going the Broncos way. Looks like the Storm got the first 7 penalties and the Bronco have got the next 6.

61 min: TRY - Broncos. Brett Seymour steps his way through to score a great try following some lead up work from Webcke. Conversion Lockyer is OK. Broncos 22-15

62 min: NEWS - From the kick off, Storm kick out on the full!

66 min: NEWS - Shane Webcke on report after a lifting tackle on winger Jake Webster. Webcke looks in bit of trouble with the judiciary on this one.

68 min: MISSED PENALTY GOAL - Broncos. Lockyer unsuccessful 25m out and almost in front. Storm penalised for infringement on tcakled player. Penalties now even with something like 18 penalties in all.

70 min: TRY - Broncos. Berrick Barnes makes a dummy half run from 15m out and scores next to the posts. That'll be the match winner as the Brisbane side are dominating the second half. Conversion Lockyer. Broncos 28-15

FULL TIME: Broncos win 28-15, the Storm remaining scoreless in the second half.

Broncos just simply too good in the second half with Lockyer and Seymour working well in the halves on the back of some great go forward from Webcke and Petero Civoniceva. By comparison the Storm dominated most of the first half but seemed unable to lift following the Orford field goal. Cameron Smith probably the best of the Melbourne pack.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - S Webcke (Broncos) 2 - D Lockyer (Broncos) 1 - B Seymour (Broncos) -----------------------------------------