Orford Looking For Golden
Opportunity

Melbourne Storm halfback Matt Orford remembers last year?s round 19 clash with the Brisbane Broncos like it was yesterday.

With the scores tied after 80 minutes the game went into extra-time and on Melbourne?s first forward thrust Orford had the chance to seal a ?golden point? victory with a 20-metre field goal, directly in front of the uprights.

Unfortunately for Orford and the Storm, the kick sailed wide and the Broncos went on to score the winning try on their next trip downfield.

?Obviously I still remember that kick because it pretty much lost us the game,? Orford said.

?It always sits in the back of your head until you get into that situation again and turn it around. Those kicks are not necessarily the hardest kicks to make but they?re the kicks you have to make.

?Ever since then I?ve practiced a little bit more at field goals.?

Both club and halfback will be hoping Sunday?s encounter with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium doesn?t follow the same path.

?Hopefully it doesn?t go to a golden point again this weekend,? said Orford, who has overcome the inner-ear infection that plagued his pre-season.

?If we can do the simple things right as we did last week against the Dragons, we shouldn?t find ourselves in that position again.?

Melbourne finds itself in the unenviable situation of coming up against a riled Brisbane outfit, following the NRL?s decision to slap a breach notice on the Broncos after fielding a 14th player in last Sunday?s win over the Tigers.

?We seem to be the unlucky side that has to play the Broncos after something bad has happened,? Orford mused.

?They?ll be fired up for sure but we?ll be focusing on our game and if they get carried away with other things then it?s probably going to be better for us.?

This week?s match is an opportunity for the Storm to break a four game losing streak against the Broncos, including a 10-14 loss trial game loss in Toowoomba five weeks ago.

It is also a chance for Melbourne to prove it deserves to be regarded amongst the top teams in the NRL.

?Last year we competed against the top sides like the Broncos, the Bulldogs and the Roosters but rarely came away with a win, this is a golden opportunity to get the monkey off our back,? the 25-year-old added.

?If we can beat a top side early in the year it will give us confidence for the rest of the season.?

STORM TRAINING THIS WEEK Thursday: 3.30pm, Olympic Park Saturday: 9.30am, Olympic Park