Storm extend winning streak against Broncos

Round 23
Brisbane Broncos 12 v Melbourne Storm 18
at Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne

Match Summary:
The Melbourne Storm have extended their winning streak at Suncorp Stadium today with an impressive 18-12 come from behind win over the Brisbane Broncos who know slump to their 5th straight loss. The Broncos played a great first half but fell away in the first 20 minutes of the second half and the Storm managed to hold on for the win in what was a magnificent game of Rugby League.

The Broncos defence was excellent for most of the match and it started from the very first minute of the game with the defence of Petro Civoniceva, Shane Webke, Sam Thaiday and Brad Thorn being both fierce and extremely vicious. The line speed was superb from the Broncos and they out muscled the aggressive forward pack of the Melbourne Storm. The Broncos were first to strike and it came through Tame Tupou in the 15th minute after Storm winger Matt Geyer came of his wing to leave the big Kiwi international wide open to score in the corner. The unsuccessful conversion from Captain Darren Lockyer gave the Broncos a 4-0 lead in the first quarter of the contest. The Broncos were in again in the 28th minute through Lockyer after fullback Justin Hodges broke through some poor Storm defence and then gave the ball to his captain which gave the Broncos a pleasing 10-0 lead.

The second half started well for the Melbourne side with Scott Hill breaking the Broncos line and finding halfback Cooper Cronk who scored under the post to reduce the margin to 4 points with a majority of the second half still to be played. The Storm were next to score in the 57th minute when they used the overlap they had for Gold Coast bound Steve Turner to score in the corner. Cameron Smith converted from the sideline to give the Storm a 12-10 lead and plenty of momentum. From the next set the Storm were in again after Michael Crocker made a break and from the following play Matt King scored out wide and the Storm now had an 18-10 lead with 20 minutes left to go. Michael Crocker might find himself in a bit of strife after a dangerous throw on Sam Thaiday in the 67th minute. The penalty also gave the Broncos 2 points and 40,000+ fans at Suncorp Stadium a grandstand finish. The Broncos had three sets of six at the Storm defence but much like most of the season the Storm defence held on when it matters. Last play option from the Broncos really hurt them throughout the day and the Storm proved why they are winning this competition at the moment.

The Broncos come down to Sydney next Friday night to challenge the second placed Bulldogs in what is sure to be a Friday night thriller whilst the Melbourne Side challenge the Warriors down in Melbourne.


Scorers:
Brisbane Broncos: 12
Tries: Darren Lockyer, Tame Tupou
Goals: Darren Lockyer 1/2, Corey Parker 1/1
Melbourne Storm: 18
Tries: Cooper Cronk, Matt King, Steve Turner
Goals: Cameron Smith 3/3

By the Clock:
Welcome to Suncorp Stadium for this contest between the 5th place Brisbane Broncos and the 1st place Melbourne Storm. The Broncos are still in a good position at the moment but need to get out of this slump they are in and there is no better way to do it against the competition leaders in the Melbourne Storm in front of a massive crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

For the Broncos, Hodges has gone to fullback and Boyd has gone to the wing with Tate to the centers. Carroll also moves to the centers with Stagg now at lock and Thaiday moving into the back row. Ben Hannett is added on to the interchange bench.

For the Storm, Adam Blair has come in for Jeremry Smith.

0 min: NEWS Kick off underway here at Suncorp Stadium!

3 min: NEWS The early defencive work of the Broncos is brutal! Big hits from Civoniceva, Webke and Thorn on the big Storm forwards. The Broncos look like they have their game faces on this afternoon.

9 min: NEWS Lockyer puts up a a little chip for Tame Tupou but the ball goes into touch and the Storm defence holds. A fast paced game at the moment.

11 min: NEWS A great kick return from Greg Inglis gets the Storm to the half way line only to be awarded with a penalty. Storm now on the attack in the Broncos 20m zone.

15 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos strike first with Tame Tupou crossing in the corner after a great past from Darren Lockyer.
Lockyer misses the conversion from the touch line.
Broncos 4-0

20 min: NEWS The Storm are finding it hard to make ground with the Broncos rushing up quickly of their line. The pressure gets to much for Jake Webster who looses the ball from dummy half.

24 min: NEWS A poor first half from the Melbourne Storm continues with another error with in their own 30m. The Broncos are looking to punish them for their errors.

28 min: TRY Brisbane Broncos
Justin Hodges steps through some poor defence and breaks the line then draws the fullback and gives the ball off to Darren Lockyer who scores in the corner.
Corey Parker nails the conversion from the sideline.
Broncos 10-0

35 min: NEWS The Storm throw the ball around a bit and gain a bit of momentum but a Scott Hill kick goes dead in-goal and the pressure is off the Broncos for the moment.

39 min: NEWS The Broncos goal line defence holds on with Tame Tupou taking a cross field bomb to defuse the attacking raid. The Broncos defence has been superb in this first 40 minutes.

40 min: NEWS HALFTIME here at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane Broncos 10 - Melbourne Storm 0

40 min: NEWS C.Smith kicks off to start the second half.

44 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Scott Hill steps once, then steps twice and breaks the Broncos line. He draws Hodges and finds probably the fastest halfback in the competition in Cooper Cronk to score under the posts.
Cameron Smith converts the try.
Broncos 10-6

51 min: NEWS The Broncos lose the ball on the halfway line and gifts the Storm another chance to score. The Storm however lose the ball themselves on the second play of the set.

57 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
The Storm level up after they take advantage of an overlap and Steve Turner crosses in the corner for his 13th try of the season.
Cameron Smith converts from the sideline! The Storm have the lead for the first time in this match.
Storm 12-10

59 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
After a break from Michael Crocker, the Storm spread the ball out wide and International player Matt King scores in the same corner as Steve Turner did 3 minutes ago. The Storm go the length of the field to turn this game on it's head.
Smith converts yet again from the sideline!
Storm 18-10

67 min: ON REPORT - Michael Crocker is put on report for a dangerous throw.

67 min: PENALTY GOAL Brisbane Broncos
Lockyer converts the penalty goal after the dangerous throw from Michael Crocker.
Storm 18-12

70 min: NEWS The Broncos are awarded a new set of 6 in the Storm 20m zone only to get the ball stripped from Cooper Cronk in a one on one tackle. Unbelievable stuff here at Suncorp Stadium in front of 40,000 people.

72 min: NEWS A well weighted kick from the Broncos gets the ball in the in-goal and they trap Greg Inglis to get a repeat set.

74 min: NEWS The Broncos get another repeat set after Steve Turner leaps from the field of play to the in-goal to take a cross field kick. The Broncos on the attack yet again with time running out!

75 min: NEWS The Storm hold on and tackle Lockyer on last tackle. The Broncos muscling up in defence right now.

77 min: NEWS VIDEO REF - Darius Boyd possibly might of scored in the corner. It appears that he has put a foot in touch. NO TRY!

79 min: NEWS FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT - Cooper Cronk just misses a field goal attempt to the left.

80 min: NEWS FULLTIME!

Melbourne Storm 18 - Brisbane Broncos 12
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Steve Turner (Storm)
2 - Justin Hodges (Broncos)
1 - Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
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