Round 23: Broncos v Storm preview
Rivals reunite with the finals within reach
Friday night football will serve as a finals precursor with the Brisbane Broncos playing host to the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
Forging a fierce rivalry over the past 25 seasons with several epic encounters, including memorable meetings in September and October, the two sides will be treating the clash as a must-win encounter three weeks out from the start of the play-offs.
Bouncing back from consecutive losses with a far from convincing performance on home soil last week, the Brisbane Broncos will be aiming to claim a rare victory over their long-standing foes at all venues.
Managing just four wins from 32 meetings in the years since claiming their last premiership title in 2006, coach Kevin Walters will be hoping to become the first Brisbane coach since Ivan Henjak in 2009 to defeat the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
Currently ranked sixth in the middle of a group of three teams locked on 28 competition points, victory could see the Broncos finish the round on the cusp of the top four or fall into contention to miss the finals entirely with a defeat.
Retaining the same squad that accounted for Newcastle 28-10 last Saturday, Kobe Hetherington has been named in the starting side with Ryan James reverting to the bench.
Sitting in outright fourth with three teams ranked two points in arrears, the Melbourne Storm will be aiming to solidify a vital top four finish in order to have a chance, based on precedent, of being crowned premiers.
Proving far too strong for an undermanned Penrith outfit during last Thursday's 16-0 shutout at the foot of the mountains, the Storm have won their past 11 matches against the Broncos, including a come-from-behind victory at AAMI Park earlier this season.
Boosted by the return of Jahrome Hughes at halfback and Young Tonumaipea preferred ahead of Marion Seve in the centres, coach Craig Bellamy will be hoping his side can break a run of three straight losses at Suncorp Stadium against all teams.
Josh King will bring up a century of appearances in first grade - incidentally at the venue he debuted in first grade with Newcastle back in 2016 - while Harry Grant will play his 50th game respectively.
Last meeting: Round 15 2022 - Storm 32 Broncos 20
Who to watch: Enjoying a spectacular rise from the Queensland state league to starring in the hallowed number six jersey for Brisbane, teenage wunderkind Ezra Mam will be looking to prove that age is no match for ability. Scoring six tries and setting up a further seven in 11 appearances so far this season, the 19-year-old playmaker has revelled alongside Adam Reynolds in a halves partnership boasting the exuberance of youth and the wisdom that comes with age. Asserting his class with a game-breaking play shortly before halftime last week, the Broncos will be looking for Mam to do likewise in a bid to break the Storm's dominance spanning well over a decade.
Facing off against his former club for the first time, strike winger Xavier Coates will be out to showcase his development since making the move to Melbourne this season. Making a successful return from a serious ankle injury sustained in the opening State of Origin fixture, the 21-year-old has been in fine form averaging a line break, two tackle breaks and close to 130 running metres over the past fortnight. Crossing for 12 tries in his first 13 appearances as a Storm player, the Broncos will need to contain Coates on Friday evening or risk the rising star adding to his tally.
The favourite: Despite losing their past three visits to Suncorp Stadium against all-comers, the Melbourne Storm are expected to continue a run of dominance over the home team rarely seen in the NRL era.
My tip: The Broncos have enjoyed an extremely successful season considering the depths of despair endured following the on-set of COVID-19. However, the side is still a few years off challenging in September, while the Storm are gearing up to farewell a host of stars with another tilt at the title. Storm by 7.
