Round 27: Broncos v Storm preview
With their season over, the clouds have already gathered around Red Hill for the Brisbane Broncos ahead of their last game this Thursday against Melbourn at Suncorp Stadium.
With one team ready to put the boots up by the full-time whistle and one more going on to play finals, we hope the Brisbane Broncos will want to put a show on for the fans against a full-strength Melbourne Storm outfit poised to fire shots across the bow as to what they will hold install for other teams in the finals season to come.
The Broncos bowed out dramatically last round, their hopes for finals footy dashed as the Redcliffe Dolphins took a lease out on Suncorp Stadium, winning 40-6. Coach Kevvie Walters was in no mood for questions, and his answers were short and sharp when asked where it all went wrong for a team to be in a grand final and not make the top eight only a year later. He could not put his finger on it, but he felt the players were not rising to the game or meeting the expectations of such a strong club. The Broncos seemed confused, with only Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas seemingly following any plan of going forward, but they lacked any support.
The game not only bruised the players' confidence but also affected their lineup for the last game of the season. Kotoni Staggs is out with a quad injury, putting Selwyn Cobbo into the centres and club veteran Corey Oates onto the wing. The forwards will see a reshuffle with Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura out with injuries and Xavier Willison serving a one-match ban. In their place will be Fletcher Baker, Jaiyden Hunt and Kobe Hetherington.
Sure, the Storm are coming off a loss, but for a young team heading to Townsville, they sure as hell gave it a good crack going down 38-30 to a formidable Cowboys outfit.
The gutsy effort was led by Tyran Wishart, who took control of the game from the outset. Keeping on the front foot, Wishart was backed up with solid performances from young Storm forwards Lazarus Vaalepu and Ativalu Lisati.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy wants to flex before the finals, announcing a solid team with absent players forced via injury. Ryan Papenhuyzen will sit out of the game from a leg injury sustained early in the last round. Sua Faalogo will take his spot and will be joined by Jahrome Hughes, Will Warbrick, and Nick Meaney. While it the forwards, we see the return of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Harry Grant, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa and Trent Loiero pushing Tyran Wishart, Christian Welch and Alec MacDonald to the bench.
Last meeting: Round 5 2024 - Storm 34 Broncos 32
Who to watch: Adam Reynolds was under media pressure this week, but like any good captain, he stood behind his coach; now he has to find the motivation in his forwards to get on top of the game. I want to end the season on a high note, so expect the best from one of the best in the game.
Pat Carrigan will do his best, as he usually wins or loses for the Broncos. But he hopes his actions can inspire some other forwards to get on the journey with him.
Deine Mariner has shown plenty of speed and agility this year, and if he and Jesse Arthurs can get some good ball and open space, they will help keep the Broncos in the game.
Cameron Munster and Jarome Hughes will be up to the usual business in the middle. Running, big dummies and masterful kicks for the likes of Will Warbrick, Grant Anderson and Sua Faalogo to ponce on.
With a fully operational Melbourne Storm, we can leave out the effort people like Harry Grant, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tyran Wishart, and Josh King will bring. Not to mention Grant Anderson and Jack Howarth, as well as Meaney, to finish off at the back.
The favourite: With the roll, the Storm is on, and there is shell shock at Red Hill. The smart money is on the Storm coming in hot and gearing up for a finals campaign.
My tip: The Broncos won't bounce back to a win. They likely have a good crack, but the wind was out of them last week and is unlikely to be in their wings this game. The contrast in the body language of both teams is telling; the Broncos will battle on in vain while the Storm will win and have some fun, Melbourne by three tries.
