Round 12 Broncos v Storm
The line is 20.5
THURSDAY
Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm
Broncos: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Jesse Arthars 5. David Mead 6. Anthony Milford 7. Albert Kelly 8. Rhys Kennedy 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Keenan Palasia 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Thomas Flegler 14. Kobe Hetherington 15. John Asiata 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Tc Robati 18. Dale Copley 19. Selwyn Cobbo
Players cut: 20. Richard Kennar 21. Cory Paix
Late Mail: To come.
Storm: 1. Nicholas Hynes 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Chris Lewis 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Dale Finucane 14. Aaron Booth 16. Trent Loiero 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 19. Isaac Lumelume 20. Aaron Pene 21. Cooper Johns
Players cut: 10. Christian Welch 18. Dean Ieremia
Late Mail: Craig Bellamy is expected to stick with second-rower Chris Lewis in the No.6 jersey despite naming specialised half Cooper Johns on the extended bench. Lewis was a shock selection at five-eighth last week as the Storm push through the absence of Cameron Munster. Christian Welch drops out of the side due to a swollen knee which has prevented him from training this week. Tui Kamikamica comes into the starting side and Dean Ieremia joins the bench. The Storm are set to stick with Chris Lewis at five-eighth and resist bringing in Cooper Johns to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Hughes returns from a hamstring injury with Johns pushed to the reserves.
Referee: Ashley Klein
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-cr ... 57ve4.html
Any other club loses legendary players and it takes them years to recover. Parramatta, Canberra, Brisbane, North Queensland …
The Storm, under Bellamy, keep evolving. Keep changing the way they play.
Watch them keep rolling against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
How the Broncos can win
I was very impressed with the Broncos in their upset win over the Roosters, although it was a very stop-start game.
Their game plan was to target young Roosters halfback Sam Walker via rampaging back-rower Tevita Pangai jnr.
But it was their formation in attack, with players constantly in motion, that got Pangai one-on-one with Walker. A big tick for playmaker Albert Kelly, who got the game plan on.
If Pangai has another big game, he’ll be a huge chance of selection in Brad Fittler’s NSW side for the State of Origin opener, at left back-rower or on the bench.
The Broncos should be trying to get the ball in the hands of winger Xavier Coates as much as possible, given his speed.
Think back to when these teams met in round four at AAMI Park and Coates ran the length of the field, getting away from Storm speedster Josh Addo-Carr, to score the opening try.
I’d love to see the GPS numbers on these two players, just to see who travels the fastest.
Maybe their battle will be a dress rehearsal for Origin.
How the Storm can win
The Storm have won their last nine against the Broncos. You get the feeling the coach loves nothing more than beating the club at which he was once an assistant to Wayne Bennett.
Expect them to continue with their forward power game but off the back of that I think they will send a lot of traffic to their left-side, where Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford defends.
Watch how many times Storm centre Justin Olam will get at him.
The match-up I can’t wait for is Broncos prop Payne Haas up against Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
We all know Haas is a freak but Big Nelson under Bellamy has gone from being a clumsy player with poor discipline to one of the best front-rowers in the game.
Sit back and watch these collisions not just shake Suncorp Stadium but also the television.
Player to watch
In a game and world that lacks genuine characters, Brandon Smith is a throwback to a great era.
The “Block of Cheese” goes a million miles per hour and doesn’t apologise for it.
He just runs so hard each time he gets out of dummy half or makes a tackle. Every interview is entertaining. I absolutely love him.
Freddy and I were watching one of his first matches and laughing our heads off. Brandon was so excited, so pumped to get on the field. He was grunting and snorting — so good.
I used to call Steve Roach “cheese”, as in “block of cheese”. I took one look at Brandon and the first words I said were, “look at him, he’s a runaway block of cheese”.
The verdict
Who wins? Melbourne but this will be closer than people imagine.
Brisbane will gain great confidence from the victory over the Roosters but with the Storm’s forward power, and the return of Hughes, means Melbourne will pull away in the last 15 minutes.
I can’t ignore the current crackdown in the game for head high tackles, as much as I don’t want to keep bringing it up.
I went to the Roosters-Broncos match last weekend purely as a fan because I wanted to watch the much-anticipated debut of Joseph Suaalii.
I wanted to watch him live, so I could watch him off the ball. I mostly wanted to see what all the hype was about.
The contest was taken out of it because of the referee and the bunker.
Victor Radley wanted to stop Pangai running at his halfback and put a decent shot on him.
In days gone by, he gets a pat on the back. Now, he’s suspended for two Origin matches.
Where will this end?
You won’t be able to sledge soon in case you hurt someone’s feelings. Grade-two bullying.
Joey’s tip: Storm by 14.
First try-scorer: Justin Olam.
Man of the match: Block of Cheese.
THURSDAY
Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm
Broncos: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Jesse Arthars 5. David Mead 6. Anthony Milford 7. Albert Kelly 8. Rhys Kennedy 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Keenan Palasia 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Thomas Flegler 14. Kobe Hetherington 15. John Asiata 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Tc Robati 18. Dale Copley 19. Selwyn Cobbo
Players cut: 20. Richard Kennar 21. Cory Paix
Late Mail: To come.
Storm: 1. Nicholas Hynes 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Chris Lewis 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Dale Finucane 14. Aaron Booth 16. Trent Loiero 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 19. Isaac Lumelume 20. Aaron Pene 21. Cooper Johns
Players cut: 10. Christian Welch 18. Dean Ieremia
Late Mail: Craig Bellamy is expected to stick with second-rower Chris Lewis in the No.6 jersey despite naming specialised half Cooper Johns on the extended bench. Lewis was a shock selection at five-eighth last week as the Storm push through the absence of Cameron Munster. Christian Welch drops out of the side due to a swollen knee which has prevented him from training this week. Tui Kamikamica comes into the starting side and Dean Ieremia joins the bench. The Storm are set to stick with Chris Lewis at five-eighth and resist bringing in Cooper Johns to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Hughes returns from a hamstring injury with Johns pushed to the reserves.
Referee: Ashley Klein
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-cr ... 57ve4.html
Any other club loses legendary players and it takes them years to recover. Parramatta, Canberra, Brisbane, North Queensland …
The Storm, under Bellamy, keep evolving. Keep changing the way they play.
Watch them keep rolling against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
How the Broncos can win
I was very impressed with the Broncos in their upset win over the Roosters, although it was a very stop-start game.
Their game plan was to target young Roosters halfback Sam Walker via rampaging back-rower Tevita Pangai jnr.
But it was their formation in attack, with players constantly in motion, that got Pangai one-on-one with Walker. A big tick for playmaker Albert Kelly, who got the game plan on.
If Pangai has another big game, he’ll be a huge chance of selection in Brad Fittler’s NSW side for the State of Origin opener, at left back-rower or on the bench.
The Broncos should be trying to get the ball in the hands of winger Xavier Coates as much as possible, given his speed.
Think back to when these teams met in round four at AAMI Park and Coates ran the length of the field, getting away from Storm speedster Josh Addo-Carr, to score the opening try.
I’d love to see the GPS numbers on these two players, just to see who travels the fastest.
Maybe their battle will be a dress rehearsal for Origin.
How the Storm can win
The Storm have won their last nine against the Broncos. You get the feeling the coach loves nothing more than beating the club at which he was once an assistant to Wayne Bennett.
Expect them to continue with their forward power game but off the back of that I think they will send a lot of traffic to their left-side, where Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford defends.
Watch how many times Storm centre Justin Olam will get at him.
The match-up I can’t wait for is Broncos prop Payne Haas up against Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
We all know Haas is a freak but Big Nelson under Bellamy has gone from being a clumsy player with poor discipline to one of the best front-rowers in the game.
Sit back and watch these collisions not just shake Suncorp Stadium but also the television.
Player to watch
In a game and world that lacks genuine characters, Brandon Smith is a throwback to a great era.
The “Block of Cheese” goes a million miles per hour and doesn’t apologise for it.
He just runs so hard each time he gets out of dummy half or makes a tackle. Every interview is entertaining. I absolutely love him.
Freddy and I were watching one of his first matches and laughing our heads off. Brandon was so excited, so pumped to get on the field. He was grunting and snorting — so good.
I used to call Steve Roach “cheese”, as in “block of cheese”. I took one look at Brandon and the first words I said were, “look at him, he’s a runaway block of cheese”.
The verdict
Who wins? Melbourne but this will be closer than people imagine.
Brisbane will gain great confidence from the victory over the Roosters but with the Storm’s forward power, and the return of Hughes, means Melbourne will pull away in the last 15 minutes.
I can’t ignore the current crackdown in the game for head high tackles, as much as I don’t want to keep bringing it up.
I went to the Roosters-Broncos match last weekend purely as a fan because I wanted to watch the much-anticipated debut of Joseph Suaalii.
I wanted to watch him live, so I could watch him off the ball. I mostly wanted to see what all the hype was about.
The contest was taken out of it because of the referee and the bunker.
Victor Radley wanted to stop Pangai running at his halfback and put a decent shot on him.
In days gone by, he gets a pat on the back. Now, he’s suspended for two Origin matches.
Where will this end?
You won’t be able to sledge soon in case you hurt someone’s feelings. Grade-two bullying.
Joey’s tip: Storm by 14.
First try-scorer: Justin Olam.
Man of the match: Block of Cheese.
Brisbane copping flak for running their 6th halves combination in 12 games. Just quietly, we ae running our 4th halves combination in 4 weeks...
Obviously vastly different situations. Brisbane making changes based on form/results, where as we are making changes to cover for injuries. I just found it interesting that Kevvie feels the heat for chopping and changing the halves but that's clearly not where the problems for the Broncos start and stop.
Obviously vastly different situations. Brisbane making changes based on form/results, where as we are making changes to cover for injuries. I just found it interesting that Kevvie feels the heat for chopping and changing the halves but that's clearly not where the problems for the Broncos start and stop.
If you think adding Reynolds, Hodgson and Hynes to the Broncos will make them formidable, you will be bitterly disappointed. Reynolds is a good pick-u[p for them, but you need not look any further than last week against the Panthers. Behind a well beaten forward pack, he can't make a difference.
Hodgson is a shell of his former self. Hynes has been in career best form for us, but can he do the same in a team that is struggling?
The culture, the defensive grit, the forward pack, the experience - all need addressing/structural changes. A couple of OK recruitments are not going to change that. Hard work is needed by everyone.
Reynolds is top shelf. He will drive the type of change that Kevvie craves.
Hodgson isnt trying atm. Brisbane will unlock him. All he needs to do is pass to Reynolds anyway.
And Nicko is a very very good player.
I don't care about Brisbane but don't slag them off the night we are going to play them. Bad Karma.
Hodgson isnt trying atm. Brisbane will unlock him. All he needs to do is pass to Reynolds anyway.
And Nicko is a very very good player.
I don't care about Brisbane but don't slag them off the night we are going to play them. Bad Karma.
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Storm_M_36
- Hail Storm
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:21 pm
Sloppy storm for the 2nd week in a row. So much possession and nothing to to show for it, just mistake after mistake!!
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Shuttlesworth99
- Hail Storm
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:50 pm
Broncos looked alright the first 15 mins.
We have been average.
We have been average.