Storm tipped to deliver Broncos harsh finals reality check
The final round of the NRL regular season has set up one of the biggest clashes of the year, with the Brisbane Broncos hosting the Melbourne Storm in a Thursday night blockbuster. While the Broncos are fighting for a crucial double chance in the finals, many experts believe it is the Storm who are poised to bounce back and remind everyone why they have been a dominant force for so long.
The Storm were embarrassed last week in a heavy defeat to the Roosters, but Craig Bellamy has wasted no time making changes. Jahrome Hughes has been recalled in the No.7 jersey, joined by five other top-line players who were rested for that game. The only major omission is suspended captain Harry Grant, yet Bellamy’s side still looks close to full strength as they travel to Brisbane. That in itself has tipped the balance in the eyes of Nine’s experts, with the majority siding with Melbourne to take the win.
The Broncos, meanwhile, come into this clash after what can only be described as a bizarre build-up. Their 38–30 victory over the Cowboys was overshadowed by defensive lapses so alarming that coach Michael Maguire gave his players a fierce spray at halftime, despite his side leading at the break. Instead of sparking discipline, the following week was filled with distractions. Reece Walsh made headlines after a social media video showed him drinking toilet water, while Origin centre Gehamat Shibasaki arrived at training showing the effects of alcohol. Shibasaki has since been dropped, with Jesse Arthars called in and Deine Mariner shifted to the centres.
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Andrew Johns summed it up bluntly on Freddy and the Eighth , joking that it was the wrong time for players to be “on grandpa’s old medicine.” Brad Fittler could only shake his head, adding that the timing of such off-field issues could not be worse with finals just around the corner.
Bellamy, for his part, has his own problems. His 600th game as coach was supposed to be a celebration, but instead his side was demolished. Still, the Storm carry a remarkable record against Brisbane, one that even Broncos legend Darren Lockyer admitted comes with a psychological edge. Melbourne’s ability to bounce back from poor performances has become a hallmark of the Bellamy era, and many believe it will show again.
Round 27 opens with high stakes, high drama, and two teams carrying very different energies. If history and expert opinion are anything to go by, the Broncos may be in for a reality check at the worst possible time.
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