Broncos lose 14th consecutive game to Storm at Suncorp Stadium in minor premiership blow

Brisbane’s hopes of their first minor premiership in 23 years suffered a blow but it’s the club’s 5277-day curse against the Storm which could deny them a bigger prize.

Broncos captain Tom Flegler will be ‘honoured’ at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane’s hopes of their first minor premiership in 23 years suffered a blow as their nightmare against the Storm continued in a 32-22 collapse at Suncorp Stadium.

With the Broncos and Melbourne resting a total of 22 players, Brisbane’s ‘Renegades’ blew a golden chance to finish the regular season as top dogs as the class of Ryan Papenhuyzen steered the Storm to another Suncorp triumph.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo had flown north ready to present the JJ Giltinan Shield to the Broncos, but Craig Bellamy’s Storm troopers gatecrashed the party.

Brisbane’s 5277-day drought against the Storm on Queensland soil could not be broken as the B-grade Broncos failed to nail Melbourne’s coffin shut after surging to an early 12-0 lead.

Boom debutant Suavauli Fa’alogo scored one of the tries of the season to fire Melbourne to a 14-12 half-time lead and Papenhuyzen applied the polish after the break to seal the Storm’s 14th consecutive win over the Broncos.

“It leaves a foul taste in your mouth,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.

“It was there for us to make that (winning the minor premiership) happen, we weren’t so smart and Melbourne defended well.”

The Broncos lost their 14th consecutive game against the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.

REST FOR THE WICKED

The Broncos may have paid the price for resting 11 stars, including Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Herbie Farnworth, Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam.

A crowd of 43,271 were treated to an entertaining affair and while the Broncos had their chances, they have left the door ajar for Penrith to snatch the minor premiership.

If the Panthers beat the Cowboys and the Warriors dispose of the Dolphins on Saturday, the Broncos will finish second and host the New Zealand outfit in the opening week of the finals.

Stand-in skipper Tom Flegler appeared to injure his foot in the first half but confirmed he will be fit for the playoffs.

In a blow for the Broncos, Xavier Willison damaged his ankle, while back-rower Brendan Piakura was reported three times and looks set to miss the finals.

Ezra Mam and Herbie Farnworth look on. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

HELLO SAILOR

Tristan Sailor is too good to be a bit-part NRL player. He deserved to be in a winning side.

Filling in for fullback sensation Walsh, the son of Broncos legend Wendell was magnificent and the manner in which he terrorised the Storm suggests he is a bona fide first grader.

Sailor could easily be a starting fullback at most NRL clubs. The late-blooming 25-year-old was Brisbane’s most dangerous player with 195 metres and two try assists, including a sublime cut-out ball for Jordan Pereira’s 13th-minute four-pointer.

“Tristan was lively at the back,” Walters said. “He showed his skills, he is a very good player.”

Brendan Piakura was put on report twice.

LIFE OF RYAN

Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen continued his brave NRL fightback from a career-threatening kneecap injury with a promising display.

After returning on the bench last week, Papenhuyzen started at fullback and played a key role in stabilising the depleted Storm.

When young gun Fa’alogo entered the fray at fullback, ‘Paps’ moved into the halves and while he is not at his best yet, his class was palpable in the frontline as he edged the Storm home.

ROGER THAT

Who knows if Josh Rogers will play for the Broncos again? But if this was his first and last performance in the NRL, he can forever savour his Broncos debut.

The 27-year-old from Western Australia did not put a foot wrong in his Broncos baptism, demonstrating his goalkicking prowess with five from five, headlined by a booming sideline conversion.

But with the game on the line, the Storm held their nerve.

Sualauvi Faalogo announced himself as a star of the future.

ROOKIE PUTS NRL ON NOTICE

The Storm have unearthed another NRL superstar.

Flying fullback Sualauvi Faalogo made a stunning entry to the NRL with a blistering two-try debut in Melbourne’s clash against the Broncos on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.

With Melbourne and the Broncos resting 22 players, the final-round fixture opened the door of opportunity for a number of rookies and Fa’alogo wasted no time terrorising Brisbane.

Wearing No.14, the 20-year-old was on the field just four minutes when the Storm super-sub took a pass and speared through the Broncos line, racing upfield before releasing starting fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.

With the tryline looming, Papenhuyzen replied in kind, producing a sublime flick pass for Fa’alogo, who crashed over in the corner to finish off a spectacular 70-metre movement.

Welcome to the NRL, Sua Faalogo!

That’s what we needed to see to kickoff Resting Round. pic.twitter.com/fLOw9UU882

— Jason Oliver (@JasonNRL) August 31, 2023

Sualauvi Faalogo celebrates his debut in style.

The boom custodian then dummied through seven minutes from time to bury Brisbane as he finished with 117 metres, five tackle busts and two line breaks in the ultimate debutant’s ball.

The Storm have a history of producing brilliant fullbacks, headlined by Billy Slater and Papenhuyzen.

Now enter Fa’alogo, who will be banging down the selection door for a regular NRL starting spot next season after the first glimpse of class at Suncorp.

The fifth Victorian to play NRL for the Storm, Fa’alogo is capable of playing wing, but prefers the fullback spot, which could present a headache for coach Craig Bellamy given the backfield brilliance of Papenhuyzen.

There is something special about Fa’alogo. The Victorian Thunderbolts under-21s star moves beautifully and like Broncos fullback sensation Reece Walsh, Fa’alogo only needs a sliver of space to tear the opposition apart.

Fa’alogo has been in sizzling touch for feeder-club Sunshine Coast in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup. He has scored six tries in the past month and posted a whopping 108 tackle busts in 18 appearances for the Falcons this season.

ORIGIN OF BANANA ‘STITCH UP’

Broncos fans have been encouraged to give departing captain Tom Flegler a rousing send-off in Thursday night’s clash against Melbourne – but urged to avoid any awkward slip-ups.

Flegler, who will next season join cross-town rivals the Dolphins, will captain the Baby Broncos for the first time in the last regular season home game of the year for Brisbane.

And fans had prepared a unique celebration for the Queensland enforcer – raising a banana in his honour during the eighth minute of the match.

Flegler, speaking to Fox Sports before the round 27 clash, revealed his roomate was behind the viral campaign.

“My roommate is trying to be a comedian but get behind it, everyone, go down to the shop and get a banana and raise it on the eighth minute,” Flegler told Corey Parker.

It is a fitting tribute, as Flegler’s family run a 500ha banana farm in Tully, in far north Queensland, but one that has spooked Suncorp Stadium officials, who want to ensure the sell-out crowd sticks to the rules.

Suncorp asking Broncos fans not throw bananas for Flegler 😂 🍌 #NRLBroncosStormpic.twitter.com/7QhsTqW3S3

— Eden Richards (@Eden_Richards) August 31, 2023

“While we have no problem with patrons ‘raising a banana’ in honour of the former Tully Tiger, we would like to remind fans that ‘throwing’ of the bananas is not permitted within the stadium,” a statement read on Thursday.

“For the safety and enjoyment of all patrons, we, along with the Brisbane Broncos encourage everyone to be responsible at tonight’s game.”

Tom Flegler celebrates his four pointer. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

7.41PM: BIG NAS, YOUNG FAN

He may be in enemy territory but big NAS always has time for the fans.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona spotted outside Suncorp Stadium with Tui Kamikamika and young fan Brandon O'Brien.

7.25PM: WHO’S MISSING?

- with Peter Badel

Both Kevin Walters and Craig Bellamy have rested a host of stars for the round 27 clash.

Walters has wrapped his stars in cotton wool for the finals, standing down 11 top-liners, including superstar fullback Reece Walsh, for Brisbane’s final regular-season game against Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.

The mass resting has opened the door for hooking sensation Blake Mozer to make his club debut. Late bloomer Josh Rogers replaces Ezra Mam in the halves.

Brisbane’s missing 11 include Reece Walsh, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell, Kobe Hetherington, Ezra Mam, Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth.

Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan were ruled out with niggling injuries, while Kotoni Staggs is sitting out through suspension.

Melbourne will be without superstars Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes.