Broncos will go to Melbourne looking to ambush the Storm

AIMING to end a seven-game losing sequence in finals away from home, the Broncos will need a better kicking game at AAMI Park against the Storm.

James Roberts scores against the Panthers. Pics Adam Head

FOR so many years cast in the role of Wile E Coyote to Melbourne’s Road Runner, the Broncos will go to the Storm’s house with a few ideas on how to make this ambush count.

Under-strength Brisbane made eight handling errors to Penrith’s three in the first half of a 13-6 semi-final win and that’s too many mistakes to promote untold confidence against a team as organised as the Storm is.

But Brisbane, who have beaten the Storm only twice since the end of 2010, defended with consistently better line speed than in a loss to Sydney Roosters last week. The Broncos missed 32 tackles on Friday night, nine fewer than seven days earlier.

Aiming to end a seven-game losing sequence in finals away from home, the Broncos will need a better kicking game in the preliminary final at AAMI Park than Benji Marshall was able to give them on Friday night.

But Andrew Johns espouses a theory that Melbourne can be successfully played “around’’ early in a set by a team willing to dare to go wide at their own end. The Broncos are better equipped than most to do this.

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James Roberts scores against the Panthers. Pics Adam Head

Dummy-half running as inventive as that by Ben Hunt asks questions of any defensive line, even the Storm side who posted a 42-12 win at Suncorp Stadium in Round 17.

Anthony Milford’s form in recent weeks is reminiscent of a scout rubbing two sticks together. A spark of fire just has to erupt soon, but will the camp will be over before it happens?

“We have to be sharper in attack, sharper with our shifts,’’ Hunt said.

“We’ll have to be better against the Storm.’’

Left centre Tautau Moga did not miss a beat in defence as Penrith peppered the Brisbane left side.

Reluctant fullback Kodi Nikorima did well with his ball for Brisbane’s second try by James Roberts.

He will be grateful if Darius Boyd is fit next week, but after dropping a bomb under his own posts in the 22nd minute he put his body on the line to deny Panthers kicker Nathan Cleary’s chip and chase with 13 minutes left.

The crowd of 38,623, coming after the four games in week one of the finals fell short of 80,000, emphasises that Brisbane is one city which warrants one of the available grand finals if NSW gets around to redeveloping ANZ Stadium.

Ben Hunt in action against the Panthers.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was a guest in the NRL’s corporate suite on Friday night at a time when the NSW Government is plodding ponderously towards a Sydney stadiums investment outcome. So was the LNP’s Tim Mander, the former NRL referee.

Originally published as Broncos will go to Melbourne looking to ambush the Storm