NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos crush Melbourne Storm hoodoo to book preliminary final
The rampaging Broncos have stormed to within 80 minutes of the grand final after exorcising their Melbourne demons in devastating fashion.
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What hoodoo?
The rampaging Broncos have stormed to within one game of the grand final after exorcising their Melbourne demons with a 26-0 finals thumping at Suncorp Stadium.
Before 50,197, the qualifying final turned into an Adam Reynolds masterclass as the Broncos halfback produced a sublime skipper’s knock to emphatically snap their 14-game losing streak to Melbourne.
The Storm’s night of disaster was summed up by the sight of star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen being carried off with a badly broken ankle, just three weeks after his return from a shattered kneecap.
Not even a first-half downpour could represent an omen for the Storm, who were clunky and sloppy against a Broncos side that hadn’t beaten Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne juggernaut at Suncorp since 2009.
But Brisbane’s painful 5285-day drought is over, with the Broncos playing with more midfield energy, offensive shape and defensive sizzle to seal a week off ahead of their preliminary final at Suncorp.
The Storm, meanwhile, face a sudden-death showdown next week at AAMI Park against the winner of Saturday’s Roosters-Sharks elimination final.
With Reynolds in total control, Brisbane, in their first playoffs game since 2019, led 8-0 at halftime before two tries in four minutes to Reece Walsh (50th) and Jordan Riki (54th) sealed the shutout.
Brisbane are one win from their first grand final since 2015. This hoodoo smashed, the Broncos now have every reason to believe they can break their 17-year premiership drought.
“We haven’t won a big game like that for a long time,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.
“They didn’t attack our line too much, but our defence is something we have worked hard on and that’s our first nil scoreline, it was very good.
“That was the most pleasing thing.
“You could see the resolve among them at halftime, we kept defending well and it was really good. The Storm have been a good side for a long time, the longer the game went the more pressure we put on them with our defence.”
SKIPPER’S KNOCK
The Broncos paid $2.4 million to poach Reynolds from Souths. He is worth every cent and more.
Not only has Reynolds’ experience transformed the Broncos. So, too, has his intellect.
The great playmakers have more time than others and in the high-octane pressure of finals football, Reynolds’ calmness helped Brisbane settle quicker than the Storm.
The skipper showed his sage head early, Reynolds providing width to Brisbane’s attack by shifting to the right edge in the eighth minute for centre Kotoni Staggs, who used his tackle-busting brilliance to crash over for 6-0.
After the break, Reynolds forced a Storm dropout with a good front-on shot. It led to Walsh slicing through for 14-0 after 54 minutes, before the half-back’s magical long ball for Selwyn Cobbo seven minutes from time iced the Reynolds massacre.
“We have been on the end of Reyno’s work prior to coming here, so we are aware of his skills and what he brings to a club,” Walters said.
“It’s nice to have Adam in a Broncos jersey. It wasn’t a great spectacle but he orchestrated the team beautifully.”
Walsh dances through! 🴠#NRLBroncosStormpic.twitter.com/4tmEShbO28
— NRL (@NRL) September 8, 2023
Try time for Riki! 📣 #NRLBroncosStormpic.twitter.com/sDXaZniry5
— NRL (@NRL) September 8, 2023
MIDFIELD MAULING
The lethargic Storm were dreadful in the opening 20 minutes as Brisbane’s Big Three – Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Tom Flegler – bulldozed Melbourne in the middle third.
Finals are won in the midfield trenches and Brisbane landed the telling early blows.
In the first half, Haas, Carrigan and Flegler stormed through midfield to amass a combined 244 metres. Their Storm counterparts – Christian Welch, Tui Kamikamica and Josh King – managed just 100.
The midfield hatchet job was the difference. Haas (152m) and Carrigan (151m) finished with 303 metres as Brisbane’s central pillars.
STORM DAMAGE
It was a heartbreaking night for the Storm. Papenhuyzen could be fighting for his career after suffering a serious ankle injury in just his third game back from a 13-month lay-off with a broken kneecap.
Coach Craig Bellamy made a rare selection error by snubbing blockbusting Justin Olam in favour of centres Marion Seve and Young Tonumaipea, who were carved up by Brisbane rivals Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth.
DYNAMIC DUO
Jordan Riki and Billy Walters are the unsung heroes of Brisbane’s finals charge. Walters is playing with greater creativity and confidence around the rucks, while Riki’s effort is the heartbeat of this Broncos side and when he ran a superb line in the 54th minute for 20-0, the Storm were toast.
RE-LIVE THE BIG MOMENTS BELOW
9.31PM: COATES, PAPS INJURIES ROCK STORM
Craig Bellamy’s night is getting worse by the minute with Xavier Coates and Ryan Papenhuyzen suffering what appear to be a serious ankle injuries.
Both players were left writhing in pain following separate incidents.
It’s devastating news for Papenhuyzen who spent over a year out of the game with a patella fracture.
It appears to be a compound fracture for the fullback who is sucking a green whistle as he’s stretchered off.
Fox Sports commentator Greg Alexander called it a “horrible moment for the game.”
9.23PM: PAPS’ ILLEGAL STRIKE
Is 2023 or 1978? Ryan Papenhuyzen wins a scrum from the – wait for it – front-row.
The fullback was packing in at tight-head, striking with his outside foot to win, albeit illegally, the defensive scrum.
Grant Atkins, despite hovering over the feed, completely missed the incident.
“Here’s the win against the feed which you can’t do as a front-rower … it’s Ryan Papenhuyzen,” roared Dan Ginnane.
“You can’t do that! Ryan Papenhuyzen in the front-row, you can’t strike for the ball in the front-row with your outside leg, you just can’t do that.”
9.06PM: WALSH, RIKI GO BANG
It was only a matter of time …
Reece Walsh, on the back of Adam Reynolds’ cool head, strikes to give Brisbane a 14-0 buffer with under 30 minutes to play.
Taking advantage of a controversial six-again call, Walsh split Melbourne’s left-edge defence from a clever block play.
Two tackles earlier Brisbane was gifted a six-again call despite Herbie Farnworth appearing to knock the ball into a Storm defender … and the floodgates are open as Jordan Riki crashes over off a delightful Walsh pass.
HALFTIME: BRONCOS LEAD
Adam Reynolds’ boot swung the early tide in Brisbane’s favour, forcing an error from Nick Meaney before earning a penalty off a kick off.
Interestingly, Brisbane’s captain had just two general field kicks in the back-end of the half.
But the little general remained perfect from the tee in the opening 40, capitalising with a penalty late in the half.
Broncos are 12 for 12 at home this year when leading at halftime – but you throw those stats out the window in this fixture.
8.20PM: UGLY CUT BRINGS PAPS ON
As predicted (and scoffed at below) rain is teeming down at Suncorp Stadium – and so is the blood teeming from Young Tonumaipea’s forehead.
The Storm centre, in the act of trying to deny a Reece Walsh breakaway, collected the boot of Broncos fullback and opened up a shocking gash on his forehead.
Young deemed a category 2 HIA so he will have a chance to return the field should he pass his assessment.
In bad news for the Broncos, Young’s exit means Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona enter the game.
8.00PM TRY: KOTONI EXPLODES, TEMPERS FLARE
It has taken just 30 seconds for tempers to flare at Suncorp Stadium after Queensland teammates Harry Grant and Pat Carrigan nearly came to blows.
Broncos star Carrigan and Storm hooker Grant were embroiled in a scuffle in the first set of the game and had to be separated.
Referee Grant Atkins didn’t penalise anyone, opting to restart play, but it was an early indication of the feeling in this blockbuster contest.
And it’s Brisbane who keep their heads, capitalising on back-to-back Melbourne errors to cross first through Kotoni Staggs.
Brisbane’s lethal right edge is looking as dangerous as ever.
Too strong from Staggs! 💪 #NRLBroncosStormpic.twitter.com/Ohh0fqOn2h
— NRL (@NRL) September 8, 2023
7.20PM: REYNOLDS SPEAKS, MUNNY SQUEAKS
What a contrast between Storm star Cameron Munster and Broncos captain Adam Reynolds in their pre-game interviews with Fox Sports.
Munster was his usual freewheeling self, cracking jokes with Fox Sports sideline eye Jake Duke, while Reynolds looked a picture of concentration.
A relaxed Munster is a scary proposition for the Broncos.
But Reynolds reassured Broncos fans he has fully recovered from a calf injury.
“I’m ready to go,” Reynolds said. “Feeling really good, I’ve had a good preparation and have worked extremely hard.”
ð–‹ð–”ð–ˆð–šð–˜. pic.twitter.com/Q0ihcDRpsm
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) September 8, 2023
We’re not far away 🎧 pic.twitter.com/pPGArSrhEH
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) September 8, 2023
7.00PM:TEAMS: BELLAMY MIND GAMES
Craig Bellamy has made a late change to his Melbourne team for Friday night’s blockbuster final against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Former Blues Origin forward Tariq Sims has been called on to the interchange bench, with Bronson Garlick dropping back to 18th man.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters will field his team as named from 1-17.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Tariq Sims 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen 18. Bronson Garlick
STORM WARNING
What do they say about never trusting a weatherperson?
The wild weather predicted to rain down biblical thunderstorms across southeast Queensland and Suncorp Stadium appear to be … wrong?
Initial reports from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on Friday morning suggested damaging winds and large hail would fall across Brisbane through the afternoon and early evening.
While, the forecast may not be as bad as first thought, a short, yet ferocious, is set to pass over Suncorp Stadium in the next hour
In a statement, Suncorp Stadium urged patrons to monitor weather warnings to help manage their travel to the Stadium.
“If hail or lightning were to occur after the Stadium opens, patrons will be directed to areas under cover until any danger passes. If necessary, play would be stopped during that period,” the statement said.
WHO DOES WET WEATHER FAVOUR?
It depends who you ask.
If rain is the great leveller, the supreme fitness of Brisbane’s pack could be the difference on a heavy track.
Back in round one, Brisbane outplayed the reigning premiers to notch a superb win in atrocious conditions.
A wet track should limit speedster’s Reece Walsh and Ryan Papenhuyzen, which means a shootout in the middle would most likely favour Brisbane’s forwards.
Kevvie’s controversial axing of Corey Oates could prove a masterstroke, with the veteran winger prone to a mistake (or five) in the wet.
– with Taylah Fellows and Mohammad Alfares
Originally published as NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos crush Melbourne Storm hoodoo to book preliminary final
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