Eight-point plan: Secret tip sheet to end Brisbane Broncos’ curse against Melbourne Storm

From a play deemed “too risky for a final” to targeting Nelson Asofa-Solomona, ROBERT CRADDOCK reveals the Storm’s kryptonite that can deliver Brisbane victory.

Coach Kevin Walters, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

Enough is enough. In fact it’s more than enough.

It’s not simply the fans and players who are suffering from the Melbourne Storm’s 14-match domination of the Broncos.

It’s browbeaten scribes who have run out of ways to say Craig Bellamy is a genius.

With this is mind we have decided to look beyond the curse and find a game plan which can burst the bogey, if not on Friday night, then some time this century.

Operating on the condition of anonymity, we’ve asked our spies – a small group of former NRL champions who have played dozens of games against the Storm – to get together and craft an eight-point “Turn the Tide’’ Broncos tip sheet.

Over to you, gents …

Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock has provided the cheat sheet to Kevin Walters and his Broncos on how to beat the Storm. Picture: Liam Kidston

LEARN FROM RAIDERS

Brisbane may have lost 14 games in a row to the Storm but the Raiders, of all teams, have somehow beaten them five times in four years in – are you sitting down? – Melbourne.

An amazing statistic. If it was one win you could say they landed a lucky punch. But five?

The story behind this statistic shapes a key plank of our game plan.

The Storm occasionally find Canberra awkward because players like Hudson Young and Jordan Rapana will try stuff that is unstructured and not in the textbook which leads us to …

THE OFFLOAD

Melbourne are a brilliantly researched team who will know what you are going to do before you do it.

Which is why, in a Raiders sort of way, you need to surprise them with the occasional offload, the one play you cannot plan for.

The Storm don’t hurt you in defence but, with their wrestling, they do slow you down.

You need to be prepared to undo your top button and try and create second-phase play to beat Melbourne. Offloads are gold.

THE SHORT BOMB

Adam Reynolds will not agree – he’ll deem it too risky for a final – but we suggest he tries one surprise play we think can crack the game … the short bomb.

Adam Reynolds needs to surprise the Storm with his kicking game. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

All of Reynolds’ instincts will be programmed to kick for field position but – just when Melbourne least expect it – kick a high bomb short enough for your chasers to harass the fullback, even if it leaves you exposed in defence.

THE HIDDEN KILLER

This may be our No.4 point but it could easily be the most crucial of all.

If you don’t man up defensively against deft inside passes to Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster, you will lose the game.

It takes effort to cover that “inside’’ space time and again.

The fans probably won’t notice or blame you if you slacken off and ‘Pappy’ shoots through … but it will be a terrible moment for you at the video session next Tuesday when everyone knows who let the team down.

DEFENCE

Watch the Broncos’ 14-12 win over the Storm in 2015 and you’ll see Brisbane players defending like madmen.

Melbourne had more than 10 repeat seats yet wave after wave of defenders just kept turning up for each other. They need that vibe again. Whenever Brisbane beat Melbourne it’s normally their best defensive effort of the year.

SOFTLY, SOFTLY

The Broncos coach can deliver a solid rev-up speech but this is not the night for him to morph into Winston (Churchill) Walters.

Most of these players have had a match off. The side is at full strength, playing at home in the form of their lives.

They don’t need AC/DC music or their coaching telling them what they are playing for. Just keep it short and sharp.

Make big Nelson Asofa-Solomona work to blunt his impact. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

THE BIGGEST TARGET

Giant Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a massive attacking weapon so when you have the ball you must repeatedly run at him to try and run his petrol gauge down by making many tackles.

BEWARE OF STOPPAGES

Melbourne are fit but they are not the fittest side. They go at different speeds depending on what is happening in the game.

Some teams love to spring into top gear after a penalty kick out but Melbourne settle, catch their breath and plan their next set. They are very dangerous in this mode.

So there it is. Over to you, Kev.

Enjoy the celebration.