NRL, ROUND 27, AUGUST 31st , 2023 BRISBANE BRONCOS v MELBOURNE STORM
SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE
The Broncos and Storm collide at Suncorp Stadium in Round 27 with every chance both sides could meet again in Week 1 of the finals after locking in top four finishes for 2023.
Brisbane is on track for their first minor premiership in 23 years with victory over the Storm guaranteeing top spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder after the Panthers surrendered a game against Parramatta last week.
Melbourne locked in a top four spot thanks to Newcastle’s defeat of the Sharks with Craig Bellamy’s side a chance of leapfrogging the Warriors if they’re able to topple the Broncos and hope the Dolphins beat the New Zealand side.
The most likely scenario is two matches between the clubs in the next fortnight, presenting an intriguing situation for both coaches to ponder who to play and what sort of tactics to use in the final round.
Broncos: Reece Walsh, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell are all being rested while skipper Adam Reynolds (calf), prop Pat Carrigan (foot) and Kotoni Staggs (suspended) will also miss the match. Five-eighth Josh Rogers and interchange hooker Blake Mozer make their NRL debuts while Tristan Sailor plays his fourth game of the season at fullback and Jordan Pereira makes his first appearance for 2023 on the wing.
Mozer – the Queensland Under 19 Captain – makes his NRL debut after a strong season for Broncos Affiliate Souths Logan Magpies in the Hostplus Cup, with seven tries, nine try assists and seven line break assists across 18 games, as well as more than 700 running metres and 450 tackles at 94 per cent efficiency.
Rogers has had a similarly impressive season in Cup for Broncos Affiliate Wynnum Manly Seagulls and is leading scorer in the competition with 240 points from 11 tries and 98 goals in 21 games, as well as 20 try assists and 21 line break assists.
The 27-year-old was also last season’s Hostplus Cup Five-Eighth Of The Year and top point scorer with 250 points for the Burleigh Bears before winning a contract with the Broncos in 2023.
Storm: Mass changes for Craig Bellamy with Nick Meaney, Marion Seve, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Christian Welch, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica, Tom Eisenhuth and Trent Loiero all being rested and Harry Grant (shoulder) and Jahrome Hughes (knee) carrying injuries. Ryan Papenhuyzen has been named to start at fullback in his second game back while Justin Olam gets a recall in the centres and Jayden Nikorima and Tyran Wishart take over in the halves. Exciting youngsters Sualauvi Faalogo and Jack Howarth make their NRL debuts off the bench alongside Alec MacDonald and Aaron Pene.
Melbourne Storm are set to unleash two debutants as they line up against the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday night in the final round of the 2023 regular season at Suncorp Stadium.
Sua Fa-alogo and Jack Howarth will pull on the purple jersey for the first time in Round 27, alongside a host of changes that will see Tariq Sims, Justin Olam, Jayden Nikorima, Tyran Wishart, Chris Lewis and Aaron Pene back in the squad, covering for Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Christian Welch, Nick Meaney, Xavier Coates, Marion Seve, Trent Loiero, Tui Kamikamica, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Tom Eisenhuth.
Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Broncos team: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Jock Madden 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Tyson Smoothy 10. Corey Jensen 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Keenan Palasia 14. Blake Mozer 15. Cory Paix 16. Xavier Willison 17. Martin Taupau 18. Benjamin Te Kura 19. Israel Leota 20. Kurt Capewell 21. Kobe Hetherington 22. Selwyn Cobbo
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Justin Olam 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Reimis Smith 6. Jayden Nikorima 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Tariq Sims 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Tepai Moeroa 11. Chris Lewis 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Sualauvi Faalogo 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Aaron Pene 17. Jack Howarth 18. Grant Anderson 19. Joe Chan 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Cole Geyer 22. Tristan Powell
The Storm have won their past 13 matches against the Broncos dating back to 2017 while the Broncos have not defeated the Storm at Suncorp Stadium since 2009.
Cameron Munster has scored four tries in his past four games against the Broncos.
The Broncos have won only two of their past six games at Suncorp.
Storm winger Will Warbrick has scored four tries in his past two games.
The Broncos will play their 900th game since entering the premiership in 1988.
PREDICTION
Difficult round to predict with a lot of the stars rested on both sides. Opportunity for the younger guys to step up and show their skills. I think this will be a close one, so be careful if betting. I will stick with the Broncos, but only just.
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