OCTOBER 5th, 2025. Accor Stadium, Sydney, 7.30pm.
Storm and Broncos Set for a Grand Final to Remember
Seven months of grit, grind, and guts have led to this moment: the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final. Two clubs stand tall, ready to battle for rugby league’s ultimate prize—the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos.
For the Storm, the path was familiar yet hard-earned. At AAMI Park, they handled the Sharks with ruthless efficiency, booking their sixth grand final appearance in the past decade. For the Broncos, the journey was filled with drama and redemption. At Suncorp Stadium, they roared back from the brink to topple the defending premiers, the Panthers, ending one of the most dominant dynasties in league history.
Now, the season reaches its crescendo. The Storm bring their clinical precision; the Broncos, their fearless flair. Both promise open, attacking football, mixed with the kind of bone-rattling defence that only grand finals deliver.
So strap yourself in for the big one. The Panthers won’t be lifting the trophy this year—but whether it’s Melbourne or Brisbane who claims the crown, history is waiting to be written.
Storm:
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero. Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Tui Kamikamica , 17. Alec MacDonald,
Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan, 21. Jonah Pezet, 22. Sualauvi Faalogo.
Carrigan Returns as Broncos Lock in Grand Final Squad
Michael Maguire has made just one change for the biggest game of all. Skipper Pat Carrigan returns from suspension to take his place at lock, shifting Tyson Smoothy to the interchange bench. It’s a welcome boost of leadership and steel for a Broncos side still riding high from their stunning comeback that toppled the Panthers in the preliminary final.
But with every return comes heartbreak—Ben Talty is the unlucky man to miss out after playing his part in that famous win. Selwyn Cobbo remains among the reserves, while Jesse Arthars once again finds himself in the waiting role of 18th man, just as he did in the hard-fought clashes against the Raiders and Panthers.
The Broncos’ final 17 is now set, their captain restored, and their eyes fixed firmly on rugby league’s greatest stage.
Broncos:
1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas , 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan. Bench: 14. Ezra Mam 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison ,17. Tyson Smoothy,
Reserves: 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Jack Gosiewski 20. Ben Talty 21. Selwyn Cobbo, 22. Jock Madden.
Key Stats
The Storm have won 17 of their last 19 games against the Broncos.
Broncos utility Ben Hunt will join Darren Lockyer in third place on the all-time appearances list.
Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes has scored 12 tries in 13 games against the Broncos.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored eight tries in his last eight games.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has won 14 of 16 games against Michael Maguire-coached teams.
The Broncos have scored 197 points in their last six games.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will break Wayne Bennett’s record of 10 grand finals as coach.
The Broncos have won only three of their last 11 games at Accor Stadium.
The Storm have 15 players who have played a total of 21 grand finals.
The Broncos have 12 players who have played a total of 14 grand finals.
Officials
Referee: Grant Atkins ,Touch Judges, David Munro, Chris Sutton, Bunker, Ashley Klein.
Storm or Broncos? A Grand Final Prediction Written in Fire
The Storm swept aside the Sharks in the preliminary final with a defensive masterclass. Their line speed suffocated Cronulla, their control of the ruck was absolute, and their edges held like a fortress. Melbourne may not boast the most expensive backline in the league, but their combinations are watertight, their communication flawless, and the usual sweeping plays rarely pierce their wall.
When the Storm attack, everything begins with Harry Grant out of dummy half. Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster then take the reins, orchestrating the backs with trademark precision. And lurking, always ready to strike, is Ryan Papenhuyzen—the fullback who can shred even the toughest defensive lines. Concerns lingered about Hughes’ fitness after fracturing his forearm only weeks ago, but heavily strapped, he shone against the Sharks. He enters the decider in sparkling form, vital to any Storm triumph.
The Broncos, meanwhile, scripted one of the great comebacks. Trailing 14–0 at halftime against the Panthers—a team that almost never surrenders a lead—they dug deep. A ferocious stretch of goal-line defence ignited their belief, and wave after wave of Panther attacks were turned away. Confidence bloomed, and the Broncos surged back, piling on 16 unanswered points to dethrone the reigning champions. With veterans Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds guiding the way, they unleash strike power through Ezra Mam and deadly centres Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki. And then there’s Reece Walsh—unpredictable, electrifying, and capable of breaking the game open in a heartbeat.
Up front, this battle could be won or lost. Payne Haas anchors the Broncos pack, a colossus of the front row, with skipper Pat Carrigan returning at lock. Piakura and Riki provide punch in the back row, while Hetherington and Willison inject energy from the bench. The Storm answer with Stefano Utoikamanu and Josh King, while Katoa and Loiero bring relentless work rate. Lisati and Kamikamica offer muscle when called upon. On paper, Brisbane may have the edge, but Bellamy’s forwards are forged for grand finals—they rarely falter.
And perhaps, in the end, it will come down to the men in charge. Craig Bellamy is walking into his 11th grand final with Melbourne, his experience unmatched, his methods proven. Across the field, Michael Maguire has transformed the Broncos in his first year, riding a wave of success from Origin to Test level, and with a drought-breaking premiership at South Sydney already to his name. Both know what it takes to conquer the biggest stage.
But only one can lift the trophy. From the first whistle of the season, I’ve tipped the Storm, and the golden rule has always been: never bet against them. That rule holds.
Prediction: Storm by 4.
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