Finals Week 1: Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos

[Queenslander]

Qualifying Final: Game Four

Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos
Olympic Park; Sunday 9th September, 4:00pm

vs

Referee: Steve Clark

Team Notes

Storm (1st Place)

- Melbourne premiership player Matt Geyer will come back from a rib injury when the Storm host reigning premiers Brisbane in a qualifying final at Olympic Park on Sunday.

- Geyer has been added to the Storm's bench for the grand final re-match, while Michael Crocker will join him on the interchange with Clint Newton handed a starting position.

Broncos (8th Place)

- 2006 NRL Premiers

- 16th straight finals campaign for the Broncos in their 20th year.

- Clive Churchill Medal winner Shaun Berrigan has ruled himself out of making a surprise return to the field for the must-win clash in Victoria.

- Justin Hodges although he did not train, is still a chance of recovering from a deep muscle bruise in his quadriceps.

- Nick Kenny will replace David Taylor on the bench after Taylor had a screw inserted in a broken thumb yesterday.

- Redcliffe hooker Mick Roberts, who was released to play in the Queensland Cup semi-finals last weekend, is again at number nine for the Broncos.

- It would be his first NRL final after making his debut at the ripe age of 27 earlier this year.

- Nick Emmett moves back to the centres with Justin Hodges again slotting to fullback.

Teams:

1. Billy Slater
2. Steve Turner
3. Matt King
4. Israel Folau
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Ben Cross
9. Cam Smith (c)
10. Brett White
11. Clint Newton
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange:

14. Jeremy Smith
15. Matt Geyer
16. Michael Crocker
17. Jeff Lima
18. James Aubusson

1. Justin Hodges
2. Steve Michaels
3. Nick Emmett
4. Joel Moon
5. Darius Boyd
6. Greg Eastwood
7. Shane Perry
8. Dane Carlaw
9. Mick Roberts
10. Petero Civoniceva ?
11. Corey Parker
12. Brad Thorn
13. Tonie Carroll

Interchange:

14. Sam Thaiday
15. Ben Hannant
16. Nick Kenny
17. Ian Lacey

[HodgoBerro]

i wished this was the melbourne game i was going to! i very highly doubt berrigan will start - read post in parra thread

fox sports are reporting the game will be held at telstra dome

[HodgoBerro]

dave taylor to miss the rest of the season with suspected broken thumb

hodges in doubt with corked right thigh

Source - Fox Sports

[Steelers]

Melbourne by 50+

I am willing to bet money on that.

[PROMETHEUS]

How much money?

[Steelers]

How much money?

$10?

[nflin3]

$10?

I'll take you up on that

[Steelers]

I'll take you up on that

What sort of odds am I getting?

[Hoppy2007Dragons]

A big trend this year is for teams that get trounced one week, to turn it up the next, the broncos are finals specialists,so i think they can turn it on and cause a massive upset.

[nflin3]

What sort of odds am I getting?

Ill shout you dinner and your ticket at the Roar game :P

[HodgoBerro]

A big trend this year is for teams that get trounced one week, to turn it up the next, the broncos are finals specialists,so i think they can turn it on and cause a massive upset.

agreed. remember melb trounced bris last year 50 - 6 then next week bris trounced parra 54 - 14

[PROMETHEUS]

Agree Hoppy,Wayne Bennett has the knack of turning around a team and Brisbane often play above their weight when outnumbered.

[Super Cronk]

Really looking forward to this game. I feel the Storm have started to hit some form the past 2-3 weeks and hopefully that continues over into the finals. The Broncos wont have 50 put on them by the Storm next week, when they play the storm they always seem to lift that extra bit. I think Storm will get a win especially being at home.

[RLfan]

The Broncos were trounced yesterday, meaning they will win this week. We were just lulling Melbourne into a false sense of security.

Broncos first team to win the premiership from 8th place. (gotta stay positive)

[RLfan]

agreed. remember melb trounced bris last year 50 - 6 then next week bris trounced parra 54 - 14

That game aganist Parra was 44-0 at halftime. lol