Broncos vs Storm Finals Week 1 Tips, Prediction & Preview

Andrew Hendrie: Sep 8, 2023

It’s a blockbuster opening of the NRL Finals series on Friday night as the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm collide at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm free footy NRL tips, predictions and preview – Storm have won 24 of the last 26 meetings and the last 14 straight…

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm H2H Prediction

Best Storm win H2H odds $2.40 with bet365

Storm have won 24 of the last 26 meetings between the teams
Storm have won the last 14 straight meetings
Storm haven’t lost to Broncos at Suncorp since 2009
Broncos have lost five of their last six finals games
Broncos playing their first finals game since 2018
Five of Broncos’ six defeats this season were by a 1-12 margin
Selwyn Cobbo has scored 20 tries in 24 games at Suncorp
Cameron Munster has scored a try in his last four games vs Broncos
Reece Walsh has scored a try in his last three games
Ryan Papenhuyzen has scored a try in his last five finals games
Ezra Mam has scored a try in his last four games

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Tips

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Same Game Multi Tips

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Match Details

🇦🇺 Competition: NRL
🗓 Date: Friday September 8
⏰ Time: 7.50pm AEST
🏟 Stadium: Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane)

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Head to Head

31/8/23: Broncos 22-32 Storm
11/5/23: Storm 24-16 Broncos
19/8/22: Broncos 12-60 Storm
17/6/22: Storm 32-20 Broncos
27/5/21: Broncos 12-40 Storm

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Preview & Prediction

The Broncos and Storm square off for the second week in a row as the 2023 NRL Finals series gets underway at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Both teams rested basically their entire starting sides for last week’s game, so that result shouldn’t have much bearing on what happens here, but the Broncos will still have to overcome a serious hoodoo if they are to progress directly to the preliminary finals.

Indeed, the Storm have won 24 of the last 26 encounters between these teams, including 14 consecutive victories on the bounce since 2017.

Furthermore, the Storm haven’t lost to the Broncos at Suncorp since 2009. Craig Bellamy will never forget the 2006 Grand Final and he’s demolished the Broncos in almost every game since.

Melbourne were also the only top eight team that Brisbane failed to beat this season, so this is one of the toughest possible tests for Kevin Walters’ side.

Both teams welcome back their superstars for Friday night, with Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas among those returning for the Broncos, while Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes slot back into the Melbourne spine.

The Storm also have big X-Factor in Ryan Papenhuyzen coming off the bench after impressing last week in his return to first grade.

VERDICT

This promises to be an absolutely cracking contest between two teams full of genuine superstars. The likes of Walsh, Munster, Reynolds, Cobbo, Hughes, Staggs and Papenhuyzen will all be keen to light up Suncorp to launch the finals.

Brisbane have been outstanding all season, but I’ve got to back the Storm at H2H odds of $2.40. As mentioned, they’ve won 24 of the last 26 meetings and 14 straight. They’ve got arguably the best spine in the competition with Papenhuyzen on the bench. Big Nelson is also providing impact off the pine. Bellamy the master of toppling Brisbane and finals football. Melbourne great value as underdogs (Best Storm win H2H odds $2.40 with bet365.)

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Teams

Broncos team: 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 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor

Storm team: 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. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Tariq Sims 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Reimis Smith 22. Grant Anderson