Broncos v Storm: Hetherington good to go; Hughes returns
An all top-eight clash with huge ramifications for both sides in front of a huge crowd at Suncorp Stadium looms as one of the highlights of Round 23.
The Broncos got back on track with a win over the Knights and sit sixth on the ladder while the Storm were ultra impressive in their shutout of the Panthers.
When the two sides met in Melbourne in Round 15 it was the Storm getting home 32-20 so they'll be full of confidence.
The Broncos have superstars of their own in Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs, all capable of carving up the defence if given too much room to move.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Broncos v Storm
The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: The playing 17 are unchanged, but there are some positional switches. Jake Turpin starts at hooker and Billy Walters reverts to the bench, while veteran forward Ryan James starts at lock ahead of Kobe Hetherington, who goes to the interchange.
Storm: Playmaker Jahrome Hughes is back from a shoulder injury. Tui Kamikamica starts in the second row and Brandon Smith starts at lock, meaning Tim Eisenhuth and Josh King drop back to the bench. Felise Kaufusi is still on personal leave after the passing of his father. Young Tonumaipe'a will start in the centres with Marion Seve dropping out due to a low grade hamstring injury.
Match: Broncos v Storm
Round 23 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Te Maire MartinFullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey OatesWinger for Storm is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Storm is number 3 Young Tonumaipea
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Delouise HoeterCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn CobboWinger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra MamFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Thomas FleglerProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 14 Jake TurpinHooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
-
Lock for Broncos is number 17 Ryan JamesLock for Storm is number 14 Brandon Smith
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 9 Billy WaltersInterchange for Storm is number 11 Tom Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 13 Kobe HetheringtonInterchange for Storm is number 13 Josh King
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Rhys KennedyInterchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey JensenInterchange for Storm is number 17 Tyran Wishart
Reserves
-
Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Jordan PereiraReplacement for Storm is number 18 Alec MacDonald
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Key match-up
Payne Haas v Jesse Bromwich: If the Broncos are to make a statement by taking down one of the competition's heavyweights they will need Haas at his destructive best. The Blues Origin enforcer is churning out 169 metres per game in 2022 and has 51 tackle breaks to his name, while Bromwich has lifted his intensity in the past three weeks as the finals draw closer. The 291-game veteran sets a high bar for his fellow forwards and will relish the challenge of meeting Haas and Thomas Flegler head on in a battle for supremacy.
Stat Attack
Broncos wingers Corey Oates (18) and Selwyn Cobbo (15) have 33 line breaks between them for the season, while Cameron Munster (15) and Justin Olam (13) are the Storm's top two line breakers. As a team the Storm lead the NRL with 124 line breaks, 30 more than Brisbane's tally of 94.
Match: Broncos v Storm
Round 23 -
home Team
Broncos
8th Position
away Team
Storm
4th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
