Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Arnold
Paladin
Craig HillRound seven NRL preview - Broncos vs Storm
April 27th 2007 02:07
VENUE and TIME: Suncorp Stadium, Friday 7.30pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 19, Brisbane 9, Melbourne 9, 1 Draw
COVERAGE: Channel 9 7.30pm (QLD), Channel 9 (delayed NSW), ABC Local Radio Qld (live)
LAST 5 CLASHES:
Brisbane 15-8, Telstra Stadium, 2006 Grand Final
Melbourne 18-12, Suncorp Stadium, 2006
Melbourne 10-4, Olympic Park, 2006
Melbourne 24-18, Suncorp Stadium, 2005
Brisbane 28-15, Suncorp Stadium, 2005
MEDICAL ROOM:
Broncos back rowers Corey Parker and Greg Eastwood will both miss tonight’s 2006 grand final replay, with the Kiwi Test representative Eastwood sustaining a rib injury in last Sunday’s thriller over the Knights. Parker’s wrist injury is on the mend, with the versatile forward scheduled to come back for the Round nine clash with the Sharks.
Given Melbourne’s crippling injury toll, it is testament to the clubs depth that they are still sitting pretty in second position on the premiership table. Superstar Greg Inglis has been given right up until an hour before tonight’s kick-off to prove his fitness, with Adam Blair (ankle), Jeremy Smith (leg), Russell Aitken (hamstring) and Ben Cross (hamstring) are all scheduled to come back next week in Gosford against the Tigers.
FORM:
The premiership defence of their 2006 crown has been shaky thus far for the Broncos, with last weeks win against a fired up Newcastle outfit just their second win of the season. The victory against the Knights was even more impressive considering that the Broncos Test stars were able to backup only 48 hours after competing in the gruelling Tran-Tasman Test. Tonight’s match against the Storm will be a true indicator as to how they are travelling in season ’07.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy may well have gone back to the future in the lead up to tonight’s highly anticipated clash, with the Storm supremo sure to have shown snippets of last season’s heartbreaking grand final loss to the Broncos in an effort to get his team pumped. The Storm have been convincing but far from dazzling in their six victories thus far, and the jury is still out as to whether Inglis’s move to five-eight is the best thing for the side.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Darren Lockyer vs Greg Inglis
If Inglis plays, than this could be one of the greatest individual duels of the year, with the Storm whiz kid still yet to hit his straps so far this year. There is no doubting that the shift from outside back to pivot has stifled the whiz kids attacking game, with the added workload in defence stifling his energy in attack. I would prefer to see the wily Matt Geyer shifted into the number six jersey, so that Inglis again has more room wider out in which to weave his devastating magic.
The Brisbane skipper is like a fine red wine – he gets better with age. While all the headlines in the southern media this year have been focussing on the plight of Andrew Johns and the positional shift of Inglis, Lockyer has been quietly going about his work in a Broncos team that has limped into the start of the 2007 premiership race. With the Origin series just around the corner, look to the talented number six to take his game up to the next level.
Cameron Smith vs Michael Ennis
The Australian, Queensland and Melbourne hooker has been in devastating from so far in season 2007, with his general leadership and defensive workload helping the Storm to a so far undefeated start this year. Like Lockyer, look for Smith to again raise the bars to the next level over the coming weeks, as the Maroon look to go back to back in Origin ’07.
It has been a long road back for former Dragons hooker Ennis, with a shattering leg injury early last year keeping him on the sidelines for a frustratingly long period. The nuggetty, goal kicking hooker is a vital part of the Broncos premiership defence, as a fit Ennis will allow coach Wayne Bennett to use an imposing Ennis/Berrigan hooking combination later in the season.
VERDICT:
Being billed as the clash of the season so far, the Melbourne Storm will start favourites due to their superior form this year. 2006 grand final aside, the Storm have had the wood on the Broncos in recent years, but the loss of key personnel will mean that this game will a lot be closer than some experts think.
While Brisbane have struggled thus far in ’07, the signs have been there that they are about to rediscover the form that saw them nail last year’s premiership. There are exciting individual clashes all over the park, with both teams fairly even in terms of playing rosters. For this reason, the vocal Suncorp Stadium crowd may well influence the result (and the referee), so look for an upset Brisbane victory in a thriller.
Broncos by 4
Brisbane Broncos -
Karmichael Hunt, Steve Michaels, David Stagg, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Darren Lockyer ©, Shaun Berrigan, Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn, Sam Thaiday, Petero Civoniceva, Michael Ennis, Dane Carlaw
Interchange - Ben Hannant, Nick Kenny, Ian Lacey, Darius Boyd, Joel Moon, Nick Emmett, Shane Perry
Melbourne Storm -
Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Matt King, Anthony Quinn, Israel Falou, Matt Geyer, Cooper Cronk, Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman, Michael Crocker, Brett White, Cameron Smith, Antonio Kaufusi
Interchange - Jeff Lima, Sam Tagataese, Ian Donnelly, James Aubusson, Scott Anderson, Will Chambers
Referee: Sean Hampstead
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 19, Brisbane 9, Melbourne 9, 1 Draw
COVERAGE: Channel 9 7.30pm (QLD), Channel 9 (delayed NSW), ABC Local Radio Qld (live)
LAST 5 CLASHES:
Brisbane 15-8, Telstra Stadium, 2006 Grand Final
Melbourne 18-12, Suncorp Stadium, 2006
Melbourne 10-4, Olympic Park, 2006
Melbourne 24-18, Suncorp Stadium, 2005
Brisbane 28-15, Suncorp Stadium, 2005
MEDICAL ROOM:
Broncos back rowers Corey Parker and Greg Eastwood will both miss tonight’s 2006 grand final replay, with the Kiwi Test representative Eastwood sustaining a rib injury in last Sunday’s thriller over the Knights. Parker’s wrist injury is on the mend, with the versatile forward scheduled to come back for the Round nine clash with the Sharks.
Given Melbourne’s crippling injury toll, it is testament to the clubs depth that they are still sitting pretty in second position on the premiership table. Superstar Greg Inglis has been given right up until an hour before tonight’s kick-off to prove his fitness, with Adam Blair (ankle), Jeremy Smith (leg), Russell Aitken (hamstring) and Ben Cross (hamstring) are all scheduled to come back next week in Gosford against the Tigers.
FORM:
The premiership defence of their 2006 crown has been shaky thus far for the Broncos, with last weeks win against a fired up Newcastle outfit just their second win of the season. The victory against the Knights was even more impressive considering that the Broncos Test stars were able to backup only 48 hours after competing in the gruelling Tran-Tasman Test. Tonight’s match against the Storm will be a true indicator as to how they are travelling in season ’07.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy may well have gone back to the future in the lead up to tonight’s highly anticipated clash, with the Storm supremo sure to have shown snippets of last season’s heartbreaking grand final loss to the Broncos in an effort to get his team pumped. The Storm have been convincing but far from dazzling in their six victories thus far, and the jury is still out as to whether Inglis’s move to five-eight is the best thing for the side.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Darren Lockyer vs Greg Inglis
If Inglis plays, than this could be one of the greatest individual duels of the year, with the Storm whiz kid still yet to hit his straps so far this year. There is no doubting that the shift from outside back to pivot has stifled the whiz kids attacking game, with the added workload in defence stifling his energy in attack. I would prefer to see the wily Matt Geyer shifted into the number six jersey, so that Inglis again has more room wider out in which to weave his devastating magic.
The Brisbane skipper is like a fine red wine – he gets better with age. While all the headlines in the southern media this year have been focussing on the plight of Andrew Johns and the positional shift of Inglis, Lockyer has been quietly going about his work in a Broncos team that has limped into the start of the 2007 premiership race. With the Origin series just around the corner, look to the talented number six to take his game up to the next level.
Cameron Smith vs Michael Ennis
The Australian, Queensland and Melbourne hooker has been in devastating from so far in season 2007, with his general leadership and defensive workload helping the Storm to a so far undefeated start this year. Like Lockyer, look for Smith to again raise the bars to the next level over the coming weeks, as the Maroon look to go back to back in Origin ’07.
It has been a long road back for former Dragons hooker Ennis, with a shattering leg injury early last year keeping him on the sidelines for a frustratingly long period. The nuggetty, goal kicking hooker is a vital part of the Broncos premiership defence, as a fit Ennis will allow coach Wayne Bennett to use an imposing Ennis/Berrigan hooking combination later in the season.
VERDICT:
Being billed as the clash of the season so far, the Melbourne Storm will start favourites due to their superior form this year. 2006 grand final aside, the Storm have had the wood on the Broncos in recent years, but the loss of key personnel will mean that this game will a lot be closer than some experts think.
While Brisbane have struggled thus far in ’07, the signs have been there that they are about to rediscover the form that saw them nail last year’s premiership. There are exciting individual clashes all over the park, with both teams fairly even in terms of playing rosters. For this reason, the vocal Suncorp Stadium crowd may well influence the result (and the referee), so look for an upset Brisbane victory in a thriller.
Broncos by 4
Brisbane Broncos -
Karmichael Hunt, Steve Michaels, David Stagg, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Darren Lockyer ©, Shaun Berrigan, Tonie Carroll, Brad Thorn, Sam Thaiday, Petero Civoniceva, Michael Ennis, Dane Carlaw
Interchange - Ben Hannant, Nick Kenny, Ian Lacey, Darius Boyd, Joel Moon, Nick Emmett, Shane Perry
Melbourne Storm -
Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Matt King, Anthony Quinn, Israel Falou, Matt Geyer, Cooper Cronk, Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman, Michael Crocker, Brett White, Cameron Smith, Antonio Kaufusi
Interchange - Jeff Lima, Sam Tagataese, Ian Donnelly, James Aubusson, Scott Anderson, Will Chambers
Referee: Sean Hampstead
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Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
The Broncos showed their ruthlessness last week against the emotional Knights - a team that was pumped up to win for the retiring Joey.
A decent showing in this match by the Broncos could really kick-start their season.
Charles.
Comment by StephenP
I must be honest - I have never (and probably never will) been a fan of the Broncos, BUT, I can appreciate the skill and talent that they have at their disposal.
I just have a feeling that this game might just kick start the Broncos season, especially if Inglis doesn't play.
StephenP