With fourth place sewn up, Melbourne will be resting a bunch of regulars this week, especially with a couple of injury concerns. Brisbane will also be doing the same, so of course there is one solid example of this happening before between these two teams…
S03E16 – Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos
Going all the way back to the 2000 season for a quick look back at the famous Melbourne Storm Norths Devils versus Brisbane Broncos Toowoomba Clydesdales match at Olympic Park.
This Sunday afternoon match was supposed to have been billed as a battle of the best.1 Brisbane were on top of the NRL ladder, and Melbourne were in third coming into the match, with the teams having played out a 18–all draw in Brisbane just six weeks previously. However both teams were heavily impacted by Origin selection, suspension and injury. Melbourne were missing eight regular players, Brisbane six.
As the vision from this one isn’t online, here’s The Age’s match report by Ian Cockerill:
My membership ticket that season had me sitting up the front of the upper level of the western grandstand down the Swan St end, so not the best view of Peter Robinson’s winning try down the river end, but I still remember the pass from Kevin Carmichael that put Robbo through the Broncos line to score. It was pandemonium at Olympic Park, with the video referee quickly confirming the try.
Here’s Robbo chatting with Andrew Voss on The Fan earlier this year:
Melbourne – 16 (Marquet 35', Moala 40', Robinson 80' tries; Lavea 2/6 goals)
Brisbane – 12 (Hodges 21', Carlaw 75' tries; De Vere 2/3 goals)
In the aftermath of this one, Robbo would have a long career with Melbourne until injuries caught up with him forcing him to retire in 2005. Since moving into the player welfare role, he continues to be an amazing servant of the club.
Kevin Carmichael would play one more cameo for Melbourne, starting at halfback for his third and final game in Storm colours a fortnight later. The four-time Devils play of the year later coaching the club when it was later affiliated with Brisbane Broncos.
This was the only NRL match for Chris Essex in his rugby league career, with the forward returning to the Devils for the rest of the season. He would later be heavily involved at Queensland Cup rivals Redcliffe Dolphins.
Stat pack
Melbourne have played three previous matches on 31 August for one win and two losses. There were losses at Brookvale in 2013 (28–8) and at home to the Panthers in 2018 (22–18). The lone victory coming at Brookvale in 2019, taking the two points home in a comfortable 36–6 win.
Since the Broncos moved back to
Suncorp StadiumLang Park from the suburbs in 2004, Melbourne have only lost three times in 20 matches between the two teams at the venue.Melbourne’s last defeat at Lang Park against the Broncos was back in 2009, with the Storm’s winning streak currently at 12 matches.
Brisbane hasn’t defeated Melbourne since 2016, a losing streak of 13 matches.
Brisbane’s win percentage against Melbourne is 25.47%, which is their only losing record against NSWRL/ARL/SL or NRL opposition.
Ryan Papenhuyzen needs 11 points to pass 400 career NRL points, and four goals to bring up 100 NRL career goals. He is also two tries short of 50 career NRL tries.
Sua Fa’alogo has played 27 matches for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup, scoring 18 tries. He’s scored six tries in his last four matches for the Falcons.
Team line-up
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Will WarbrickJustin Olam
Young Tonumaipea
Reimis Smith
Jayden Nikorima
Tyran Wishart
Tariq Sims
Bronson Garlick
Tepai Moeroa
Chris Lewis
Eliesa KatoaJosh King
Sualauvi Fa’alogo (NRL debut)
Alec MacDonald
Aaron Pene
Jack Howarth (NRL debut)
Grant Anderson
Joe Chan (NRL debut)
Keagan Russell-SmithCole Geyer
Tristan Powell
Referee: Ashley Klein (Bunker: Grant Atkins)
Preview
It’s almost worth throwing out the record books and the form guide for this one and just watching some fun footy. This match is nominally first versus fourth, with the Broncos aiming for their first minor premiership since 2000, but it has the distinct whiff of both organisations coming to an agreement before the teams were announced that it was time to rest players.
Melbourne rested Nick Meaney, Marion Seve, Xavier Coates, Tui Kamikamica, Harry Grant, Christan Welch, Trent Loiero, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tom Eisenhuth, and left Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster back in Melbourne. Meanwhile the Broncos left out Reece Walsh,2 Katoni Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Payne Haas,3 Kurt Capewell and Kobe Hetherington.
So with both clubs sitting large portions of their salary cap on the sidelines, this one will be a battle of the Queensland Cup and replacement players. With the Queensland Cup finals in week two, you have to feel a little sorry for the Falcons who have named a side with just one contracted Melbourne player this week to play the CQ Capras.4 With Brisbane Easts Tigers having the week off before their preliminary final they are less affected, while Broncos affiliates Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls will both have players missing as they face each other in a sudden death semi final.
Melbourne will hand long-awaited debuts to three exciting young talents. Sualauvi Fa’alogo has been around the Storm organisation for some time, with the Victorian junior coming through the SG Ball and Jersey Flegg Thunderbolts squads, before graduating to Queensland Cup with the Falcons last year. The speedy fullback/winger has been scoring tries for fun in recent weeks, with some spectacular efforts making the highlight reels. The second NRL debutant is the man, the myth, the legend that is Jack Howarth. Melbourne have been very patient with the 20-year-old, who has had a few injury concerns during his apprenticeship with the Falcons.
The third debutant will be the first father-son combination in club history, as Joe Chan becomes player #233. Chan is the son of MOB #71 Alex , and joined the club this season from Les Catalans Dragons where he made 26 Super League appearances in 2021–22. He’s been with the Tigers this season as part of their forward rotation.
It’s a well-deserved moment for all three players, who will hopefully be making more regular appearances for the club in the years to come.
Joining them this week will be return to the squad from Jayden Nikorima,5 Justin Olam, Chris Lewis,6 Aaron Pene, and Tariq Sims. Ryan Papenhuyzen will be back in the number one jersey too,7 and although not confirmed at the time of writing, will have a chance to captain the team for the second time.8
Hesitant to leave a tip for this one, as I suspect the Broncos will probably get this one done to claim the J.J. Giltinan Shield and the prize money on offer. For Melbourne, losing will mean a return trip to Lang Park for a qualifying final, and if the NRL/football gods could schedule that for a time that isn’t #SackThursdayNightFootball that would be much appreciated. If by some miracle Melbourne decide to win, they could well be faced with a trip to Penrith instead, which given a team will have to beat the Panthers to win the premiership this season, next week might be a good a time as any.
With GTV9 even showing this one live in Melbourne.
Zero career wins versus Melbourne from four matches.
Zero career wins versus Melbourne from seven matches.
Who will have a couple of Red Fish players in their ranks, most notably Anthony Milford.
Finally getting out of the “One Game Wonders” club.
For his first game in the NRL since last year’s elimination final.
With his eye on a few potential milestones as noted in the Stat Pack.
In very similar circumstances to this match, Papenhuyzen was captain for the final round match against St George Illawarra in 2020, when Melbourne were locked into second on the ladder.