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Broncos v Storm: Hetherington good to go; Hughes returns

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pan66.com
Timestamp

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.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Te Maire Martin
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Storm is number 2 David Nofoaluma
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Young  Tonumaipea 
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Delouise Hoeter
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn Cobbo
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Thomas Flegler
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 14 Jake Turpin
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson  Asofa-Solomona
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
    2nd Row for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
  • Lock for Broncos is number 17 Ryan James
    Lock for Storm is number 14 Brandon Smith

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
    Interchange for Storm is number 11 Tom Eisenhuth
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 13 Kobe Hetherington
    Interchange for Storm is number 13 Josh King
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Rhys Kennedy
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey Jensen
    Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tyran Wishart

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Jordan Pereira
    Replacement 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.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.