Source : ABC NEWS
3′ Brisbane looking ‘extremely flat’
There’s only been one set each, but Mick Ennis on Fox Sports reckons the Broncos have started “extremely flat”.
The Storm certainly made more metres in their opener.
Here come the teams
The Storm first, followed by the Broncos, with a number of players running onto Lang Park as a Bronco for perhaps the final time.
The drop-off must be studied
Hi John, love your work.
I’m far from emotionally attached to either team, but last year they contested one of the best Grand Finals I’ve seen (and I watched the 1969 GF!). It’s hard to digest that neither will make the semi’s, I’m wagering that this is a precedent.– Lewis Duckworth
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Not just last year either. These guys account for four of the past six grand finalists and two of the past six premiers.
But when you say this is a precedent, are you tipping more down years for these sides?
I’m somewhat optimistic about the Storm’s recruitment for 2027, but I’m not so sure about the Broncos. It’s not usually a good sign when a team doesn’t know who their halfback is going to be heading into preseason.
Remembering a great
Evening Jon. Absolutely gobsmacked at trialling this ‘new’ rule tonight. As for the Adam Reynolds saga it’s a sad ending to his playing career. He is a great team player and I hope he realises that NRL fans applaud him and wish him well.
– KB
KB,
I don’t think a couple of games on the sideline will do anything to diminish Adam Reynolds’s legacy.
Here are some of his achievements:
- 323 NRL games
- 15 seasons in the league
- 2,598 points, which is second-highest in history
- Two premierships — in 2014 with South Sydney and 2025 with Brisbane
- Two State of Origin games
Why this kick-off rule?
G’day Jon. Not sure this kick off option is fair. In the scenario you point out , why should a team that’s down get the opportunity to win by forcing the winning side to go back into defence mode. ? Been watching league for 65 years and it goes against the grain.
– Phillip
G’day Phillip,
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Look, this was ostensibly floated to stop teams from gaining so much momentum and running away with games, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s more similar to the NFL as the NRL tries to push into the American and other global markets.
LATE MAIL: No late changes for either side
The Storm are welcoming back Jahrome Hughes this week and swap out the injured Jack Howarth for ultimate Swiss Army knife Tyran Wishart.
Brisbane, meanwhile, is unchanged from the team that beat the Raiders last week.
