Friday‘s NRL Finals 2017 match is between Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:55 local time with the game to be played at AAMI Park. The home team Melbourne Storm are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos.

When: 19:55 | Friday 22/09/2017

Where: AAMI Park

Preview:

The Melbourne machine rolls on as they aim to qualify for their sixth grand final in 12 years. Friday’s clash with Brisbane looms as a danger game though. The Storm have sat atop of the NRL ladder since round eight but a loss at AAMI Park will all of a sudden spell their season over. It too would end the career of Cooper Cronk at Melbourne, while Billy Slater is yet to finalise his future beyond this year. Meanwhile Brisbane are confident Darius Boyd will return from a hamstring injury for the clash, while winger Corey Oates has trained this week and is tipped to overcome a heavy concussion to play. Boyd’s return means Kodi Nikorima will return to the halves, where he and five-eighth Anthony Milford have a 10-1 record when together. Benji Marshall then drops back to the bench.

Key: Bisbane’s defence – unbreakable one week, paper-thin the next – will determine this game. Just a month ago the Broncos conceded 50 points to Parramatta, but were as resilient as ever in the second half against Penrith last week. Any defensive lapses will kill them against the ruthless Storm, and they will have to be back to their best if they are to qualify for the grand final.

Tip: Storm

Odds:

OFFER: Deposit $30 BET with $180 via this link – Ends Soon!

Tip: Melbourne Storm at $1.28

Value BET: First Try Scorer – Billy Slater at $12.00

More Info:

Head to Head: Storm 28 Broncos 13 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 17, 2017 – Storm 42 bt Broncos 12 at Suncorp Stadium

Tab: Storm $1.26 Broncos $4

FootyTAB: Broncos +16.0

Teams:

Storm:

1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Curtis Scott 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Jordan McLean 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane 14. Kenny Bromwich 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Tim Glasby 17. Slade Griffin 18. Jahrome Hughes 19. Robbie Rochow 20. Joe Stimson 21. Young Tonumaipea

Broncos:

1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Sam Thaiday 9. Ben Hunt 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire 14. Benji Marshall 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Herman Ese’ese 18. David Mead 19. Jai Arrow 20. Jaydn Su’A 21. Jamayne Isaako

NRL News:

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg says the game will not intervene in coaching contracts as the fall out from Des Hasler’s sacking at Canterbury continues.

Bulldogs boss Ray Dib claimed on Wednesday that the club owed “no liabilities” to the sacked coach over his contract, despite announcing they had re-signed him in April.

Instead, the club claims that deal was a “heads of agreement” only, and “non-binding”, allowing them to release him at the end of the season without breaking a contract.

Hasler is already reported to be seeking legal action, with some claims suggesting he believes he is owed up to $1 million in payouts.

Greenberg worked with both Dib and Hasler in his time as CEO at Belmore, but said it wasn’t up to the NRL to determine which type of agreements coaches signed.

“I’m not across the details of those matters, but again those are issues for clubs and how they do their business,” Greenberg said after presenting a speech on gender equality on Wednesday.

“This is a matter that will be across the game, whether its playing contracts or coaches contracts.

“Ultimately they are decisions between the clubs and those players and coaches, so we’ll leave it to them.”

Greenberg lured Hasler to Canterbury at the end of of 2011, after he had won his second premiership in four years at Manly.

And he’s confident it won’t take him long to earn another full-time role.

The pair maintain a close relationship and Greenberg insists his appointment can still be considered a success after he took Canterbury to five finals series in six years.

“I think on any measure over six years you would have to say Des has been a successful coach.” Greenberg said.

“He’s taken that club to two grand finals, but again it’s about success on the field.

“I’m sure Des won’t be lost to coaching, not in the short-term.”