Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm Tips, Odds and Teams – NRL 2018 Round 7

Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 7 match is between Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 local time with the game to be played at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. The home team Brisbane Broncos are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm.

When: 19:50 | Friday 20/04/2018

Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Preview:

Exactly 12 years ago, I was part of a premiership against the Storm and a very ‘healthy’ rivalry started.

From that day on however, it has been very much one-way traffic to the purple pride.

A bogey team for the Broncos you might say.

There’s been some talk around how the Storm were going to fare without Cooper Cronk and it seemed to be a smooth process with the arrival of Brodie Croft.

This was until he found how hard it is to perform week in and week out football.

After copping the axe last week, the Storm look set to keep the same team with the timely inclusion of Will Chambers.

KEY BATTLE: James Roberts v Melbourne right defence

An interesting battle lies between the right side of Melbourne’s defence which has been by far their weakest regarding leaking tries up against the strong side of Brisbane with the strike of James Roberts and Jamayne Isaako.

The Verdict

Both teams coming off much improved wins will shape for a spiteful physical affair.

Back at home for the Broncos with a taste of victory just might be enough for them to get one back on the reining champs.

Any one of the four wingers would be a good go for 1st try scorer but it’s Corey Oates for me.

Brisbane has a 43-21 (67.2 percent) record playing within its home state in night matches since 2014.

Unibet Odds:

Brisbane at $2.35

Melbourne at $1.61

Odds:

OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!

Tip: Melbourne Storm at $1.65

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Josh Addo-Carr at $8.50

More Info:

Teams:

Broncos:

1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 18 Tom Opacic, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Jack Bird, 7 Anthony Milford, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Tevita Pangai jnr, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Korbin Sims, 13 Josh McGuire Interchange: 14 Sam Thaiday, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Kodi Nikorima, 17 Jaydn Su’a Reserves: 18 Jonus Pearson, 19 Troy Dargan, 20 Sam Tagataese, 21 Payne Haas

Storm:

1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Ryley Jacks, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Tim Glasby Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Sam Kasiano Reserves: 18 Young Tonumaipea, 19 Joe Stimson, 20 Patrick Kaufusi, 21 Brodie Croft

NRL News:

Cameron Smith will always be the one that got away from Brisbane.

But Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has revealed he never got the feeling Smith wanted to sign with them in the first place.

Broncos fans will again wonder “what if” when Smith leads Melbourne out against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

History shows a teenage Smith surprisingly knocked back Bennett’s overtures and snapped up a $5000 bargain basement deal to begin a glittering career with Melbourne.

But Bennett said it was no surprise to him at the time.

Has he ever wondered what might have been? According to Bennett, he walked away from the meeting with a bad “vibe”.

“I don’t believe that (Smith wanted to come to Brisbane) actually, never have,” Bennett said of his initial talk with future Immortal Smith in the early 2000s.

“I was at the meeting and I never got one vibe that day that he was going to the Broncos.

“But that is the way it is. That’s fine. It happens.

“There is no grief there, you just get on with life.”

Bennett said he would have to be content with coaching Smith at Queensland and All Stars level.

“You always want to coach the really good players in the game and he is one of those but it didn’t happen,” he said.

“But I have coached him in All Stars teams and enjoyed working with him.

“And I selected him for his first Origin game (in 2003). I was his first Origin coach.”

Should Storm skipper Smith play on?

“That’s up to him,” said Bennett. “I can’t tell you what he is going to do but he has been a remarkable player and is still playing great football.

“I hate naming the best because I think that is unfair on a whole lot of others but in the grand final of hookers he is going to be right on the top of them.”

Latest News