Two of rugby league’s all-time greats are salivating at Thursday night’s NRL match-up between the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos.
Despite Brisbane’s poor record at AAMI Park—where they last tasted victory back in 2016—Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis have declared the Round 23 clash is the Broncos’ best chance to lower the Storm’s colours in many seasons, particularly with the absence of playmaking lynchpin Jahrome Hughes.
“To be comfortable with Craig Bellamy’s system and then three-quarters of the way through the season to lose your key playmaker (Hughes), it’s not an easy ask,” Wally Lewis said of the Storm on Channel Nine’s QLDER program.
Darren Lockyer agreed and suggested the Broncos must stand up in game that will present a completely different challenge to last week’s rout of the injury-depleted Rabbitohs.
MORE: Why Melbourne continues to be Brisbane’s NRL Everest after 27 years
“It’s going to be a difficult game, but I do think it’s their best chance to win in Melbourne for a while,” Lockyer said.
“If you want to be top four you have to start beating some good teams—if not a win for the Broncos, a very good performance against the Melbourne Storm is the bare minimum.”
‘It’s going to be a bell ringer’
Lewis pointed to the importance of patience and tactics if Michael Maguire’s side is to have any chance of returning from Melbourne with two crucial NRL premiership points.
“It’s almost like you’re playing chess against Melbourne, the challenges aren’t easy,” he explained.
“You have to out-move them and play very smart, but it’s also important you don’t try to out-attack them on every play,” Lewis continued, mirroring some of the criticism levelled at the Broncos in recent weeks.
“The Storm defenders won’t be giving Brisbane many opportunities, so you have to cash in on the few chances that come long.
“I don’t expect too many mistakes from either side—it’s going to be a bell ringer this one.”