National Rugby League Grand Final: Storm Take On Broncos
Crucial Events from the Championship Match
- Seven minutes ago: CONVERTED TRY! Storm 12-6 Broncos (Katoa, 15)
- Fourteen minutes ago: CONVERTED TRY! Melbourne 6-6 Brisbane (Meaney, 8)
- 20m ago: SUCCESSFUL TRY! Storm 0-6 Broncos (Mariner, 3)
- Twenty-five minutes ago: Kick-off!
- 1h ago: Brisbane Broncos Team Announced
- One hour ago: Melbourne Storm Lineup Announced
- Two hours ago: Preamble
Game Updates
21 mins: Fierce Action while Each Side Compete
21 mins: Brisbane push forward to the midfield and almost pierce the opposition defense via Reece Walsh and Gehamat Shibasaki on the left flank. A further excellent delivery from Reynolds on the last tackle keeps the Broncos' pressure. For three tackles they stay on the front foot, but a couple of offloads free the rapid Jahrome Hughes, and as he's tackled on the 40-meter line, a six-again is given for holding down. The Storm are now in rhythm, and William Warbrick slices through the defense, followed by Xavier Coates making a dash – only for Walsh to catch him high with a shoulder charge! Is that a sin-binning? Not according to the referee, says Grant Atkins, because the winger was buckling. Walsh is placed on report nonetheless, and the Storm continue their onslaught.
19 mins: Munster Leads Storm Attack
19th minute: Cameron Munster is active as the Storm move quickly down to their 30-meter line. Down the right, Jahrome Hughes lofts a kick, Katoa rushes up, but in the marking contest, the second-rower loses the ball, and Brisbane finally get a respite.
18 mins: Melbourne Exert Pressure on Broncos
18 mins: The Storm perform a perfect set from the kickoff and put plenty of force on Deine Mariner with the last tackle kick. Once more, the Broncos fail to reach near halfway in reply, and Adam Reynolds is compelled to kick long to stay in the game.
17th Minute: Injury for Storm
17 mins: It’s not all good news for the Storm. Howarth has been replaced due to a groin issue. Wishart is on in his position.
CONVERTED TRY! Melbourne 12-6 Brisbane (Eliesa Katoa, 15)
Spectacular, absolutely stunning. After consecutive set restarts, the Broncos are flagging. On the third play near the try line on the left side, Melbourne move the ball inside for two passes before Jahrome Hughes drops the ball onto his toe and the charging Eliesa Katoa times his charge to perfection to dive on the loose ball and rise to celebrate his side's second touchdown!
From slightly right of the posts, Meaney kicks his second goal.
12 mins: Melbourne Show Exciting Attack
12 mins: The Storm appear dynamic in offense. They have pace from the play-the-ball, grunt from the pack, and sharp passing from the backs. A threatening move concludes with a kick high to the left side that is dropped by Reece Walsh and results in a penalty to the Storm for an escort on Coates. The Storm reject the two points and get to work near the goalposts. There’s a six again – and another – as Munster weaves left and right.
10 mins: Back-and-Forth Play
10 mins: Utokiamanu has delivered as promised early and his carry from the kickoff allows first Grant, then Papenhuyzen, to dart from acting half. Jahrome Hughes kicks from 40m and Reece Walsh secures the high kick on his 10-meter line. Brisbane show less penetration this drive and get fortunate on the final play when Ben Hunt's pass to Adam Reynolds is dropped. Fortunately, the experienced playmaker delivers a great kick to turn Coates around and makes the Melbourne wing to run from his try line. The Brisbane are overzealous with their chase, hitting the Queenslander high, and Storm can kick for favorable territory.
CONVERTED TRY! Melbourne 6-6 Brisbane (Meaney, 8)
From the scrum, Utoikamanu powers forward to the 20-meter line. Next, from fast play from the play-the-ball, all of Melbourne’s big names get a touch as they move it out to the right edge until Nick Meaney cuts inside, runs at an angle at high speed, and carves through a flimsy tackle line to score for an immediate response!
Meaney dusts himself down to add the conversion. It's a tied game!
7th Minute: Teams Exchange Sets
7th minute: Both sides exchange cautious plays either side of halfway, but then the Broncos look to expand on their left side, only to fail to hit Gehamat Shibasaki with the pass. William Warbrick advances quickly and earns a knock on for his efforts.
5th Minute: Dream Start for Broncos
5th minute: That is the absolute dream start for Brisbane, scoring first before the Storm have even touched the ball, in an attack dominated by both Payne Haas and Walsh. The Melbourne might feel a little aggrieved at Grant Atkins awarding such an early penalty, but they were clearly breached by the blistering Brisbane offense.
CONVERTED TRY! Storm 0-6 Brisbane (Deine Mariner, 3)
After kicking downfield, the Broncos begin their attack. Storm give away a six-again for being offside, and quickly the ball is in the danger area. Where is Walsh? Waiting on the right side, attracting Jack Howarth, standing his ground, then someway passing to Mariner on his outside. The winger steps inside, crosses the try line, then just, only just stays in the field of play as he moves to touchdown under the posts.
A review occurs before Adam Reynolds kicks the goal, but the Bunker upholds the referee's call. Accor Stadium is rocking to the sound of ecstatic fans.
2nd Minute: Quick Infringement
2 mins: Jensen, not Haas, takes the initial carry of the match and the Storm are up sharply… but only a few plays later the Melbourne concede the opening infringement of the night for Harry Grant impeding Payne Haas on the ground. The Broncos immediately on the attack.
Kick-off!
The 2025 National Rugby League grand final is under way…
Before the Game Updates
The Storm to kick off.
Ceremonies completed, the waiting is almost over. Will it be Melbourne or take the title?
Next enter the Melbourne, led by Harry Grant, to a cacophony of disapproval! It seems we know which club’s fans have secured the most tickets. The Storm are in their home uniform of purple and blue.
Now enter the {
