In a tense finale, Brisbane Broncos secured victory against Melbourne Storm despite early challenges.
In the final moments of the match at Stadium Australia, the Brisbane Broncos found themselves in a tense, yet familiar scenario: just minutes away from victory while anxiously monitoring the clock. Memories of past near-failures in 2015 and 2023 loomed large as they led the contest, with a sea of maroon, gold, and white fans surrounding them.
Similar to their previous playoff matches against Canberra and Penrith, Michael Maguire's squad faced a double-digit deficit early on. However, unlike those earlier games, they quickly turned the tide, seizing the lead in the 57th minute and refusing to relinquish it.
The Melbourne Storm arrived with a well-crafted game plan, executing it effectively during the first half. For years, they have struggled to regain their wrestling and grinding style, which was evidently absent that night. The key question heading into the game was how to counter the potent Brisbane offense. Melbourne's approach appeared simple: maintain an edge without allowing the Broncos to catch up.