National Rugby League Grand Final: Storm Take On Brisbane Broncos
Crucial Events in the Grand Final
- 7m ago: SUCCESSFUL TRY! Storm 12-6 Brisbane (Katoa, 15)
- 14m ago: SUCCESSFUL TRY! Melbourne 6-6 Brisbane (Meaney, 8)
- 20m ago: SUCCESSFUL TRY! Melbourne 0-6 Broncos (Deine Mariner, 3)
- Twenty-five minutes ago: Kick-off!
- 1h ago: Broncos Lineup Announced
- One hour ago: Melbourne Storm Lineup Announced
- Two hours ago: Preamble
Game Coverage
21 mins: Fierce Play as Each Side Compete
21 mins: The Broncos advance to halfway and almost break through the defensive line via Reece Walsh and Gehamat Shibasaki on the left side. Another superb kick from Adam Reynolds on the final play maintains the Broncos' momentum. Over three plays they remain on the front foot, but a couple of offloads free the speedy Hughes, and as he's tackled on the 40-meter line, a six-again is awarded for holding down. The Storm are finding their flow, and Warbrick slices through the line, followed by Coates making a dash – only for Walsh to catch him high with a shoulder! Could that be a yellow card? No, rules Atkins, because the winger was buckling. The fullback is placed on report nonetheless, and the Storm continue their attack.
19th Minute: Munster Directs Storm Attack
19 mins: Munster is active as the Storm charge at speed down to their 30-meter line. On the right side, Hughes kicks high, Katoa rushes up, but in the aerial battle, the forward loses the ball, and Brisbane at last get a respite.
18 mins: Storm Apply Force on Brisbane
18 mins: Melbourne perform a textbook restart set and put significant pressure on Mariner with the last tackle kick. Once more, the Brisbane fail to reach the midfield in reply, and Adam Reynolds is compelled to kick long to keep his team in touch.
17th Minute: Setback for Storm
17th minute: There's a setback for the Storm. Jack Howarth has been subbed out due to a groin injury. Tyran Wishart is entering in his place.
CONVERTED TRY! Melbourne 12-6 Broncos (Eliesa Katoa, 15)
Spectacular, absolutely stunning. After back-to-back restarts, Brisbane are flagging. From tackle three close to the line on the left, the Storm send the ball inside for two passes before Jahrome Hughes drops the ball onto his toe and the charging Katoa times his run to perfection to dive on the loose ball and rise to mark his side's second touchdown!
From just to the right of the uprights, Nick Meaney converts his second conversion.
12 mins: Storm Display Thrilling Offense
12 mins: Melbourne appear thrilling in attack. There’s speed from the play-the-ball, grunt from the forwards, and sharp passing from the backs. A threatening move ends with a high kick to the left side that is dropped by Walsh and results in a infringement to the Storm for an escort on Xavier Coates. The Storm decline the penalty goal and set up near the goalposts. They get a set restart – and a further one – as Munster weaves side to side.
10th Minute: Back-and-Forth Action
10 mins: Utokiamanu has delivered as promised from the start and his carry from the kickoff enables first Grant, then Papenhuyzen, to dart from dummy-half. Jahrome Hughes boots from 40m and Walsh catches the bomb on his 10m line. The Broncos show reduced thrust in this set and get fortunate on the final play when Ben Hunt's pass to Reynolds goes to ground. Fortunately, the veteran halfback kicks superbly to turn Coates around and makes the Storm winger to sprint from his try line. The Brisbane are overzealous with their pursuit, hitting the winger with a high tackle, and Melbourne can kick for favorable territory.
SUCCESSFUL TRY! Melbourne 6-6 Brisbane (Meaney, 8)
From the scrum, Stefano Utoikamanu powers forward to the 20m line. Then, from quick ball from the play-the-ball, all of Melbourne’s big names get a touch as they move it out to the right hand side until Meaney straightens up, angles in at serious pace, and breaks through a flimsy defensive line to score for an immediate response!
The centre recovers to add the conversion. It's a tied game!
7th Minute: Teams Exchange Sets
7th minute: Both sides exchange conservative sets around midfield, but then the Broncos look to expand on their left, only to fail to hit Shibasaki with the pass. Warbrick advances quickly and forces a dropped ball for his troubles.
5 mins: Ideal Opening for Brisbane
5 mins: That is the absolute dream start for Brisbane, taking the lead before Melbourne have even touched the ball, in an attack led by both Haas and Reece Walsh. The Storm might feel a little aggrieved at Grant Atkins blowing such an early penalty, but they were clearly breached by the rapid Brisbane offense.
CONVERTED TRY! Melbourne 0-6 Brisbane (Mariner, 3)
Following a long kick, Brisbane get to work. Melbourne concede a set restart for being offside, and quickly the ball is in the red zone. Reece Walsh positions himself? Lurking on the right side, attracting Howarth, holding his position, then someway offloading to Deine Mariner on his outside. The winger steps inside, reaches the line, then barely remains in the field of play as he moves to touchdown beneath the goalposts.
A review occurs before Reynolds kicks the conversion, but the video official confirms the on-field decision. The venue is erupting to the sound of jubilant Queenslanders.
2 mins: Quick Infringement
2nd minute: Corey Jensen, not Haas, makes the initial carry of the night and Melbourne are up sharply… but just three tackles later the Melbourne give away the opening infringement of the game for Harry Grant impeding Payne Haas on the floor. Brisbane right away on the attack.
Kick-off!
The 2025 National Rugby League grand final is under way…
Pre-Match Updates
Melbourne to start the match.
Ceremonies taken care of, the anticipation is nearly done. Who will win or will it be Brisbane?
Now follow the Melbourne, led by Harry Grant, to a cacophony of disapproval! It seems we know which team's supporters have secured the majority of seats. The Storm are in their traditional kit of purple and blue.
Now enter the {
