NRL: Walters backing undermanned Broncos to end Storm streak

Coach Kevin Walters believes his inexperienced Brisbane Broncos side can bury a 13-game hoodoo against Melbourne in front of a huge crowd at Suncorp Stadium this Thursday night.

Both clubs have opted to rest many of their big guns.

With the minor premiership up for grabs, Brisbane have left out Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Kurt Capewell, and Payne Haas, while centre Katoni Staggs is suspended and Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan are injured.

The Melbourne Storm will also be well below full strength, missing Cameron Munster, Nick Meaney, Xavier Coates, Christian Welch, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica, and Tom Eisenhuth, with star hooker Harry Grant (shoulder) and halfback Jahrome Hughes (knee) out injured.

It has robbed the heavyweight clash of some of the biggest names in the NRL, but both clubs boast great depth and will be determined to make a game of it.

“I only made the decision (about resting players) after we beat the Raiders on the weekend, which secured two home finals for us,” Walters said after watching his new-look Broncos train at Red Hill on Wednesday morning.

“I believe we’ve got it right.

“It opens up opportunities for guys like Delouise Hoeter, Josh Rogers, and Blake Mozer, who have trained all season, to play in front of a big crowd at Suncorp and play some great footy.

“These players have earned the right to wear a Broncos jersey.”

READ: Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm R27 betting tips

Asked if he was sacrificing a minor premiership by resting so many star players, Walters said he expected nothing but total commitment from the team selected to wear the Broncos’ colours.

“The minor premiership acknowledges the best team, and without sounding arrogant, I feel we have been the best, or most consistent, team all season,” he said.

“I expect that to be the case again tomorrow night, regardless of who is playing.

“I feel over the season we’ve been the most consistent performer and that’s been proven by where we are on the table.”

Walters expects Brisbane to be at full strength for round one of the finals next weekend at Suncorp Stadium, where they could be facing the Storm again, and that includes both Reynolds and Carrigan being available.

“They’d be right this week if we were playing finals, so I’ve got no concerns there,” he said.

Walters has answered his critics, especially after last season’s end-of-year crash to miss the finals, by taking the Broncos from the club’s first wooden spoon in 2020 to being on the verge of a seventh premiership.

He was involved in five of those titles as a player, and he captained Brisbane to their last minor premiership in 2000.

“This club is about winning trophies,” said Walters.

“That’s what I am about and that is what this group is about – that’s the mantra here.”

Walters is only too aware of Melbourne’s dominance over the Broncos, which stretches to 13 wins in a row.

“We are well aware of the dominance the Storm have had over the club and it’s not just my era as a coach, they’ve been very dominant,” he said.

“The only way to fix that is to play well, and that’s what we intend to do on Thursday night.”

Much of the Storm’s dominance over the years has been orchestrated by a core group of Queensland players including Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, and Cooper Cronk, who enjoyed beating the club that overlooked them.

“This is a very different Melbourne Storm outfit,” said Walters.

Top online bookmakers have installed the Broncos as $1.68 favourites to win Thursday night’s clash and clinch the minor premiership.

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