NRL: Walters confident in Broncos bench for Storm clash

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is confident he has formulated the right bench combination to finally bury one of rugby league’s longest-running head-to-head hoodoos when the Broncos face the Melbourne Storm on Friday night.

While brilliant young fullback Reece Walsh, veteran halfback Adam Reynolds, and young guns Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam will provide the attacking razzamatazz, Walters knows the result could well come down to his bench and how he uses his rotations.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who has won his last 14 clashes against the Brisbane Broncos, has resisted the temptation to unsettle his team’s flow, leaving Nick Meaney at fullback and adding the dynamic Ryan Papenhuyzen to his bench.

Walters explained his decision to drop the team’s most experienced finals player, Corey Oates, for Jesse Arthars on the wing was because, in his opinion, Oates had not played enough football this season due to injuries.

Oates has played 201 games and scored 118 tries for Brisbane, while Arthars has scored eight tries in 17 games.

“We just felt Corey hadn’t played enough football and this game is going to be very fast,” said Walters, who admitted to being “excited” about playing a finals game in front of 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

“We are rewarding those guys who have been consistent for us in the past month or so.

“It’s critical in these games to get your rotations right.

“Keenan (Palasia) has been starting for us and he’s had a couple of games off the bench, so he will know what to do.

“Kobe (Hetherington) has been a regular coming off the bench, and while he is a different type of player in the middle, he certainly brings plenty to the team.

“Tyson (Smoothy) is his own man; he passes well and tackles well and just goes about his work, while we’ve used Brendan Piakura on the edge with great effect.

“It’s a different-looking bench, but one that has been very effective for us.”

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Walters, who helped Brisbane to five premierships as a player, has delivered early on his promise to get the club back to the top after stepping into the coaching role not long after the Broncos sank to their first-ever wooden spoon in 2020.

He has put into practice things he has learned along the way under Bellamy, Wayne Bennett, and Mal Meninga and is now being talked about as the 2023 coach of the year.

“I’ve been fortunate to learn off some very good coaches and some really good players which has built me into the coach I am today,” Walters said after declaring all 17 squad players fit and ready for battle following a captain’s run at Red Hill.

The inevitable question about the Storm hoodoo surfaced during the interview, but a smiling Walters brushed it aside.

“What a hoodoo?” he grinned.

“The Broncos beat the Storm in 2006, didn’t they?

“Does that have much relevance to what has happened this year? I don’t think it has.

“Look, the Storm have been a great team for a long time and we’re very respectful of that.

“But all my energy and all my focus has been on us this week and making sure we get it right on Friday as best we can.

“It’s not going to be a complete performance, but it is going to be one of our best performances of the year and it will need to be.”

Walters said Walsh showed in his State of Origin debut earlier this year that he was up to the pressure that comes with finals football.

“Reece has been fabulous for us this year and I am looking forward to what he can do,” he said.

“He’s been great in the premiership rounds; now we will see where he can take us in the finals and into the future.

“Personally, I am very excited about what lies ahead starting with Friday night.

“It’s great for everyone to be playing one of our arch-enemies in front of a full house.

“Where else would you want to be?”

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