Melbourne half Jahrome Hughes has suffered an arm fracture as Brisbane ace Reece Walsh played a royal flush hand to secure a 30-14 win and a vital top-four position.
The Broncos will now play Canberra away in the first week of the finals and get a crucial second chance in the semis thanks to a 22-point haul from Walsh, which included two tries and seven goals.
The mercurial Broncos No.1 put the drama of the week’s ‘Toiletgate’ saga behind him to have a blinder on Thursday.
“He did OK, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about toilets,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire grinned.
“He’s a character, and obviously creates a lot of noise, but at the end of the day he’s in here training and doing all the work with the players and he wants to win.”
It was just the Broncos’ second win in their past 19 games against the Storm, but their ninth victory this season from the last 11 matches.
Hughes had just returned to action after missing five weeks with a shoulder injury.
“I’m not quite sure if it’s the wrist or just halfway on the forearm,” coach Craig Bellamy said.
“They pretty much think it’s a break without a doubt, he’s in plaster already, so that wasn’t a great idea to put him back this week. I’d imagine it’s season-ending.”
In front of a sold-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium, he went to tackle Broncos forward Brendan Piakura and immediately clutched at his left wrist.
Hughes, last year’s Dally M Medal winner, went up the tunnel in the 25th minute and his side’s finals hopes possibly went with him.
To make matters worse prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was put on report and sin-binned for a high shot on Ben Talty.
The Storm will face a nervous wait for the MRC charge sheet as the giant forward has two prior offences on his record.
A grade-two high tackle or dangerous tackle charge would lead to a three-game ban. If second-placed Melbourne win in the first week of the finals, such a charge would rub him out of the finals.
Walsh landed a 40/20 and celebrated his second try just after halftime with a slurping gesture.
It was a reference to the drink he had during the week from an unused toilet bowl installed in his home, which he posted to social media.
The Broncos called it, in a statement, a “poor attempt at humour” but there was nothing poor about his display. It was pure class.
Cheeky Walsh had also posted an image of himself on social media dressed up as a plumber. He certainly found leaks in the Storm defence and a pipeline to the tryline.
The Broncos were all over an ill-disciplined Melbourne early to take a 2-0 lead. The home side’s defence, with No.6 Billy Walters notable, was on song.
Walsh opened the scoring after putting Payne Haas in a gap and supporting.
Storm second-rower Eliesa Katoa scored off a Cameron Munster bomb but Walsh found back-rower Brendan Piakura on the short side to extend the Broncos’ lead on the cusp of halftime.
Both teams were down to 12 men in the first half with Broncos winger Deine Mariner binned for repeated ruck infringements.
Walsh extended the lead to 18-4 after the break. The Storm hit back with tries to winger Will Warbrick and centre Nick Meaney but it was too late. Broncos winger Josiah Karapani sealed it with the last play of the night.
The Broncos had axed centre Gehamat Shibasaki during the week for disciplinary reasons but it did not impact their display.
AAP
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Key Events
1h ago1 hours agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 12:25pm
2h ago2 hours agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:50am
2h ago2 hours agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:34am
Show all key events3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:23amInjury: Jahrome Hughes
Massive news here with Jahrome Hughes coming away ginger from a tackle on Brendan Piakura.
He’s tried to play on, but as he’s passed the ball he’s grimaced in pain and he’s up the tunnel. Tyran Wishart is on.
The early prognosis is a broken wrist. Hughes was making his return from a shoulder injury.
35m agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 1:25pm
Signing off
That’ll do me, what a night of footy from Lang Park.
Be sure to tune in again tomorrow when we live blog each of the two matches, including the Rabbitohs-Roosters showdown.
Have a good one!
Loading1h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 12:25pmMatch report: Hughes injured as Broncos roar into top four
Melbourne half Jahrome Hughes suffered a suspected broken wrist as Brisbane ace Reece Walsh played a royal flush hand to secure a 30-14 win and a vital top-four position.
The Broncos will now play Canberra away in the first week of the finals and get a crucial second chance in the semis thanks to a 22-point haul from Walsh, which included two tries and seven goals.
The mercurial Broncos No.1 put the drama of the week’s “Toiletgate” saga behind him to have a blinder.
It was just the Broncos’ second win in their past 19 games against the Storm, but the ninth victory this season from the last 11 matches.
Hughes had just returned to action after missing five weeks with a shoulder injury.
In front of a sold-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium he went to tackle Broncos forward Brendan Piakura and immediately clutched at his left wrist.
Hughes, last year’s Dally M Medal winner, went up the tunnel in the 25th minute and his side’s finals hopes possibly went with him.
To make matters worse prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was put on report and sin-binned for a high shot on Ben Talty.
The Storm will face a nervous wait for the MRC charge sheet as the giant forward has two prior offences on his record.
A grade-two high tackle or dangerous tackle charge would lead to a three-game ban. If second-placed Melbourne win in the first week of the finals, such a charge would rub him out of the finals.
Walsh landed a 40/20 and celebrated his second try just after halftime with a slurping gesture.
It was a reference to the drink he had during the week from an unused toilet bowl installed in his home, which he posted to social media.
The Broncos called it, in a statement, a “poor attempt at humour” but there was nothing poor about his display. It was pure class.
Cheeky Walsh had also posted an image of himself on social media dressed up as a plumber. He certainly found leaks in the Storm defence and a pipeline to the tryline.
The Broncos were all over an ill-disciplined Melbourne early to take a 2-0 lead. The home side’s defence, with No.6 Billy Walters notable, was on song.
Walsh opened the scoring after putting Payne Haas in a gap and supporting.
Storm second-rower Eliesa Katoa scored off a Cameron Munster bomb but Walsh found back-rower Brendan Piakura on the short side to extend the Broncos’ lead on the cusp of halftime.
Both teams were down to 12 men in the first half with Broncos winger Deine Mariner binned for repeated ruck infringements.
Walsh extended the lead to 18-4 after the break. The Storm hit back with tries to winger Will Warbrick and centre Nick Meaney but it was too late.
Broncos winger Josiah Karapani sealed it with the last play of the night.
AAP
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:50amFulltime: Brisbane 30 def Storm 14
As Melbourne mount a last, desperate attack Walters intercepts a pass from Wishart, he’s got Karapani in support and takes it all the way!
What a way for the Broncos to finish it off! What a way to secure their place in the top four! The crowd is going ballistic!
Walsh from wide out…was it ever in doubt?
Brisbane win 30-14.Â
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:40am
76′ Walsh takes personal haul to 20
Garlick goes for the strip right in front of the posts and Brisbane, say it with me now, will have two more. Walsh takes it – he has 20 points himself now – and it’s 24-14 Broncos.Â
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:34am72′ Meaney scores to give Melbourne hope
Wishart throws a big dummy to cut through around halfway, he has Papenhuyzen in support and the cover converges only for the fullback to throw a ball out to Meaney for the try.
He converts his own try and Melbourne aren’t dead yet. It’s 22-14 with seven left.
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:30am
69′ Melbourne hand Brisbane another two points
Walters puts in a nice kick to force a drop out, Melbourne can’t beat the shot clock and it’s penalty Broncos right in front.
Walsh takes two more, it’s 22-8 and Brisbane are just about locked in to face Canberra next week.
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:26am
65′ Walsh adds two more
Warbrick makes an error on his own ten on a kick return and if Brisbane score here I think that’ll be all she wrote.
Anderson clips Staggs high and Walsh will take the shot at goal. He nails it and it’s 20-8 Broncos.
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:21am62′ Warbrick strikes to give Melbourne hope
Hunt drops the ball after a heavy tackle from Munster, Melbourne spread it right and Katoa creates a try for Warbrick. That’s his first try since the season opener, good to see him get over.
Meaney’s kick is wide and it’s back to 18-8 Broncos.Â
2h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:11am
52′ Broncos deny Storm again
Staggs knocks Coates off the ball and Melbourne are on the attack again. Brisbane concede an offside penalty on the last after another strong defensive set, a lucky escape for the Storm.
Garlick goes blind on the last and Brisbane handle it easily, they are all out of sorts.
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 11:00am44′ Walsh magic show continues with another try
Walsh bangs a 40/20 off Brisbane’s first set, he cannot miss tonight!
And it keeps going – two passes wide, Walsh gets on the outside of Munster, he beats him easily and scores his second try of the night!
He mimes drinking in his celebration…have a guess what that’s in reference to!
Walsh has been a 10/10 tonight, my word. It’s a big lead now and it can get even bigger if Walsh nails this kick and of course he does. Broncos lead 18-4.Â
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:57am
Second half is underway
Melbourne kick us off – Mariner should be back in about five minutes, Asofa-Solomona will be back about a minute later.
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:42amHalftime: Broncos 12 lead Storm 4
Another penalty, this time from Papenhuyzen on Hunt. It’s right in front and Brisbane will tap it.
Last tackle Walsh goes to dummy half, he flies down the blind and throws a sensational pass to Piakura on the wing and he’s over!
Sensational stuff from Walsh and Brisbane will take a handy lead into the break. From touch Walsh buries it, what a half he’s had!
Brisbane lead 12-4 at the break.Â
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:37amSin bin: Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Two high tackles, Katoa on Piakura and Asofa-Solomona on Talty, brings Brisbane right up the field.
Asofa-Solomona’s is bad, it’s direct contact to the head. I think he’ll be off to the bin…and yup, there he goes.
It’s 12 on 12 with Brisbane on the attack!
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:35amSin bin: Deine Mariner
Munster nails a 40/20 and the Storm are on the attack in the shadows of halftime.
A six again on the fourth helps them build some pressure, Asofa-Solomona nearly sneaks over from close range, there’s ANOTHER six again on the last and Mariner is off to the sin bin!
It’s for repeated infringements, the referee says. Melbourne take the tap.
Brisbane defend their line bravely, Coates goes high and claims it on the last but Arthars wraps him and Brisbane hold their line. Dramatic stuff at Lang Park!
(Zane Bojack)
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:22am
27′ Storm score their first through Katoa
Papenhuyzen nearly slips through around midfield – Melbourne look good when they move the ball but up the guts there’s not much for them.
Munster gets whacked a touch late as he puts up a bomb and the Storm will have a set on the attack.
Munster puts a kick up, Warbrick gets it, loses it backwards and Katoa is there first to score! We’ll need a look at this but first replay looks alright……try confirmed.
Meaney from touch and it’s wide, Brisbane 6-4.
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:16am
22′ Brisbane deny the Storm again
Carrigan gets pinged for a penalty in the ruck and Melbourne really needed that penalty, Brisbane have been dominating this game physically.
Munster ducks down the right and fires a bullet to Meaney and he puts it down. Bit of confusion out there for the Storm. Bronco ball.
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:10am
16′ Broncos get a controversial try
Papenhuyzen drops a speculator of a Hunt kick and Brisbane are right on the attack!
Haas runs over the top of someone, offloads to Walsh, he looks to have dropped it, kicked it through and scored but did it come off his knee?
The Bunker says it did, I have no idea how to be honest with you. Now we go to the contact between Papenhuyzen in cover and Walsh…but that’s clean, this will be a try!
A controversial one to start with. Walsh sprays it but it’s 6-0 Broncos.
3h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:05am
13′ Broncos hold their line again
Staggs checks Coates as he’s running to catch a bomb and Melbourne get a fresh set on the line.
Katoa gets Warbrick into a little bit of space, he dives for the corner but Karapani gets the stop! Good effort from the young Bronco.
Brisbane ball, 20 metre restart.
4h agoThu 4 Sep 2025 at 10:00am
8′ Broncos take first points
Walsh pokes in a kick that doesn’t look great off the boot but it lands in space, Munster collects it and Brisbane trap him in-goal.
Piakura gets hit high by Katoa and Brisbane will take the two. Walsh makes no mistake.
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