Broncos coach Michael Maguire has explained the brutal call to drop Ben Talty from the bench amid Patrick Carrigan’s return from suspension for the Grand Final.

Meanwhile, Brisbane also “haven’t ruled out” a shock spine switch.

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Read on for the Early Mail for the NRL Grand Final.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 5

NRL GRAND FINAL

Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Sualauvi Faalogo

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

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Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ezra Mam 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Smoothy 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Jack Gosiewski 20. Ben Talty 21. Selwyn Cobbo 22. Jock Madden

Players cut:

Late Mail: The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel has revealed Michael Maguire “hasn’t ruled out” a shock spine switch, which could see Ezra Mam start come game day. The star five-eighth scored a hattrick in his last grand final outing in 2023 and was electric off the bench to down the Panthers on Sunday. Speaking on NRL360, Badel revealed he had quizzed the Broncos coach on Thursday afternoon. “I asked him that very question, he had that little twinkle in his eye and he is revelling in the mind games,” Badel said. “He said ‘Pete, I am thinking about it’. It something that he hasn’t ruled out official. I still believe Ben Hunt will start at No.6, but we all remember what Ezra Mam did in the 2023 decider… if Brisbane want to get off to a fast start against the Storm, Ezra Mam’s flashy feet could be the difference early. Michael Maguire hasn’t ruled it out, he is playing some games. I personally think Ben Hunt will start at No.6 on Sunday.” Meanwhile, Maguire has revealed why he made the brutal decision to drop Ben Talty from the bench for the Grand Final, with Patrick Carrigan returning from suspension at lock and pushing Tyson Smoothy to the bench. “I think Tyson brings versatility in the way he has been playing,” Maguire told Code Sports. It was a big decision because both players (Smoothy and Talty) have been a big part of what we have been doing in the past few months driving us to where we have got to. Tyson just gives us a point of difference off the bench. I like his utility value. He covers lock, hooker and back row if required, so with the way the game is played at the moment and the circumstances, he does bring that versatility to us.”

‘As low as you could go’ Madge comeback | 02:14