BRISBANE and Melbourne mostly snubbed an experimental rule as the Broncos sunk to their ninth consecutive home defeat.
In a compelling indication of how far both clubs have fallen, the 2025 grand finalists were chosen to trial an rule under which the captain of a scoring team can opt to either kick-off or receive from the resumption of play.
Pat Carrigan and Harry Grant snubbed the opportunity to kick off until the 52nd minute, when a Sua Fa’alogo try put the visitors 36-14 up with the conversion and the Storm opted to give the ball back to the Broncos.
The Storm ran out 46-20 winners.
Earlier, referee Wyatt Raymond appeared to offer Carrigan the option of kicking off too late – it is supposed to be proffered before any conversion attempt but was given after. He corrected this when the Broncos responded with a touchdown of their own.
Brisbane managed to score four tries but were mostly poor in front of a big Suncorp Stadium crowd.
They conceded their first try, to Storm lock Stefano Utoikamanu in the 14th minute, with woeful defence from a tap.
Winger Sui Tuimalatu-Brown finished with a hat-trick, scoring his third on the bell, after Melbourne led 30-10 at halftime.
During the first half, Melbourne complained to the NRL that the public address system was deliberately distracting their players when there was a high Brisbane kick in the air.
MELBOURNE 46 (Tuimalatu-Brown 3 Wishart 2 Utoikamanu Meaney Fa’alogo tries) beat BRISBANE 20 (Mam 2 Staggs Hunt tries) at Suncorp Stadium.
Teams:
BRISBANE: Hayze Perham; Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner, Grant Anderson; Ezra Mam, Ben Hunt; Xavier Willison, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Jaiyden Hunt, Jordan Riki, Pat Carrigan (c). Res: Blake Mozer, Aublix Tahwa, Jack Goziewski, Va’a Semu, Thomas Duffy, Gehemat Shibasaki.
MELBOURNE: Sua Fa’alogo; Sui Tuimalatu-Brown, Tyran Wishart, Nick Meaney, Moses Leo; Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes; Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Oryn Keeley, Trent Loiero. Res: Trent Toelau, Alec MacDonald, Jack Hetherington, Cooper Clarke, Angus Hinchey, Mario Seve.
Referee: Wyatt Raymond.
