NYC Rd 12 Melbourne 10 Brisbane 30

by NRL

Brisbane have moved up to ninth place on the Toyota Cup ladder with an impressive 30-10 triumph over Melbourne at AAMI Park on Friday evening.

Young centre Soape Palau was the star for the Broncos with a pair of tries, while Tristan Lumley, Caleb Timu, Mitch Moore and Brandon Lee also got on the score sheet.

But even more pleasing for Broncos coach Kurt Richards would have been the effort his young charges showed in defence.

Richards' side kept the free-wheeling Storm scoreless in the first half and to just two tries for the match, while running in six of their own to cap off the win.

The victory moves the young Broncos ahead of Storm on the Toyota Cup ladder and within striking distance of a top-eight berth at the end of the season.

The Broncos won a penalty early in the contest, but Louis Frisby inexplicably failed to find touch with the kick and Storm were on the attack shortly after.

Storm failed to make the Broncos pay and on their next attacking foray it looked like Frisby had redeemed himself by scoring.

However, the young five-eighth knocked on with the line beckoning and Lumley bombed a near certain try shortly after as the Broncos continued to attack.

Lumley made up for his misdemeanour moments later though, with the centre crossing over out wide to open the scoring after 12 minutes.

Cameron Cullen converted to give the Broncos a 6-0 lead and the visitors increased their advantage some 16 minutes later.

Cullen put in a high kick across the ground and Timu was on hand to score as the Broncos moved out to a 10-0 advantage.

Kirisome Auva'a went close to scoring for Storm shortly after, while Broncos winger Matthew Berwick made a timely interception in the middle of the ground, before being brought down close to the line.

Then right on the stroke of half-time Palau scored the Broncos' third after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors.

Kodi Nikorima failed to add the extras, but the Broncos still held a healthy advantage (14-0) at the break.

The first try after half-time was always going to be important and it was the Broncos that got it.

Storm knocked on in the middle of the ground and from the ensuing set Lee barged over from close range.

Nikorima made no mistake with this conversion as the Broncos pushed their lead to 20, leaving Storm needing at least four scores to pinch an unlikely victory.

Five-eighth Ben Meehan ran in untouched with a darting run from dummy-half to score for the home side and Mahe Fonua crossed over out wide on their next set as Storm got back within 10 points with 20 minutes remaining.

Berwick continued his impressive match with another line-break to get the Broncos into good field position and Jarrod Watson went close to scoring after a solid 40-metre run.

At the other end Storm threw the ball around in an attempt to work their way back into the contest, but some solid defence from the young Broncos kept the home side out.

Then with nine minutes remaining the Broncos scored the sealer as Palau earned his second for the evening after following up a delightful grubber from Cullen.

Frisby became the third Bronco to kick a goal during the match by adding the extras, before Mitchell Moore finished the rout in the final minutes with a solo effort from dummy-half as the visitors picked up their fifth Toyota Cup victory of the season.

Melbourne Storm 10
Tries: Meehan, Fonua
Goals: Solomona

Brisbane Broncos 30
Tries: Palau 2, Lumley, Timu, Lee, Moore
Goals: Cullen, Nikorima, Frisby

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