NRL preliminary final: Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys

“It’s a flip of the coin between all four clubs left – they were the best four clubs all season – but I believe it will be a Brisbane-Cowboys grand final showdown in Sydney and both teams look ready to win”.

Storm captain Cameron Smith said Koroibete would have a big say in whether he played but if he was not fit then Smith remained confident Tonumaipea could do the job. The risky ball runner was at his damaging best against the Sharks. The Kiwi enforcer is at the forefront of everything good Melbourne does, laying a solid platform for his star playmakers to do their thing. “The way they were carrying the ball, they were running hard and the Sharks couldn’t handle it. He went straight through from one of the kick offs and we haven’t seen that in a while”. In one of the more dominant displays from a forward pack in recent memory last week, Scott was the man inspiring his fellow tough men with some dogged charges of the football.

“He still doesn’t know if he will play but he’s well prepared for the match if he gets the call up tomorrow”. “You have to say that after last week’s game”, Bromwich said.

Well, it’s the penultimate game of the NRL season, so savour every last sniff of action as the Storm and the Cowboys reacquaint, with a spot in the grand final on the line.

Cattle: You could make a case for Storm on the back of their three world-class players in Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Jesse Bromwich.

Bellamy said asking him about his plans while preparing his team for a preliminary final was not the right time.

Incredibly, the Cowboys have only won one game in Melbourne since 2001. But one gets the sense this is the year for Thurston to conquer his final frontier and achieve his burning desire to deliver North Queensland their maiden Premiership. Coote has shown why he was once regarded as the most exciting young player in the game, with his first injury-free season since 20012.