Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm prediction and odds: NRL 2023 Round 27

It’s here: the final round of the NRL’s regular season. After 27 long weeks, teams have one last shot to secure their finals spots, and none more so than the Brisbane Broncos, who can claim the Minor Premiership on Thursday night against the Melbourne Storm. Read on for our Broncos vs Storm predictions.

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm – Match Predictions

With the Broncos sitting top of the NRL ladder, a win here will secure top spot. However, it’s no easy task they face, with Melbourne roaring towards the finals as they always do. Here are our top predictions ahead of the Broncos vs Storm this Thursday:

Brisbane Broncos to Win 1-12 @ 2.75 (7/4)

This has got to be the game of the round, despite there being several other crackers on the cards this weekend. The Broncos have it all to play for still, with the prestige and confidence of the Minor Premiership up for grabs. However, the Storm are in sharp form the past month, and possess an incredible head to head against Brisbane.

Something’s got to give, and in a season where the Broncos have consistently defied expectations and played brilliant footy, we say they’ll squeak across the line in a State of Origin-like match. Interestingly, both teams have opted to rest key players, balancing each other out.

Total Points Under 44.5 @ 1.91 (10/11)

Despite both these sides being brilliant attacking teams, don’t expect a points fest here. Chances are, this will be gritty, high intensity finals rugby league, with an 18-12 scoreline far more likely than any kind of blow out. For those who are skeptical that Brisbane will be able to shake off their hoodoo against the Storm, betting on total match points doesn’t require picking a team, making this an excellent bet.

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm preview

Heading into this match, here’s a look at how both teams’ seasons have gone so far in the NRL 2023:

Brisbane Broncos

It’s been a stellar year for the Broncos, who currently sit on 42 points with 18 wins and just five losses. They’re currently riding a seven-match win streak, and are in the box seat to claim the Minor Premiership should they defeat the Storm. Most recently, they dispatched fifth placed Canberra Raiders 29-18, with an under-strength squad.

Melbourne Storm

As expected, the Melbourne Storm are coming right at the business end of the season. With 15 wins and eight losses, Melbourne have confirmed themselves a top four finish, and are pushing to squeeze the Warriors out of third this round. They’ve won their last three, including a beat up of the Raiders 48-2 three weeks ago. 

Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm head to head

This is one of the more remarkable head to heads in the NRL, with Melbourne undefeated in their past 13 games against Brisbane, including their last 12 at Suncorp Stadium. Overall, the Storm are up 39-13 in the head to head.

• Date and time: Thursday 31 August, 11:50am GMT
• Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
• How to watch: Sky Sports