9:54pm: That's all from here.
Stay on smh.com.au for all the wash-up from a great game of footy.
Thanks for reading.
Catch you next time.
9:51pm: There would be plenty of clubs hoping they don't end up playing the Storm in the finals, particularly in Melbourne.
Great effort from the Broncos. They really went down swinging, but when it mattered Cronk's touches were better than Hunt and Barba. The Broncos' final-tackle options in the second half were very ordinary, while Cronk's kicking game was superb. It's the little things that matter.
9:47pm: The Storm jump up to 4th on the ladder and the Warriors slip into the top 8 on for and against.
But who knows where they'll finish?
9:45pm: That's full-time.
Storm 22 Broncos 12
9:43pm: But Slater cleans up a Hunt grubber and that will be all. The Storm will hang on.
Great effort from the visitors though.
9:42pm: Vidot is held up inches short. Another penalty Brisbane. 3 mins to go.
9:41pm: But Brisbane force a scrum from the kick-off and they get the ball back. They're still alive. And they get a penalty too. It's not over yet.
9:40pm: 74th min: And it's a really poor last-tackle option that ends the Broncos' season. Barba and Hunt get themselves in a tangle and Hunt throws a pass that's intercepted by Fonua who runs 60 metres to score. That should just about do it. Chambers knocks it over from touch. The Storm are home.
Storm 22 Broncos 12
9:37pm: 7 mins to go. The Broncos just tiring a bit here. Their last-tackle options have been stinkers.
9:36pm: Harris has mastered the concussion test and is back.
9:35pm: The Storm have just peppered Hodges with high kicks tonight. It's been a mixed bag, but he's been OK.
Inside the final 10 mins. Still anyone's game. The extra polish of the Storm's big names is the difference at the moment.
9:31pm: That could be a big miss from Chambers.
9:31pm: 66th min: Here's the answer: the Broncos crack. Cronk kicks wide to the left and Fonua drags in the kick and muscles his way over out wide. Chambers is taking the kick for goal. Smith is clearly not anywhere near 100%. And Chambers misses.
Storm 16 Broncos 12
9:28pm: And both teams have raised the intensity again. Not sure where they're getting the energy from. Every time the Storm raise the bar and the tempo, the Broncos roll up their sleeves and go with them.
Who will crack?
9:25pm:
Will Chambers tries to get rid of Ben Barba. Photo: Getty Images
9:25pm: Tohu Harris leaves the field with what looks like a concussion.
9:24pm: Slater knocks it forward and the Broncos do hang on. Whatever happens in the final 18 mins, you've got to take your hat off to the Broncos.
9:23pm: The Storm drag Barba into touch after Waqa taps down a Cronk kick. And they'll get another set. The Broncos will do well to hang on here.
9:21pm: Like 2 boxers now these teams just going toe to toe in the middle of the ring. Great stuff. Both refusing to crack.
9:15pm: The Broncos hang on again. Great defence again. This will be some win if they can find a way.
9:13pm: The Storm made a whopping 60 more tackles than the Broncos in the first half (183 to 123), so there would be some chance they'll tire at the back end of this game.
As I say that, Hunt kicks out on the full. Storm back on the attack.
9:12pm: 50th min: The Broncos get a penalty 10 metres out. And they've decided to take the kick for goal. Interesting. They were hot on the attack. Not sure what the psychology of that is. Parker bangs it over.
Storm 12 Broncos 12
9:09pm: The Storm turn the ball over, and the Broncos get a chance to take the lead.
9:08pm: And the Broncos hang on. Somehow. Outstanding defence from the visitors. The Storm threw absolutely everything at them.
Really good game of footy this. If this is any indication of what we're in for in the finals, bring it on.
9:07pm: The Storm go very close. Will Chambers drops a tap down from Sisa Waqa in the corner. He should have scored.
But the Broncos drop it and the Storm are back on the attack.
9:05pm: Melbourne have won 32 of their past 33 matches at AAMI Park when they've led at half-time. Imposing record for the visitors to overcome.
9:04pm: And the Storm get a penalty as soon as he touches the ball. Storm on the attack.
9:03pm: Smith has his boarding card and he's back!
9:02pm: Smith has not come out with the team for the second half. He is warming up on the sideline though. It's a high ankle sprain apparently.
Reed has dislocated his shoulder and won't be back.
We're under way for the second half.
8:59pm:
Billy Slater (left) and Cam Smith (right) celebrate Cooper Cronk's try. Photo: Getty Images
8:54pm: And there's still a question over Cam Smith. He's into a slight jog in the sheds, but he doesn't look great.
8:52pm: What a half of footy.
Questions are being asked about whether Parker spent long enough off the field to actually have a proper concussion test and whether Hoffman should have been sent to the bin when McCullough was denied his try and Hoffman interfered. Or whether it should have been a penalty try.
8:46pm: And right on the half-time siren Reed dashes down the short side, dummies to Daniel Vidot when he probably should have thrown the pass and is tackled metres out from the Storm line. And Reed is injured in the process - and he doesn't look good. He's walking off with his shoulder slung in his jumper.
That's half-time.
Storm 12 Broncos 10
8:43pm: Great defence from the Broncos holds out the Storm.
8:42pm: Marty Kennedy has been put on report for a high shot. Never a dull moment here. Cracking game of footy. Storm on the attack again.
8:41pm: The doctors are still working on Smith in the dressing sheds.
8:40pm: 35th min: And the Broncos score on the next tackle. Great hands to the left and Hodges applies the killer touch with a delightful tap-on and Jack Reed scores in the corner. And now there's drama with the conversion attempt. Parker returned to the field as the try was being scored and is taking the conversion. But he may not have been on the field when the try was scored and there's confusion as to whether he can take the kick. Cronk is questioning it. But the ref says he's OK to take the kick. And he misses anyway. What an anti climax.
Storm 12 Broncos 10
8:36pm: And now young Copley has gone down with injury. It's crusher-ish, but the refs say it's OK and play on.
8:35pm: 32nd min: And Andrew McCullough makes the most of the opportunity for the Broncs by darting over for a try from dummy half. But has he bounced it? It's been referred upstairs and he may have bobbled the ball. The on-field ref has ruled a try and ... it's no try, he had lost the ball just short. But the Broncos get a penalty and they stay on the attack.
8:31pm: It's all happening here. Back at the game, it's end-to-end stuff. The Storm had a chance now, on the back of a penalty, the Broncos are on the attack.
8:30pm: Parker is having a concussion test. He looks OK-ish, so you'd expect him back.
8:30pm: And Broncos skipper Parker is hot on his heels. He's collected an elbow from Bryan Norrie and has left the field.
8:28pm: Big news here: Cam Smith has just left the field. He doesn't look too troubled, but he's pointing at an ankle or knee. Will he be back?
8:27pm: Brisbane get unlucky, and then lucky. The ref originally ruled a knock on by the Broncos, then the video ref has had a word and it's been reversed. But they make a complete meal of it and let the Storm off the hook.
8:25pm:
The Storm put the squeeze on Corey Parker. Photo: Getty Images
8:23pm: 23rd min: Hunt makes the most of the opportunity with yet another try for the season. He hammered away at the blind side and eventually just forces his way over in the corner. He's having a great season. Parker drills it from the touchline. Game on.
Storm 12 Broncos 6
8:21pm: But Slater puts the ball down and the Broncos get a sniff.
8:19pm: They look really crisp and precise with the ball in attack the Storm. They've only had 2 really good opportunities in the Brisbane 20-metre area and scored both times.
8:18pm: 18th min: And they can't. Cronk crosses right beside the sticks after Hodges spills Cronk's short kick. Smith converts. Danger signs for the Broncos.
Storm 12 Broncos 0
8:16pm: Copley puts the ball down for the Broncos, and the Storm get a penalty. Six tackles inside the Brisbane 20. The visitors will do well to hang on.
8:14pm: The Broncos make great metres again and attack the short side at the end of it, but they put the ball down.
8:12pm: 12th min: And fittingly Ryan Hoffman crosses for the Storm's first try. The Storm had Cooper Cronk and Slater out the back and that's all the Birsbane defence was interested in, and Hoffman storms over off a short ball. Cam Smith converts.
Storm 6 Broncos 0
8:09pm: Penalty Storm. They get their first attacking opportunity of the night.
8:07pm: And they nearly score. Hunt, Hodges and Dale Copley create space for Lachlan Maranta, but the final pass is forward. Maranta was too flat. Opportunity butchered.
8:05pm: And the Broncos go straight down the other end a force a line dropout. Nice work from Hodges.
Great energy early from the visitors. They're up for this.
8:04pm: Justin Hodges lets a floating bomb bounce and it just beats Billy Slater over the dead ball line.
Plenty of action early.
8:02pm: But Ben Barba knocks on and the Broncos get out of jail.
8:02pm: Ben Hunt dummies and goes close, but is held up just short. Penalty Brisbane. Plenty of early pressure.
8:00pm: The Storm's Mahe Fonua drops the ball on their first set just 20 out from their line. Broncos on the attack.
7:57pm: And we're under way ...
7:57pm: Ben Hannant is in the starting side for the Broncos in place of Thaiday - and maybe playing for his future at the club.
Very good crowd on hand.
The players are on the field.
Kick-off is not far away.
7:53pm: Storm skipper Cam Smith threw a stinker of a pass that opened the door for the Roosters to get home on Saturday night, and he's a proud leader - and a great one - so he'll be out to atone for that tonight.
The Broncos go in without Sam Thaiday (I can hear the Queenslanders shouting something about conspiracies), and he's a huge loss.
The Storm are very short favourites, but it's a funny old game.
7:44pm: Evening sports fans and welcome to tonight's coverage of Melbourne v Brisbane from AAMI Park.
Everything to play for (it's never too early to get a cliche in) tonight. Whoever wins will be guaranteed a place in the finals - exactly where is anybody's guess.
The Storm can finish anywhere from 4th to oblivion, while the Broncos could climb to 6th with a win (or maybe even a miraculous 5th if they win by a heap and the Cowboys get flogged by Manly). The possibilities are endless.
Melbourne and Brisbane have each missed the finals just once since 2003, so the loser won't know what to do with themselves.
A healthy crowd is rolling in and kick-off is looming.
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