Overview

• Kick-off is 7:30pm AEDT on Sunday, October 5 at Accor Stadium, with live coverage on Channel 9 and 9Now and delayed replays on Kayo.
• Melbourne have tightened preparations, encouraging captain Harry Grant to prioritise his own build-up, while Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen return and Nelson Asofa-Solomona is out through suspension.
• Brisbane arrive buoyed by a 16–14 preliminary-final win over Penrith after trailing 14–0 at half-time, underlining their late-game resilience.
• Coach Michael Maguire confirmed Reynolds will take goal kicks for the Broncos and indicated Ezra Mam will again be used from the bench.
• Recent trends frame the contest: Melbourne have won 17 of the past 19 meetings with Brisbane, and the Storm hold a stronger record at Homebush than the Broncos over the past decade.