'Never seen it better!' Storm pinch thriller amid Reynolds heartbreak ...

The Brisbane Broncos could go 3000 days without a victory in Melbourne after a bold bunker call helped deliver the Storm a last-gasp win on a night the visitors also lost captain Adam Reynolds to a hamstring strain.

In a scintillating 11-try affair Storm came from behind scoring three times in the second half, including twice in the final five minutes, and held off a late charge to secure revenge for the finals-ending loss to the Broncos in 2023 and a heart-stopping 34-32 win.

MATCH CENTRE: Storm v Broncos stats, scores, video

Down 26-16 after Brisbane star Ezra Mam, with Reynolds watching on from the bench after shedding some half-time tears, stormed through a flat-footed Melbourne defence to score his second try and put the home team on the back foot, Melbourne stormed back.

But first winger Will Warbrick finished off a brilliant movement in the 58th minute to score and then, after a tense defensive struggle Tyran Wishart was awarded a 74th minute try despite an on-field no-try riling from referee Ashley Klein to give Melbourne the lead.

Back from suspension, Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes then got on the end of a kick to extend the lead.

Not to be outdone, the biggest man in the NRL, Brisbane’s Brendan Te Kura, scored on debut in the 78th minute to set up a thrilling finish ended when a high and hopeful kick from Mam was caught by Warbrick.

It ensured Brisbane remained winless since Round 16, 2016 in Melbourne and gave Storm coach Craig Bellamy a seventh win from eight games against rival Kevin Walters

On a night filled with brilliant tries there were six between the two teams in a scintillating opening half including another Xavier Coates stunner. Both teams scored two for each team in a 13 minute back-end-forth blitz from the 24th minute in the ultimate speed and power show.

Mam had been steamrolled and then streamed by Storm back-rower Katoa who scored two Storm tries but the Brisbane playmaker then turned main man for his team after Reynolds went down aided by some brilliance as fill-in fullback from Tristan Sailor in the absence of Reece Walsh.

With star playmakers Cameron Minster and Hughes back steering the Storm ship a team which scored just twice last week found their attacking mojo nailing a season-high six tries.

TRY FEST EXTRAVAGANZA

11 tries, 66 points and an early contender for game of the year.

These two teams have played some beauties before, but this one may have topped them.

It really had it all, with both teams scoring some freakish tries.

Broncos pivot Ezra Mam scored two off kicks, including one on fifth tackle in the 49th minute which was kicked to the Storm at the end of a Broncos set.

The Storm would let it hit the ground with the ball in turn bouncing right back to Mam, who sped through some confused defenders to run away to the line.

Storm winger Xavier Coates, who has try of the year wrapped up after his insane game-winning effort against the Warriors in Round 2, produced another high flying spectacle when leaping onto the shoulders of Broncos winger Deine Mariner to reel in and put down a Jahrome Hughes bomb.

Coates would later be involved in Melbourne’s last try, somehow getting his shin to a loose ball and kicking it through to Hughes who scored.

“This is incredible. He shinned the ball,” Andrew Voss said.

Voss would then marvel at the craziness of the game and the many highlight-reel tries.

“How many different ways can you score a try in rugby league?”

Matty Johns said post-game that this game was an example of just how exciting the competition is at the moment.

“I’ve never seen the sport and product better than it is now,” Johns said.

“It was end to end stuff… It was just an awesome game of footy. I haven’t seen a game like this in a long, long time,” Bryan Fletcher added.

NO-GO ZONE

Broncos captain Reynolds could make himself unavailable for all future trips to AAMI Park after having his night ended by injury for a second straight season. In 2023 he was taken from the field in a medi-cab with a neck issue, and on Thursday night a leg complaint flared just before half-time and was diagnosed as a hamstring issue which forced him to watch from the bench.

X-MAN

Storm winger Xavier Coates has only scored two tries in 2024, and both could be contenders for try of the year. His opening effort was the matchwinning dive and twist against the Warriors, which left those who have seen decades of the game in awe.

Then in the same corner of AAMI Park he used Broncos winner Deine Mariner as a stepladder to pluck a high-kick from the clouds before wrestling his way down to score.

It’s only the spectacular stuff for Coates who is an unstoppable weapon when healthy and looms as an assets for the Queensland State of Origin side also.

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