<p>A top four spot is on the line for the Brisbane Broncos when they host the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.</p> <p>The Broncos moved back into the four with their win over the Cowboys and the Warriors’ loss to the Eels. A win this week means they’ll visit the Raiders in a qualifying final, while a loss could see them remain at home to host a cut-throat elimination final.</p> <p>These teams met four weeks ago, with the Storm triumphing 22-2, improving their remarkable head-to-head record against Brisbane to 27-3 over the past 15 seasons.</p> <p>Locked into second place, Melbourne welcome back Jahrome Hughes and Tui Kamikamica from injury as well as rested quartet Xavier Coates, Nick Meaney, Josh King and Eli Katoa.</p> <p>The Broncos, despite the ramifications of this clash, have opted to drop Gehamat Shibasaki for a breach of standards, meaning Deine Mariner moves to the centres and Jesse Arthars comes onto the wing.</p> <p>Check out our Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm match preview for plenty of betting tips and predictions across a host of markets. From H2H to anytime try scorer and everything in between.&nbsp;</p> <p>Looking for all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this top four clash? Check out our Broncos vs Storm prediction below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Broncos vs Storm Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>NRL round 27 opens up with a thrilling top four tango between long-time rivals the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm.</p> <p>That’s right, despite losing their two starting halves about a month ago, Brisbane enter the final week of the season inside the top four.</p> <p>That’s where they’ll want to stay, come full-time of this one, given that no side outside the top four has ever lifted the Provan-Summons trophy in the modern era.</p> <p>Normally, the Storm would be the last side you’d want to face in a situation like this, however after the Raiders sewed up the minor premiership last week, the dynamics of this clash have somewhat changed. Or so we thought.</p> <p>Even though they can’t finish first and unless there is a near 100-point swing between them and the Bulldogs, they can’t finish lower than second either, we thought they were more than likely to rest all their stars to avoid injury and an interstate road trip, a week out from a crunch home final.</p> <p>Think again. Craig Bellamy must be absolutely ropeable after his side's second half capitulation to the Roosters last week, in what was his 600th game as an NRL coach.</p> <p>As a result, he’s named his strongest possible 17 with a view to vent his frustrations on the unsuspecting Broncos.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Melbourne Storm.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>Xavier Coates has scored two or more tries in each of Melbourne's last three matches against teams on a winning streak and as a result presents an enticing option for first try scorer here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Xavier Coates.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>Nine of Brisbane's last 10 home matches against Melbourne have gone over the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Over total match points (48.5).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Line Prediction</h3> <p>Melbourne have covered the line in 11 of its last 12 away matches against Brisbane.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Melbourne Storm (-1.5).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Broncos vs Storm Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jesse Arthars</h3> <p>Jesse Arthars has scored a try in each of his four previous appearances with Brisbane as an underdog against Melbourne.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ryan Papenhuyzen&nbsp;</h3> <p>Ryan Papenhuyzen has scored at least one try in seven of his last eight appearances with Melbourne as a favourite in Queensland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Reece Walsh</h3> <p>Reece Walsh has scored a try in four of Brisbane's last five matches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Will Warbrick&nbsp;</h3> <p>Will Warbrick has scored at least one try in each of his last four appearances in Queensland.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ben Hunt</h3> <p>Ben Hunt has scored at least one try in four of his last five appearances with Brisbane as a home underdog.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jahrome Hughes</h3> <p>Jahrome Hughes has scored at least one try in four of his last five appearances with Melbourne as a favourite against Brisbane.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Kotoni Staggs</h3> <p>Kotoni Staggs has scored two tries in each of Brisbane's last two home matches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Broncos vs Storm Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Brisbane Broncos Team List</h3> <p>1. Reece Walsh</p> <p>2. Josiah Karapani</p> <p>3. Kotoni Staggs</p> <p>4. Deine Mariner</p> <p>5. Jesse Arthars</p> <p>6. Billy Walters</p> <p>7. Ben Hunt</p> <p>8. Corey Jensen</p> <p>9. Cory Paix</p> <p>10. Payne Haas</p> <p>11. Brendan Piakura</p> <p>12. Jordan Riki</p> <p>13. Patrick Carrigan</p> <p>14. Tyson Smoothy</p> <p>15. Kobe Hetherington</p> <p>16. Ben Talty</p> <p>17. Jaiyden Hunt</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Melbourne Storm Team List</h3> <p>1. Ryan Papenhuyzen</p> <p>2. Will Warbrick</p> <p>3. Grant Anderson&nbsp;</p> <p>4. Nick Meaney</p> <p>5. Xavier Coates</p> <p>6. Cameron Munster</p> <p>7. Jahrome Hughes</p> <p>8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona</p> <p>9. Bronson Garlick&nbsp;</p> <p>10. Josh King</p> <p>11. Ativalu Lisati</p> <p>12. Eli Katoa</p> <p>13. Trent Loiero</p> <p>14. Tyran Wishart</p> <p>15. Alec MacDonald</p> <p>16. Tui Kamakimica</p> <p>17. Joe Chan</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Broncos vs Storm Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, September 4, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off: </strong>7:50pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.&nbsp;</p>