The countdown now begins for the NRL Grand Final as the whole season comes down to the heavy weight bout between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm.

Now without our beloved Warriors in the mix, many Kiwis around the country will be watching from a neutral position, unless you’ve got personal ties to either team. But if you don’t, finding yourself without a side on Thursday afternoon of Grand Final week isn’t a bad place to be. It gives you the chance to decide who you might want to root for in the big showdown.

On the flip side, you might be the type of fan who simply can’t support another team once your own side is out of the running. That’s completely fair and if that’s the case, this article might not be up your ally.

Here, we’re going to give anyone in that neutral zone a few reasons why you might choose to back one side over the other. That could be due to certain players, history of the club or maybe just the city you would like to visit more on holiday.

So, with that said, let’s get into why us neutral fans might want to support the Broncos or the Storm in this year’s Grand Final.

Brisbane Broncos

Club History

The Broncos have been one of the most successful clubs in the modern history of the NRL, with six premierships over the past 40 years, the most of any team in that time. However, they haven’t lifted the trophy since the 2006 season, when they met the Melbourne Storm in the final.

That match featured club legends like Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker and Darren Lockyer, who led the side to their most recent championship. Since then, the Broncos have only reached one final, where Nathan Cleary and the Panthers denied the current core of players their first premiership for the club.

This means the upcoming final is not only a chance to break a near 20-year drought, but it also serves as a revenge game for those who fell short in the 2023 decider.

The Players

Looking across the players for the Brisbane Broncos, there are a couple of key names to keep an eye on in this one. First up is their veteran half, Adam Reynolds, who will be playing in the fourth Grand Final of his career. He managed to win in 2014 with Souths, but aside from that, he’s had some pretty rotten luck in finals, where big moments have often got the better of him.

This weekend’s final should provide the league’s second-highest point scorer of all time with a chance to lay some demons to rest and claim the second premiership of his career.

The next name is Reece Walsh, who is certainly a polarising figure around these parts. After the Warriors gave him a shot as a teenager, he was granted a release to return to the club he grew up supporting. Since then, Walsh has flourished on the field, becoming arguably the best fullback in the game over the past few months.

If he can lead the Broncos to a win this weekend, he will etch his name into club history and will no doubt be on a path to become the face of the league.

The City

If none of those reasons convince you to support the Broncos, why not take a look at the city itself?

The capital city of Queensland offers so much to both locals and visitors in this sun-drenched paradise. It’s an urban environment that embraces its outstanding climate through its infrastructure, atmosphere and lifestyle.

There are some phenomenal buildings that frame the stunning Brisbane River, which sits at the heart of the city. The area is packed with top-tier restaurants and activities that can be enjoyed all year round, with temperatures sitting around 25 degrees in winter and climbing close to 40 in summer.

Another great thing about Brisbane is that it’s the gateway to many of Australia’s gems, including Surfers Paradise, the Glass House Mountains and plenty more.

So if those characteristics of the city sound like something you can get behind, why not support their club in the final?

Melbourne Storm

Club History

Outside of the Panthers in recent years, the Melbourne Storm have been the model of consistency, making nine Grand Finals since 1999. Of those nine appearances, they’ve won four, with the most recent being the 2020 final against the Panthers.

Since then, they’ve made it to two more Grand Finals, both of which they lost to Penrith, including last year’s decider.

The question now is whether this Storm side, who have been in something of a new era since that 2020 championship, can finally get over the hump with a forward pack that no longer includes names like Cam Smith or the Bromwich brothers.

The Players

One man who was part of that 2020 edition of the Storm and remains with the side today is their fullback, Ryan Papenhuyzen. What makes his return to the big stage so compelling is everything he has been through since last winning the premiership at the start of the decade.

Since then, he has dealt with concussions, hamstring issues, ankle injuries, and most notably the fractured patella he suffered in 2022, which kept him out of the game for over a year.

For the 27-year-old, if he is able to climb back to the top this Sunday after enduring such a brutal run of injuries, it will no doubt be a special moment for him because of all the pain and recovery he would have been through.

The last name I want to mention is their captain, Harry Grant, who is yet to play in a Grand Final that the Storm have won.

As the leader of this new era, and playing in the same position as the greatest player in the club’s history, Cam Smith, he will no doubt be eager to get the monkey off his back by claiming a premiership under his leadership.

It would do so much for his legacy if he is able to secure his first title as captain of one of the most successful clubs in modern history come Sunday, even if it’s not his first personally.

The City

Since we did it for Brisbane, it’s only fair that we dive into Melbourne as a city if you’re still undecided on who to back come Sunday evening.

What better place to start than by saying Melbourne is the mecca of trends, shopping, fine dining and infrastructure in Australia. If you’re looking for an urban holiday, then look no further than Melbourne, which offers everything you could ever dream of in that department.

It is also the home of Australian sport. In the summer, the city comes to life with the MCG hosting 100,000-strong crowds for Test match cricket. Then in January, the tennis world stops in for two weeks as Melbourne hosts the Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

When looking at Melbourne, it’s the hustle and bustle capital of Australia, with its own distinct charm that many people fall in love with. So if that sounds more like your vibe, maybe the Storm are the team you should get behind in this weekend’s titanic battle.