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Sport Nation
Two huge risks as preliminary finals teams confirmed
Sam Kosack • September 23rd, 2025 6:21 pm
The Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos have announced major inclusions for the grand final qualifiers with Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, and Jahrome Hughes all named to return.
Hughes will line up at halfback for the Melbourne Storm, only three weeks after suffering a fractured forearm against the Brisbane Broncos in Round 27.
Three weeks after his injury, he has returned to lead the Storm out against the Cronulla Sharks, along with Ryan Papenhuyzen who will also return from concussion.
Jonah Pezet and Grant Anderson make way from the 17 while second rower Shawn Blore also returns on the bench in place of Joe Chan.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos have named Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam to return from hamstring injuries.
The pair haven’t played since Round 23 against the Melbourne Storm after both halves sustained hamstring injuries in the same play.
Reynolds has been named at halfback, with Ben Hunt shifting to five-eighth for the injured Billy Walters, who tore his ACL in the victory over the Raiders.
Ezra Mam will return via the bench, while Tyson Smoothy is the shock option to replace Pat Carrigan at lock, after the lock accepted a one-match suspension.
Selwyn Cobbo has been named in the extended bench.
Liam Martin and Casey McLean both failed to finish the Panthers’ semi-final against the Bulldogs but have been named to play, while Oregon Kaufusi replaces Tom Hazelton on the Sharks’ bench after the prop suffered a concussion against the Raiders.
