• ANALYSIS

The window of opportunity against Melbourne doesn't present itself very often. When it does, it's only open for a limited period.

The Storm have earned a place in the NRL grand final with a win over Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.

Wayne Bennett says he doesn't care if Craig Bellamy has the edge on him in the coaching ranks these days. Justin Hodges doesn't believe him for a second.

Off nights, musical chairs in the halves and which team has one hand on the keys to the grand final.

Craig Bellamy says he and Wayne Bennett have made peace after trading critical comments.

Oates will line up against Melbourne a week after being knocked unconscious, with Bennett saying nobody had more concern for his welfare than the club.

Ben Hunt's major concern was his friend and team-mate Corey Oates. But he can see why Penrith fans were left angered by the call to halt play when a try was begging in their elimination final.

The Broncos are increasingly confident Oates will be fit to take on Melbourne, with the club's medical staff saying all of the evidence suggested he had recovered despite the severity of the incident that left him unconscious.

Storm star Will Chambers refuses to let Brisbane Broncos claim underdog status but he would happily have AFL star Dusty Martin alongside him in the NRL.

Oates was knocked senseless on Friday night and didn't train on Monday pending an all-clear from medical staff.

Marshall says Kodi Nikorima deserves the number seven jersey back and he could serve the team in a better capacity from the interchange ranks.

Melbourne Storm will go into their preliminary final ready for anything as they look to secure a place in the NRL grand final.

If Brisbane were to upset the Storm, Hunt wants to make the most of a second chance after his infamous dropped kick-off against the Cowboys.

The Broncos won't be afraid to lift a few plays from the Parramatta book when they try to book a spot in the NRL grand final against the Storm on Friday night.

A late flourish wasn't enough against a determined Brisbane defence, with the Broncos winning at home and setting up a preliminary final against the Storm in Melbourne.

The referees are back in the headlines after another contentious decision denied Penrith the opportunity to score a certain try in Friday night's 13-6 semi final loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Defensive yips, Nathan Cleary, Bennett's curse and Cooper Cronk's poetry ... we have all the big issues covered ahead of the elimination final.

Two of the game's heavyweight coaches couldn't be further apart in their vision for the future of officiating in the NRL, with Robinson backing the current system and Bennett wanted it scrapped completely.

Adam Blair has agreed to join the Warriors next year on a four-year deal worth $2.5 million..