Versatile Tyson Smoothy has edged out rookie cult hero Ben Talty for a Brisbane bench spot in the grand final against Melbourne, as Ezra Mam retains his No.14 position.

Test forward Pat Carrigan returns from suspension at lock, where Smoothy started last week in the 16-14 preliminary-final win over Penrith.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named an unchanged line-up after his side secured a 22-14 victory over Cronulla in their preliminary final.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has resisted the temptation to start 2023 grand-final hat-trick magician Mam at five-eighth after he returned from a seven-week hamstring lay-off last week in the win over the Panthers.

Ben Hunt has retained his No.6 position in the named side while Cory Paix stays at No.9.

Smoothy, 26, played in the 2023 grand-final loss to the Panthers and does offer more cover for Maguire. A hooker by trade, he can also play as a middle forward.

It was a tough call for Maguire with Smoothy leaving for Super League club Wakefield Trinity next season.

Talty, also 26, has been a revelation this year off the bench in his first  season of NRL after previously toiling away at North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.

He arrived at the club on a train-and-trial deal mid-season and has been a key figure in the Broncos’ stunning run to the decider, winning nine of the 10 matches he has played.

Talty, also 26, earned an upgrade to the top squad and a two-year extension.

Despite not making the cut for the playing 17, Talty was available at the Broncos media session on Monday where he spoke of his pride in what he and the club had achieved.

“It’s such a good feeling and I’m so proud of the boys for what they have worked so hard for,” he said.

“I was fortunate to become a part of this club halfway through the year and … we’re in a position to play in a grand final. The boys have worked so hard to be here.

“I really dialled into my off-season and gave myself the best possible opportunity in pre-season to make a mark.

“I just love being part of this club.

“To be where I am now when I was at North Sydney a few months ago, it’s been a remarkable journey for me.”

Meanwhile, Cameron Smith says Craig Bellamy would have found Stefano Utoikamanu’s sledge of Brisbane “not ideal”, with the prop likely told he now has to back up his words.

Utoikamanu lit the fuse for a fiery grand-final week on Monday when he claimed several Broncos were “stuck up”, and he wanted to run over them.

The verbal barrage is easily the biggest grand-final week barb in more than a decade, in a clear break from the traditionally sanitised build up from teams.

Few players know Bellamy better than Smith, with the hooker having played all but two of his 432 NRL games under the veteran mentor.

“I think in his mind he was probably thinking ‘not ideal’,” Smith said of Bellamy’s likely reaction.

“Thinking about my time at the Melbourne Storm, it’s a very different squad to when I was playing there.

“I haven’t been involved for five years now, but I think his message to big Stef would be ‘well you’ve said what you said, now you have to back it up with your actions’.

“That’s all you can do.”

Smith’s comments come after fellow Melbourne legend Cooper Cronk suggested on Monday night Bellamy wouldn’t have liked the comments.

Preparing to play in his first grand final, Utoikamanu said he wanted the opening hit up to “run at” Brisbane because there were a lot of people he didn’t like in the team.

That prompted an immediate response from Brisbane, with Payne Haas denying his side was arrogant and Shane Webcke labelling it music to the team’s ears.

Smith quipped on Tuesday the Broncos should kick off away from the Storm front-rower “just to stir him up a bit more”.

But the five-time grand-final winning hooker said he had no doubt the Melbourne recruit could back up his words at Accor Stadium on Sunday night.

Utoikamanu has been Melbourne’s best forward in the finals, with Bellamy labelling the NSW State of Origin representative the form front-rower in the competition.

“Looking at Stefano’s game against the Sharks (in the preliminary final), I thought he was super impressive,” Smith said.

“I thought he was probably one of the top three players on the field that night.

“Particularly his first stint, he gave the Storm players in the spine some real opportunity to play some footy. He was aggressive.

“The one thing I know about Stefano is he won’t take a backward step.

“He is a guy who has come out and made those comments and I think he’ll back it up with his actions.”

Smith was speaking at the NRL’s grand-final breakfast, where this year’s premiership rings are unveiled.

The ring is lined with emeralds around the outside, giving off the same green look as minor-premiers Canberra’s jersey after their straight-sets finals exit.

Sunday’s grand final is close to a sell out with more than half of tickets sold going to interstate or overseas fans.