🔗 Share this article

The emerging face of NRL, Walsh, propelled the Brisbane Broncos to an surprising premiership on game day in the Olympic city, contributing to orchestrate another double-digit comeback in an exceptional solo title match performances that made the Melbourne Storm powerless in a 26-22 shock result.

Outstanding Performance by Walsh

The fullback delivered a barnstorming score, multiple assists, key tackles – even a crucial one in the dying moments – and a unstoppable confidence on the evening he climbed to the peak of the league. The team suffered injuries to important players to injury in the latter period, but it made no difference, as the fullback and the committed defensive effort of his squad earned his team’s maiden championship in 19 years.

“Incredible, what a bloody ride,” Walsh remarked immediately after the final whistle. “Numerous observers [wrote] us off this year, but the fans who had faith in us. Thank you.”

Decisive Plays

• the fullback evaded a jamming Jack Howarth to assist Mariner for a try early.
• During the last play, the Broncos No. 1 made a decision by focusing on Ryan Papenhuyzen and met him with a hit.
• The Broncos erased a 10-point lead held by the opposition during the opening period.

Team Contribution

Lock Pat Carrigan said it was a testament to the whole team. “Traveling, injuring key players, we all know the storylines of the previous rounds, so for the players to fly for it, it’s fantastic,” he said, explaining that the coach gave them belief in his break talk. “His message was trust our defence. Thankfully we had practice runs the previous rounds, we knew that if we could get our footy on, we’d be good enough.”

Other Side Skill

But the caliber of their rivals was evident. Key was Hughes, who stepped off his right into space and for a try to reinstate the Melbourne’s comfortable margin near the break. He created another with a kick, and was a persistent danger, with his boot – to Coates in particular – giving Brisbane regular difficulties.

Memorable Display

But so incredible was Reece’s contribution, erasing a lead once more won’t be the key takeaway the grand final is remembered. In this high quality grand final, the both sides completed a joint high percentage sets in the first half. But a single play that stood out. A swift Brisbane play the ball from the line drew Walsh from the backfield, and he signaled for a fast ball from dummy half. Using power and strength, he swerved and skittled his route to score, leaving behind several Storm players in his wake.

“Absolute freak,” commented a fellow player, who atoned a decade after his mistake in the earlier championship.

He continued. The extraordinary contribution carried on in the after the break, when he created two tries to reel in the Storm then moved the Brisbane in front. He prevented a certain Tui Kamickamicka score by hitting the player’s hands just as he was placing the ball, and he ran down the Storm fullback another time when he escaped.

The team, subsequent to fightbacks in matches with Canberra and Penrith Panthers in the playoffs previously, this was a scarcely believable third turnaround of double digits, confirming their legacy as unyielding winners.