Reece Walsh delivered a grand final performance for the ages, steering the Brisbane Broncos to a historic 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm and ending the club’s 17-year premiership drought. In a thrilling decider at Accor Stadium, Brisbane overcame a daunting 22-12 halftime deficit, achieving their first NRL premiership since 2006.
Club legend Darren Lockyer didn’t mince words, calling Walsh’s effort the most dominant individual grand final display of all time.
“I’ve never seen an individual dominate a grand final like that,” Lockyer told AAP. “We talk about his speed and flashiness, but tonight it’s toughness, especially. He’s such a team-focused person. He does all this stuff to help the team win!”
The Second-Half Comeback
The odds were stacked against the Broncos Grand Final hopes at the break. Not only were they trailing by 10 points, but they ultimately completed the comeback without key players: Adam Reynolds limped off in the second half, and halves partner Ben Hunt suffered a concussion with only eight minutes left.
The hero of the fightback was undoubtedly Reece Walsh, whose brilliance transcended both attack and defence:
- Defensive Heroics: Produced a staggering three try-saving plays in the second half alone. This included a crucial scramble to stop Tui Kamikamica from scoring and a desperate chase on opposite number Ryan Papenhuyzen in the dying minutes.
- Attacking Wizardry: Scored a superb individual try in the first half (beating five men), and set up three others, including the fastest grand final try of the NRL era early in the game.
Fellow young gun Ezra Mam also stepped up, providing a try assist and a massive defensive play that swung the momentum back to Brisbane.
The Redemption Story (A Good Place)
The Broncos’ victory was more than just a win; it was a profound act of redemption. This premiership moment marks a good place in the club’s history, wiping away the bitter memories of recent grand final failures—the heartbreaking loss to North Queensland in 2015 and the capitulation against Penrith two years ago. The resilience shown on Sunday night was the antidote to those past defeats.
With Melbourne leading 22-12 at halftime, Walsh kept the fire alive. After he miraculously stopped Kamikamica getting the ball down, the ensuing set saw Mam assist Gehamat Shibasaki for a try. Walsh then took over, delivering three minutes of dazzling brilliance. He threw two pinpoint cut-out balls—first for Deine Mariner, and then for Shibasaki’s second try, which ultimately gave Brisbane the lead.
The team held on until the final siren, weathering the Storm’s relentless pressure and even the late sin-binning of Melbourne lock Trent Loiero. Coach Craig Bellamy acknowledged the pivotal defensive play against Kamikamica: “When Kamikamica lost that ball over the line, that was a big turning point… the Broncos were too good.”
Walsh’s incredible performance was a fitting climax to a finals series he utterly dominated, cementing the Broncos as the 2024 NRL Premiership champions.
