BRISBANE PLAYER RATINGS FROM THE NRL GRAND FINAL
1 Reece Walsh - 6
Complete mixed bag for the starlet No.1. Made two poor kicking errors that cost his team momentum and returned a kick sideways before getting dragged back in goal. But then he dazzled his way through the line to create Ezra Mam's third try and broke the line again soon after.
2 Jesse Arthars - 8
One of the best games of his young career. Looked likely to snap the Panthers' defence with many of his charging efforts and finished with a team-high 167m.
3 Kotoni Staggs - 8
Showed his appetite for contact throughout a brutal performance. Had a huge defensive play late as the Panthers charged, although it wasn't quite enough.
4 Herbie Farnworth - 7.5
Like Staggs, the Broncos centre just loved the contact. Made defensive play after defensive play and found 152m, although his decision to tap a dropout back towards his goal line rather than catch it on the opening try was odd.
5 Selwyn Cobbo - 5
Very quiet outing from the flyer and had a very sloppy knock-on early. Some of his aerial takes were impressive, with a reflex catch late in the piece particularly memorable.
6 Ezra Mam - 9.5
Looked to have made himself a Broncos legend with an extraordinary 11-minute, grand final hat-trick that featured his trademark pace and tackle-busting ability. Two flashes of brilliance completely changed the game, before Walsh put him through to complete the treble. Was a lock for the Clive Churchill Medal if his side held on.
7 Adam Reynolds - 7
Things looked bleak when he tweaked his groin on 25 minutes, but he played through the pain and found a way to influence proceedings with his cool head. Slotted all four of his conversions.
8 Thomas Flegler - 9
All the pre-game talk was about his front-row partner but Flegler's energy was what let the Broncos surge early in the second half. Scored with a brutal run to deliver the try they needed on the stroke of halftime, finishing with 91m and 31 tackles without a miss.
9 Billy Walters - 6
Had an early 40/20 and did the hard stuff in defence in a sturdy 31-tackle outing.
10 Payne Haas - 8.5
Went 66 minutes in the front row in a grand final, churning out 156m and three offloads in the monstrous display you'd expect from him.
11 Kurt Capewell - 6
Poked his nose through the line a couple of times and delivered 34 tackles but lacked signature moments.
12 Jordan Riki - 7
Loved the contact and diffused some kicks in a big defensive game.
13 Patrick Carrigan - 8.5
Another herculean outing from Brisbane's emerging beast. Punched out 153m and a team-high 39 tackles to help his side take over, before their late fade.
14 Tyson Smoothy - 5.5
Came on after half an hour and laid on the try for Flegler, making 19 tackles in his 37-minute stint.
15 Brendan Piakura - 3
Only made two runs in his 22 minutes off the bench.
16 Kobe Hetherington - 3
Like Piakura, didn't really make a difference when he got a limited opportunity off the pine.
17 Keenan Palasia - 8
Monster outing off the bench, grinding his way 131m in 37 minutes.
