The new face of rugby league Reece Walsh propelled the Brisbane Broncos to an unlikely premiership on Sunday in Sydney, helping engineer another double-digit comeback in one of the great individual grand final performances that rendered the Melbourne Storm helpless in a 26-22 boilover.
The fullback contributed a barnstorming try, three try assists, three try-savers – including one in the final minute – and a relentless swagger on the night he ascended to the summit of the game. The Broncos lost two key playmakers to injury in the second half, but it did not matter, as Walsh and the desperate, committed defence of his teammates secured his club’s first premiership in 19 years.
With a performance that immediately enters rugby league’s pantheon, Walsh – the Clive Churchill medallist for player of the match – was the difference between the sides, and helped the Broncos overcome the loss of halfback Adam Reynolds to injury early in the second half and Ben Hunt with concussion with 10 minutes go. The Broncos duo, like the 80,223 fans that filled Accor Stadium, were relegated to spectators to see the final stages of an unforgettable match, that proved compelling to the end.
In the 80th minute, impressive Storm backrower Eli Katoa burst through the Broncos defence and fleet-footed fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen loomed on his inside. In front of the pair stood only Walsh. Yet the Broncos No 1 gambled by targeting Papenhuyzen, who found himself with the ball, and was instantly met by Walsh’s shoulder. It was an exclamation point on a performance that will never be forgotten.
“Oh my god, what a bloody ride,” Walsh said immediately after the final whistle. “A lot of people [wrote] us off this year, but you’re the only ones who believed in us. We love yous.” For Brisbane, after late rallies against Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers in the finals already, this was a scarcely believable third comeback of 10 points or more, after the Storm led 22-12 midway through the first half.
Lock Pat Carrigan said it was a credit to the entire Broncos squad. “Coming down, losing two boys, we all know the storylines of the last two [weeks], so for the boys to fly for it, how good,” he said, adding that coach Michael Maguire gave them confidence in his half-time speech. “He just said back our D [defence]. Lucky we’ve had two rehearsals the last two weeks, we knew that if we could get our footy on, we’d be good enough.”
But so spectacular was Walsh’s contribution, overcoming a deficit again will not be the main reason this match is remembered. Two minutes into the contest, Walsh dodged a jamming Jack Howarth to send Deine Mariner over.
The Broncos were rolling, and clearly had the balance of support in the old Olympic stadium. Yet the quality of their opposition soon became obvious. There was Jahrome Hughes, who stepped off his right, through the line and under the posts to reinstate the Storm’s two-score advantage just before half-time. He set up another with a kick, and was a constant menace, with his kicking game – to winger Xavier Coates in particular – causing Brisbane ongoing grief.
In this high quality season finale, the two teams completed a combined 39 of 42 sets in the first half. But there was one moment that shone brightest. A quick Broncos play the ball 20m out drew Walsh from the backfield, and he called for a quick pass from dummy half. With a mix of power and strength, he swerved and skittled his way under the posts, leaving five Melbourne defenders in his wake.
Walsh wasn’t finished. His stunning contribution continued in the second half, when he set up two tries to reel in the Storm then put the Broncos in front. He prevented a certain Tui Kamickamicka four-pointer by hitting the forward’s arms just as he was planting the ball, and he ran down Papenhuyzen another time when he broke free.
Hunt, who redeemed himself a decade after his knock-on helped the Cowboys beat the Broncos in the 2015 grand final, described Walsh in simple terms. “Absolute freak,” he said.
