Reece Walsh has owned the key moments when games are in the balance this year, and he must do so again if Brisbane are to beat Nathan' Cleary's champion Penrith side.
The grand final qualifier on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium is more than Walsh versus Cleary, but those two influential figures have form when it comes to owning the final 20-odd minutes of matches that are on the line.
Cleary is the master. No one will forget his final quarter of the 2023 grand final when he masterminded a 26-24 comeback win for the ages against the Broncos.
It said a lot about the Walsh mindset this week when he was asked how the Broncos would deal with Cleary.
His response was: "How does he deal with us?"
In particular, deal with Walsh.
Since he was a student at Keebra Park High School, the electric fullback has been fine-tuning the dazzling passing and running game that we see today.
Muscle memory in winning the crucial moments in NRL games has to be earned by experience, and the 23-year-old now has a resume to fall back on.
There are three games this year that stand out.
The 29-28 golden-point qualifying final win over Canberra was looking lost for the Broncos when they trailed 28-12. Walsh emerged from the sin bin to score a try, set one up for winger Josiah Karapani and land a 40/20 to initiate another. Those plays turned the game.
In round 24 against the Dolphins, the Broncos were ninth on the live NRL ladder in the 52nd minute when trailing 28-14. Walsh landed a crucial 40/20, laid on two line-breaks that led to tries, and finished with 249m from 19 dynamic runs.
The other match that springs to mind was the 34-28 win in round 16 over Cronulla. Brisbane trailed 28-12 in the second half when Walsh stepped up to lay on a try for centre Gehamat Shibasaki with a bullet pass. A Walsh break set up Shibasaki for the match-winner.
The Broncos as a collective helped Walsh on his way, but coach Michael Maguire said his No.1 was always seeking to inspire his side. It will be the same against the Panthers, where he will lean on veteran halves Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds for guidance.
"The team will allow someone throughout the 17 to be able to have their moments. Reece is a part of that," Maguire said.
"Reece knows that and he talks about that all the time. He is the part of the team that is going to create what we need to do."
Maguire said Walsh's response to the Cleary question was a reflection of the team's mentality, in no small measure inspired by the confidence Walsh provides.
"I think that's around the belief of the team. As much as everyone asks about the opposition, the boys are very focused about us," he said.
"That's why I guess I see Reecey say or talk about those sorts of things. It's the belief that they have in each other.
"These guys are a pretty well-connected group, so I guess that's the reason why they talk that way."
Cleary arrived in Brisbane on Saturday and was asked about Walsh's display against the Raiders.
"Not only the Canberra Raiders (game), he's been doing it this whole back-end of the year, really," Cleary said.
"He's been playing some great footy. He's one of those guys that presents a lot of X-factor. You've always got to be on and aware of where he is."
