Buzz: Inside the meeting where Reynolds, Hunt convinced Michael Maguire to change his style

Rewind to round 12 when they were playing so poorly, so hopelessly out of form.

Just five wins and positioned 11th on the ladder.

They’d been knocked off by the lowly regarded Dragons and Rabbitohs and flogged 34-6 by Manly.

And then came the turning point.

Senior players, including Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds, fronted the coach. True story.

Not to complain about the physical training load but more his intensity at team meetings, the video sessions and long hours of analysis.

They asked that he pull back on his exhausting ways to ease the mental strain on the group.

To his credit, Madge heeded their advice.

The club hired crisis manager and spin doctor Grant Williams, who worked closely with Madge and found a way to relax him.

Training became more enjoyable rather than a grind.

And all of a sudden they got their act together to make it to the big dance – and then win it.

Reece Walsh came to life. He looked like Billy Slater and Ben Barba rolled into one in the decider.

An absolute superstar of a player.

Payne Haas re-established himself as the game’s premier front-rower.

The whole team lifted. They started playing for the coach.

And the rest is history.

Down 16 against Canberra. Down 12 against Penrith. Down 10 against Storm.

And down halves Reynolds and Hunt at the back end of the decider.

It was a phenomenal victory. A reward for a coach who wasn’t too stubborn to change his ways.

The Broncos are deserved champions.

And so another footy season is done and dusted.

No more Lachie Galvin stories. No more DCE to Roosters speculation.

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Phil Rothfield

11 out of 10: ‘Perfect’ star breaks grand final player ratings rules

Pamela Whaley, Travis Meyn

No more head high crackdowns, coach sackings, army camps, spew buckets or boat cruises.

Just 148 days to Las Vegas.

In the meantime, enjoy your cricket.