Reece Walsh goes from zero to hero as Broncos avenge 2023 grand final defeat to make decider

The Broncos are on the verge of snapping a 19-year NRL premiership drought after booking a spot in Sunday’s grand final against arch rivals Melbourne Storm.

It took a stunning 16-14 comeback win against reigning four-time premiers Penrith before a record crowd of 52,491 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday for the Broncos to reach the last game of the season.

This was far from a polished performance but in the end it didn’t matter. The Broncos showed pure grit, determination and desperation to put a halt to Penrith’s dynasty – for now.

Sport doesn’t get any better than this. The foundations of Suncorp were literally rocking after the siren went to send the Broncos to the Accor Stadium finale.

But it didn’t come without drama. Little has for the Broncos this season under new coach Michael Maguire.

The Broncos looked destined to be celebrating Mad Monday after an ill-disciplined first half allowed Penrith to take a 14-0 lead into the break.

With champion halfback Nathan Cleary pulling the strings, the Panthers rarely lose from there.

But the Broncos had something the Panthers didn’t – the scars of 2023 when Cleary orchestrated a stunning grand final comeback to snatch the premiership from Brisbane’s grasp.

The Broncos weren’t about to let it happen again.

They got back in the contest through a rampaging Kotoni Staggs in the 48th minute and Xavier Willison pounced on a loose ball to set up a grandstand finish.

All Walsh had to do was slot a relatively routine goal to bring the Broncos within two points and give Adam Reynolds a chance to kick a two-point field goal.

But nothing about Reece Walsh goes to script.

Walsh sent the ball into the left upright, leaving the Broncos behind 14-10 with nine minutes to go.

Suddenly the Broncos had to play for the try and Walsh stood up – somehow getting a pass away to Deine Mariner to level scores at 14-all.

Reynolds stepped up and slotted the sideline conversion to book the Broncos a spot in the decider against the Storm.

This was the stuff fairytales are made of – but the Broncos will have to be better to topple Melbourne, who they beat in the 2006 grand final which remains Brisbane’s sixth and most recent title.

At halftime the penalty count was 4-2 in Penrith’s favour. The Panthers had completed 21 of 23 sets (91 per cent) compared to Brisbane’s 15 of 19 (79 per cent).

The Broncos made six errors to Penrith’s three.

You can’t expect to win finals with that lack of discipline, some of it totally inexcusable like Willison’s brain snap cannonball tackle.

The result of that disregard for the ball and rules saw Penrith have 57 per cent of first half possession, allowing Panthers stars Cleary and Dylan Edwards to go to work.

They turned the screws on the Broncos and took Payne Haas out of the contest. Haas’ return of seven runs for 61m was among his quietest first halves of the season and he didn’t have sparring partner Pat Carrigan (suspended) to help him out.

But the Broncos hung in there. Sometimes spirit means more than statistics.

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Haas finished with 18 runs for 165m after putting his teammates on his back.

There was no way Reynolds was missing the sideline conversion.

The Broncos are heading back to the grand final and they have a score to settle after the pain of 2015 and 2023.