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A emerging face of NRL, Walsh, propelled the Queensland side to an unexpected championship on Sunday in the Olympic city, assisting engineer a further significant turnaround in one of the great solo championship displays that left the opposition powerless in a 26-22 boilover.

Brilliant Display by Walsh

Walsh contributed a dynamic touchdown, three setup passes, three tackles – even one in the dying moments – and a unstoppable confidence on the occasion he ascended to the summit of the game. The Broncos were without star halves to harm in the after halftime, but it was irrelevant, as the fullback and the committed defensive effort of his squad secured his franchise’s first premiership in nearly two decades.

“Oh my god, an amazing experience,” the star said right after the final whistle. “Many critics underestimated us this year, but our supporters who believed in us. We love yous.”

Turning Points

• Reece Walsh sidestepped a jamming opponent to send Mariner over just two minutes in.
• At the final minute, he gambled by targeting Ryan Papenhuyzen and tackled him with a shoulder.
• Brisbane erased a 22-12 advantage from the Storm in the middle of the opening period.

Unit Performance

Forward Pat Carrigan said it was a testament to the whole team. “Coming down, suffering setbacks, it’s known the storylines of the previous rounds, so for the players to step up, how good,” he added, adding that coach Michael Maguire gave them assurance in his interval address. “He told us focus on tackling. Lucky we’ve had practice runs the recent games, we believed that if we could execute our plan, we had the ability.”

Opposition Skill

However the quality of their opposition soon became obvious. There was Jahrome Hughes, who sidestepped into space and for a try to restore the their comfortable margin near half-time. He created another with a grubber, and was a constant menace, with his boot – to winger Xavier Coates especially – causing Brisbane continuous problems.

Historic Impact

However so outstanding was the fullback’s contribution, coming from behind another time is not the main reason the game is celebrated. In this excellent grand final, the opponents executed a total 39 of 42 plays in the initial 40 minutes. Yet there was one moment that shone brightest. A swift Broncos play 20m out brought Walsh from the rear, and he requested a immediate delivery from hooker. With a mix of force and agility, he weaved and dashed his way under the posts, leaving behind several Storm players behind him.

“Phenomenal player,” commented Hunt, that made amends a decade after his mistake in the earlier championship.

The star kept going. His stunning display persisted in the second half, when he assisted touchdowns to overtake the Storm then placed the Broncos leading. He prevented a likely rival player four-pointer by contacting the forward’s arms as he was placing the ball, and he ran down Papenhuyzen once more when he broke free.

For Brisbane, following comebacks against Canberra and Penrith Panthers in the playoffs already, this was a scarcely believable third comeback of a significant margin, confirming their legacy as determined winners.