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Opinion
How the Broncos rated in their first NRL Grand Final since the 2015 heartbreaking loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.
And it was another night that looked like it would end with a trophy but it was snatched away from them in the dying stages.
Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs and Adam Reynolds were rocks and diamonds while Ezra Mam unleashed the best performance of his young career to nearly deny Penrith a three-peat.
1. Reece Walsh: Looked frustrated throughout the first half after being well contained and hauled back into the in-goal area at one stage by the swarming Panthers defenders. He came up with two line breaks but also made a few crucial errors. He’ll learn from the experience. 6/10
2. Jesse Arthars: Made a line break out of nothing midway through the first half and was arguably Brisbane’s best player in the opening stanza, justifying Kevin Walters’ decision to play him ahead of experienced teammate Corey Oates. 6.5/10
3. Kotoni Staggs: Came up with a great take from a high ball in the first half then turned possession over at the play-the-ball, leading to the first try to Mitch Kenny. Was another of the hot-and-cold brigade and missed a crucial tackle on Stephen Crichton to concede a late try. 4/10
4. Herbie Farnworth: Brisbane tried to get him into open space and when he did he chewed up the metres, making 179 all up to be his team’s best in that department. They’re going to miss him next year when he’s a Dolphin. 7/10
5. Selwyn Cobbo: Made an early fumble and didn’t see much ball. Needed to get more involved. 3/10
6. Ezra Mam: Produced a sizzling try in the 45th minute, then another and then another as part of a barely believable blitz. He has lived in the shadow of Reece Walsh early in his career but the Broncos have another attacking superstar of the future on their hands with this 20-year-old. Would have won the Clive Churchill Medal if not for that Nathan Cleary fella getting in the way. 9/10
Ezra Mam celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
7. Adam Reynolds: Went down in the 25th minute with a groin injury after a legal Scott Sorensen tackle forced the veteran Bronco to do the splits as he went to the ground. Whether it was that injury or an off night but his normally reliable kicking game was wayward and it came back to bite the Broncos. Also missed the tackle on Cleary which led to his opposite number scoring the match-winning try. 4.5/10
8. Tom Flegler: Was hauled off by the bunker for an HIA in the first half but returned to the fray to be Brisbane’s unlikely first tryscorer in the 39th minute. He was less effective in the second half but filled his role in his final match before joining the Dolphins. 7/10
9. Billy Walters: Kicked a 40/20 early in the contest and continued his 2023 trend of proving he’s in the team for his ability, not his surname. 7/10
10. Payne Haas: Pushed a pass early which led to a Reynolds fumble. Made 150m and 40 tackles so a typically hard-working display without dominating the Panthers. 7/10
11. Kurt Capewell: His involvement is not as impactful as it was a couple of years ago. Perhaps he needs to shift into a middle forward role in the final years of his career. Missed the tackle on Nathan Cleary which led to the Moses Leota try. 6/10
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
12. Jordan Riki: Ran with energy and wasn’t overawed by the occasion but was not able to make a difference on his edge. 6/10
13. Patrick Carrigan: Got through a mountain of work with only a nine-minute break. One of Brisbane’s best, as always. 8/10
14. Tyson Smoothy: The Broncos looked energised when Smoothy was blended into the mix late in the first half, laying on Flegler’s try with the right play close to the line. 6/10
15. Brendan Piakura: Was not used in the first half and only got 20 minutes in the second. 4/10
16. Kobe Hetherington: Was also not used in the first half and got a similar stint when the starting middles were off. 5/10
17. Keenan Palasia: Gave the Broncos a spark when he came on midway through the first half and equalled Haas’ 150m effort as the most by a Brisbane forward. 7/10