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
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! For mine Haas was a 9, Flegler an 8, Carrigan a 7, and they matched Leota a 9, Fisher-Harris an 8 and Yeo a 7. Their was nothing between the middle thirds.
Mick P
Roar Rookie
The line break is not through or past Reynolds, Cleary gaps the hole between Riki and Walsh. The defensive error is by Riki who fails to advance with the defensive line and leaves the hole for Cleary to exploit. I invite you to watch it again.
Mick P
Roar Rookie
Yep, Cleary cuts back towards the posts and gets through the gap left by the tired defenders who have not worked hard enough on the inside. Clear as daylight. Where is the error by Reynolds?
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Taking my personal biases aside... based purely on his on field performance, he is such a talent. 9/10 of his weaknesses will be masked by his brilliance in other areas. But he has a lot of development in his game and its in games like finals or origin that teams will target those weaknesses. His passing one way (right to left i think) is poor, and he was out of position a few times when Penrith kicked that led to 40/20's or even one of the tries. I think for one of the short kick offs, maybe the one Fleggler or Staggs/Farnworth tapped back, Walsh was supposed to be there but he was resting infield. For where he is at this stage of his career, he is doing well, he has brilliance in him, but he needs to address some of his skill deficiencies and positioning issues. For some reason however there is some arrogance about him that I fear is going to bring him undone at some stage in his personal life. Im not sure how grounds he is.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Hard to compare, not everyone does their job with millions scrutinising your every move in one of the most punishing contact sports
Paul Suttor
Expert
He sidesteps Reynolds, who hangs an arm out but gets turnstiled, then Walters and Riki come up with misses as well https://twitter.com/NRL/status/1708428154874818969
Nico
Roar Rookie
I rate Hetherington very highly but he's 15 kg lighter than Flegler so we'd lose some impact if he was used at prop. One option would be to put Carringan in the front row and start Hetherington at lock but given how well Carrigan's developed that ball-playing lock side to his game you'd have to think twice before tinkering too much with it
Nico
Roar Rookie
Yeah he's been extended for another season
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
Herrington would be my 1st choice there , 100% all the time. Cobbo to centre . he needs the workrate and involvment. The club is better now ,best to go forward with the current roster
Cam
Roar Rookie
It looked like the occasion was too big for Walsh, he was anonymous for most of the first half, except when he chipped in for an error or two (a little bit like Nathan Cleary). Credit where it's due though, Like Nate he came to life in the second half and had a couple of line-breaks and a try assist.
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
The short kicks off were so costly. Brisbane would have been far better going long and backing their defence which for 70 mins was not a bug issue.
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Is marty tapau still there in 2024?
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Reynolds didn’t miss the final tackle on Cleary in the winning try. At marker both Riki and Walsh went to the left. No one filled in on the right so when Cleary stepped on his left twice there was a gap inside where Riki should have been. I reckon Cleary saw the markers go the wrong way and knew if he stepped inside there would be enough of a hole or weak shoulder to power through. Make no mistake Riki’s defensive error resulted in the winning try.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You’re right. Just watched the replay and Arthur’s didn’t have any drops… not sure whose errors I’d attributed to Arthurs…
Trevor Whitton
Roar Rookie
A bit disappointing to see the negative comments directed towards the Broncos. Only 6 players with ratings above 6 seems very harsh. To be fair, this is a team that came within an inch of defeating one of the greatest sides of modern times. Thanks Broncos for one of the best ever Grand Finals and kudos for the courage you showed.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Well its still just a game and they get paid either way. Everyone has bad days at work but they don't necessarily need a shrink
DavMan
Roar Rookie
Harsh on Haas. He was taking the tough carries and dragging 2 or 3 players with him over the ad line which put the Broncos on the front foot. If they had won, it would have been on the back of his strong performance. At least 8/10.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
If Bris had won, then definitely Mam would have been the CC winner. But I'd like to see a non spine player of the winning side win it, and Haas wouldve been a worthy recipient. I dont remember the Arthurs dropped balls.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
It was a bit of rubbing the salt into the wounds for Queensland. With losing the state championship game & the WNRL GF as well.
R N
Roar Rookie
Hass was immense... 8 or 9 for mine!