Grand final-winning Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and his beaten counterpart Harry Grant have earned widespread praise for classy post-match acts after Sunday night’s NRL decider. Brisbane proved once again that they are this year’s second half finals specialists after overcoming a 10-point halftime lead to topple Melbourne 26-22 and win their first premiership in 19 years.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh put in one of the great individual grand final displays to deservedly win the Clive Churchill Medal as the game’s best player. The Brisbane No.1 scored an incredible solo try, set up three others and came up with an extraordinary try-saving tackle on Ryan Papenhuyzen at the death to help snap Brisbane’s long premiership drought.
Harry Grant and Adam Reynolds were praised for their classy tributes to Ben Hunt, as injured playmaker Billy Walters was invited to celebrate the Broncos’ NRL grand final win. Pic: Getty
The win was extra special for veteran Brisbane half Ben Hunt, who finally won the premiership that had proven so elusive for so many years. And it helped Hunt erase the demons of Brisbane’s heartbreaking 2015 grand final defeat, where his dropped ball off the kick-off allowed Johnathan Thurston to kick the winning field goal in North Queensland’s maiden premiership triumph.
Hunt was unable to finish Sunday night’s decider after copping a second half head knock that ruled him out of the rest of the contest. But in a gracious runner-up speech after the game, losing Storm skipper Grant made special mention of the Broncos veteran, who he has also played with at rep level for the Maroons and Kangaroos.
“If there’s one bloke that deserves it, it’s probably Ben Hunt,” Melbourne’s captain said in his speech. “So congrats Dozer (Hunt) and the Broncos.” Brisbane captain Reynolds was also quick to quick to praise his veteran halves partner after the drought-snapping premiership victory.
“No one deserves it more,” Reynolds said. “To see how hard he works. I mean, he’s copped all sorts of criticism over the past couple of years and definitely doesn’t deserve it. I mean, he’s one person with the culture he’s created at the club, along with the other lads. It’s been fantastic. I can’t wait to share a beer with him.”
Hunt was humble in victory and made a point of thanking the Broncos fans who’d stuck by him after the 2015 grand final heartbreak. “Oh the fans are so nice,” Hunt said. “They’ve been waiting for a long time for this and to be a part of getting it done for a lot of people. I’ve been on this journey with you.”
The 35-year-old described it as ‘a dream come true’ to finally claim the one honour missing from his impressive repertoire, having left the Dragons after the 2024 season to have one more crack at winning a grand final with Brisbane. “I’m on top of the world, I never dreamt of coming back to this club and to be here and to win,” Hunt added. “I could never pay back this club and what they’ve done for me. It’s a dream come true. It really is.”
Ben Hunt poses with the NRL premiership trophy alongside Broncos teammate Josiah Karapani. Pic: Getty
Adam Reynolds in classy gesture for injured Billy Walters
Reynolds and the Broncos also endeared themselves to the NRL world with a beautiful gesture for playmaker Billy Walters, who missed the grand final after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the epic golden point win over Canberra in week one of the finals. Walters was immense for Brisbane in the lead-up to the finals, and the players were eager to make sure he didn’t miss out on the club’s grand final celebrations.
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The Broncos named Walters the team’s Chief Motivation Officer so he could be part of the post-game presentation. And in a beautiful touch from Reynolds – who also hobbled off in the second half with a calf injury – the Brisbane captain made sure Walters didn’t miss out after finishing his victory speech by inviting his injured teammate up on stage to join the rest of the squad.
Reynolds then made sure Walters was front and centre as they hoisted the grand final trophy together as confetti rained down on Accor Stadium. It was a beautiful touch from the injured skipper and the perfect way for the Broncos to celebrate the club’s seventh premiership, and first since 2006.