Cameron Munster captained Queensland to an Origin series win after his dad’s tragic passing in a truly heroic triumph of the human spirit.

Meanwhile, Reece Walsh led the comeback king Broncos to the title after three straight come-from-behind victories and arguably the greatest individual grand final performance ever.

And Lachlan Galvin and Daly Cherry-Evans commanded a fair few column inches amid their contract sagas, after leaving the Tigers and the Sea Eagles for the Bulldogs and Roosters.

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Read on for the biggest moments from an action-packed 2025 NRL season.

25. TITANS SACK HASLER

The Titans were expecting big things under Des Hasler in 2025, but after narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon, the club opted to part ways with the veteran coach.

The Titans won just six games in 2025 and were it not for a late season fade-out from the Knights they should have won the wooden spoon.

Hasler was brought in to sure up the Titans’ flaky defence in 2024, but they conceded the most points in the NRL in 2025 with 719 and deserved to finish last on that basis alone.

Hasler also dropped David Fifita to try and spark the underperforming back-rower and the team, but it didn’t have the desired effect.

Ultimately Hasler was brought to the club because he has won two premierships as a coach, but the team’s horror performances and lack of improvement ultimately sealed his fate and he was replaced by Josh Hannay heading into 2026.

Des Hasler was sacked by the Titans.Source: Getty Images

24. TIGERS BOARDROOM SAGA

For a club that doesn’t mind taking up column inches for all the wrong reasons, the Tigers took it to new extremes in 2025 with their inexplicable boardroom saga.

After the best season for the club in four years, which saw them finish 13th after three straight wooden spoons and show great improvement, the Tigers did the most Tigers thing ever.

With attention finally returning to the team’s on-field performance and positivity surrounding the club after the Lachlan Galvin saga, the Tigers chose to sack half their board.

The Holman Barnes Group, who owns 90 per cent of the club sacked four independent board members and forced CEO Shane Richardson to quit his post.

Fans were in uproar and marched in unity to demand that the Holman Barnes Group resign amid rumours they are trying to return the Western Magpies to the NRL, at the expense of the Balmain Tigers’ section of the club.

That didn’t quite eventuate after Peter V’landys demanded the club re-instate the board members, while the club chose to give Benji Marshall a five-year deal, after it emerged players considered walking out if the coach was sacked or quit.

Now the Tigers have the same board with the same issues and a new CEO, while Marshall is locked in until 2030, so it remains to be seen if the turmoil that the club brought on itself is in the rear vision mirror or whether new chapters will inevitably spring up in the future.

Benji Marshall was locked in long-term by the Tigers after the boardroom saga.Source: Supplied Source Known

23. ROOSTERS BAN RADLEY

Victor Radley narrowly avoided the sack over an infamous golf trip gone wrong, before he suspended for 10 games by the Roosters.

Radley was implicated in text messages in a court case involving former teammate Brandon Smith that suggested he was acquiring drugs for him and his teammates.

Nick Politis was on record for having a zero tolerance drug policy and threatened to sack Radley on the spot, before Trent Robinson and the senior playing group intervened.

Along with the public embarrassment, Radley was banned for 10 games and hit with a massive fine by the club.

However, Radley was able to serve some of his ban during the Ashes Tour as he was denied the chance to play for England and will only miss a handful of games in 2026.

Victor Radley was banned by the Roosters.Source: Supplied

22. LOMAX ICES FIELD GOAL AS EELS BEAT DRAGONS

The Eels’ Round 4 clash with the Dragons saw Zac Lomax and Clint Gutherson come up against their old clubs, but it was the former that had the last laugh in an epic thriller.

A golden point field goal from Lomax helped Parramatta ruin Clint Gutherson’s homecoming, in turn delivering Jason Ryles his first win as an NRL head coach.

In a thrilling match played in front of 19,302 fans at CommBank Stadium, Lomax stepped up from 25 metres out to drill the match-winner three minutes into extra time.

In a seesawing match the Eels were down 20-8 at one stage, with Gutherson scoring a double in a superb showing in his revenge game.

But late tries to Iasiah Iongi and Kitione Kautoga set up a grandstand finish at 20-20, before Valentine Holmes kicked a penalty goal to give the Dragons the lead with 10 to play.

However, Lomax had other ideas as he slotted a penalty goal in the 75th minute to force extra time, before slotting a superb field goal in golden point to break his former club and teammates’ hearts.

Zac Lomax returned to haunt his old club.Source: Getty Images

21. KNIGHTS PART WAYS WITH O’BRIEN

After a rollercoaster six years at the Knights, the club came to a mutual separation with coach Adam O’Brien.

While O’Brien had been able to take the Knights to the finals in four of the six seasons he was at the helm, Newcastle regressed massively in 2025, ending up with the wooden spoon.

The Knights lost ten in a row to end the season, including a 66-10 loss to Parramatta in their final round.

Despite being under contract until the end of 2028, there was constant speculation over O’Brien’s future for much of the season.

With two rounds left, O’Brien announced he approached the club to ask for an early release.

“I think they understood once I explained and they were probably in agreeance,” O’Brien said.

The 47-year-old’s time at the Knights ended with a record of 63 wins and 85 losses and one from five in finals games, before he moved to the Bulldogs as an assistant in 2026.

Adam O’Brien left his post as Knights coach after the season.Source: Supplied

20. GALVIN’S MESSY TIGERS EXIT TO JOIN BULLDOGS

There wasn’t a story this year that copped as much media attention than this saga.

In mid-April, it was announced by the Tigers that Galvin, the club’s rising star, would leave the team at season’s end after rejecting a $5 million five-year contract extension.

While the official announcement was a shock, Galvin had been angling for an early release from his deal as far back as mid 2024.

Reported reasons for Galvin’s decision ranged from his role on the team to Benji Marshall’s credentials as a coach.

That led to Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau fronting the media to defend their coach, while winger Sunia Turuva and Luai raised eyebrows with apparent potshots at Galvin on social media.

While the Tigers didn’t want to let Galvin walk mid-season just so he could leave for a rival club, the situation appeared untenable.

The young gun would play four more games for the Tigers before being let go from his deal with the joint venture at the end of May, only to almost immediately sign with the Bulldogs.

Lachlan Galvin traded the Tigers jersey for the Bulldogs.Source: Supplied

19. HALASIMA BREAKS KNIGHTS HEARTS WITH EPIC MATCH WINNER

It was a miracle play pulled off by one of the game’s brightest young talents.

Trailing 15-14 with time expiring, Warriors half Tanah Boyd attempted a two-point field goal, but the Knights charged it down.

At that moment, it appeared all hope was lost and the Knights would recover the ball to end the game, but Halasima had other ideas.

The future star had the presence of mind to reach back and grab the bouncing ball, before showing off an impressive turn of speed to sprint 40 metres and beat several tackles to score the match-winning try.

The improbability factor Halasima would score was through the roof when he picked the ball up. Simply put, it was a play the majority of NRL players could only dream of pulling off.

While it was probably the biggest highlight of the Warriors’ season, it was one of many outstanding passages of play from Halasima this year, who ended up finishing on the podium behind winner Rob Toia in the Dally M Rookie of the Year race.

Perhaps more impressively though was that Halasima, a second-rower, led the Warriors in tries this year (13 tries from 25 games), becoming the first forward to top the club’s try-scoring list.

Leka Halasima scored the match winner against the Knights in an epic game.Source: Getty Images

18. MIRACLE OF MUDGEE

There were some cracking games in 2025, particularly later in the season, but it’s hard to find one that tops Canberra’s win over Penrith.

When the schedule makers gave Mudgee’s Glen Willow Stadium an end-of-season fixture, it’s unlikely they would have thought it’d be a game that carried so much weight and intrigue.

Given the low expectations around the Raiders, no one had Ricky Stuart’s men on top of the ladder come Round 25. But they were and scheduled to face the four-time premiership winning Panthers in the country on a Friday night.

The Panthers led 16-6 with 25 minutes on the clock and the Raiders were up against it.

That was until they scored two late tries to level it up and send the game to golden point.

Again, what was to unfold could never have been predicted.

Given his history in the clutch, when Nathan Cleary lined up for an unimpeded field goal to win the game from right in front, most were waiting for it to sail over.

Instead, the ball hit the upright and was picked up on the bounce by Raiders winger Jed Stuart five metres out from the Raiders’ line.

Stuart did well to sum things up and pass it on to Ethan Strange, who broke several tackles and raced 80 metres down the left sideline, before finding an unmarked Kaeo Weekes to score the match-winner.

The game was huge in relation to the ladder. For the Panthers, the loss ended their top four hopes while for Canberra, the win moved them one step closer to collecting the minor premiership.

Kaeo Weekes scored the match winner in an epic Raiders win over the Panthers in Mudgee.Source: Getty Images

17. PERTH BEARS NAMED 18TH NRL TEAM

It wasn’t the easiest path there, with several bumps along the way, but in May after years of speculation, it was confirmed that the Bears would be back!

WA Premier Roger Cook announced on his social media channels that the 18th NRL team would be based in Perth, marking a return of the Bears in 2027 after a 26-year exile.

It would be made official at a press conference the following day at HBF Park, with Cook flanked by NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys.

Hundreds of Bears fans donning the team’s black and red colours gathered at the North Sydney Hotel to celebrate the announcement in feel good scenes.

Since that historic day, the Perth Bears announced rugby league legend Mal Meninga as the club’s inaugural head coach.

Several players have been signed ahead of the 2027 entry, including premiership winner Liam Henry and crafty halfback Toby Sexton.

Mal Meninga was confirmed as the Perth Bears’ inaugural coach for 2027.Source: Getty Images

16. PAPALII’S DOUBLE IN MILESTONE MATCH

It was a massive year for the Raiders and their fans, but even though they collected a very rare minor premiership, no moment tugged at the heartstrings more in 2025 than a Round 14 win over the Rabbitohs.

When one of Canberra’s favourite sons in Josh Papalii ran on the field to break the club’s all-time games record against Souths, no one could have envisaged what was about to happen.

The Raiders were up against it early, trailing 12-0 and it appeared that Papalii wouldn’t get the fairytale milestone he deserved.

However, the Green Machine roared back scoring 36 unanswered points, with Papalii crashing over to score the team’s final two tries in fairytale scenes.

To put the cherry on top of the sundae, Papalii was given the kicking tee and knocked it over with the scenes that were enough to cause coach Ricky Stuart to shed a tear.

Papalii’s NRL future beyond 2025 was under a cloud, but his strong form this year led to the Raiders inking their inspirational forward to a one-year extension.

Josh Papalli scored a double and kicked a goal in his milestone match.Source: Getty Images

15. ROOSTERS SCORE 40 STRAIGHT TO SPOIL BELLAMY MILESTONE

This was not the 600th game celebration Craig Bellamy was hoping for.

Bellamy became the fourth coach in NRL history to reach the milestone in Round 26 of this season when the Storm took on the Roosters.

Unfortunately, Bellamy was in no mood to talk about the milestone post-game, instead labelling the Storm’s performance as “embarrassing” after a 40-10 loss.

It started well, with Melbourne leading 10-0 at the half, before the Roosters remarkably piled on 40 second half points, with Mark Nawaqanitawase scoring four tries.

Bellamy was so ropeable that he needed to be convinced to accept a post-match award from the NRL.

In a double blow, the loss also knocked the Storm out of the minor premiership race, delivering the JJ Giltinan Shield to the Raiders.

Craig Bellamy’s milestone 600th game was spoiled by a Roosters onslaught.Source: News Corp Australia

14. LOMAX AND PAPY QUIT RUGBY LEAGUE

It was the double whammy which shocked the NRL world.

Two of the game’s best backs, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax, being granted immediate releases from their contracts with the Storm and Eels respectively.

It was believed that both would sign with rebel union comp R360, but after the start date of the Saudi-backed league was postponed to 2027, it left the careers of Lomax and Papenhuyzen in limbo.

Papenhuyzen reportedly was keen to step away from rugby league anyway and will take a break from professional sports in 2026.

Meanwhile, Lomax has been linked with a move to Super Rugby in order to put himself in the shop window for potential Wallabies selection for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen quit the sport.Source: Supplied

13. PANTHERS TRAINER-GATE IN TITANS CLASH

Panthers trainers have been involved in their share of controversy over recent seasons, but Corey Bocking’s blunder during a goal kick from Titans star Jayden Campbell takes the cake.

In the Panthers’ victory over the Titans, Bocking was involved in an ugly moment late in the game, which left Campbell fuming and arguably cost the Titans a stunning upset victory.

After the Gold Coast scored a try to take a 26-24 lead in a monumental comeback, Campbell was lining up a conversion, which would have given the Titans a four-point buffer.

His attempt was halted after Bocking ran directly in front of his conversion attempt, which left commentators and fans alike stunned.

The lack of a four point advantage allowed Nathan Cleary to slot a freak two-point field goal and square the scores, before Blaize Talagi scored a 60-metre try to break the Titans’ hearts.

The Panthers were fined and Bocking was suspended over the incident, which had a huge fallout over the coming days and weeks.

Corey Bocking ran in front of Titans kicker Jayden Campbell during a missed conversion.Source: Supplied

12. KANGAROOS WIN ASHES IN SERIES SWEEP

There was plenty of hype around the return of the Ashes series for the first time since 2003, but ultimately the Kangaroos proved too strong for England winning 3-0.

They were not always convincing, but Reece Walsh starred in the opener to lead Australia to a 1-0 lead, with two tries in his Kangaroos debut.

Cameron Munster was man-of-the-match in game two and Harry Grant was the star in game three on route to an upset Golden Boot victory.

However, it was Munster who was crowned player of the series as Australia sealed a 3-0 whitewash heading into their World Cup defence in 2026 on home soil.

Kevvie Walters is no guarantee to be the coach of the Kangaroos next year, but he deserves the chance after taking the job on short notice and sealing a convincing victory over the Poms to retain the Ashes.

Cameron Munster won player of the series as the Kangaroos won the Ashes 3-0.Source: Supplied

11. THE TOILET WATER MAN

It wasn’t Reece Walsh’s proudest moment, but his toilet water drinking prank ended up like most things in his life in 2025, in turning to gold.

Perhaps with too much time on his hands, Walsh joked with his social media followers by posting a video suggesting he boosted his performance by drinking toilet water.

Walsh filmed himself scooping water out of his toilet and drinking it and posted it on social media much to the disgust and intrigue of many followers and rugby league fans.

Walsh was warned and reprimanded by his club, who released a statement to stop people from copying Walsh’s antics and to tell their star player to reign in his behaviour.

However, Walsh was remodelling his bathroom and did the prank after a new toilet was installed, but that did little to stop the momentum of the weird and wild prank.

However, Walsh handled the attention with good humour and of all the rugby league atrocities this was on the small end of the scale and only really hurt himself with embarrassment.

But Walsh turned the scandal into a positive and was even linked to plumbing sponsorships, after doubling down on his first post with a photo of him in a plumber’s outfit.

And he capped off the season by carrying a toilet around Accor Stadium after winning the Clive Churchill Medal and re-enacting the prank on stage during his acceptance speech.

The toilet water man could do no wrong in 2025.

Reece Walsh’s toilet water prank became a phenomenon.Source: Getty Images

10. PAPALII’S FAIRYTALE ORIGIN RETURN

It wasn’t quite on par with a 34-year-old Allan Langer coming back from the Super legaue to win Queensland the Origin series in 2001, but Billy Slater bringing Josh Papalii out of retirement was straight out of the Wayne Bennett playbook.

And it had the same effect, with Papalii called up by Slater for the final game of the Origin series, which Queensland won to clinch the series 2-1.

The 33-year-old had not played an Origin since retiring from the representative arena in 2022, after 23 games for his state since his debut back in 2013.

However, Papalii’s stunning form for the Raiders and some injuries in the forwards forced Slater to think outside the box and he turned to his former rep teammate to come back for an Origin swan song.

Not only did Papalii’s selection prove a masterstroke, but he also came out of retirement for Samoa in the Pacific Championships and his victorious Queensland comeback will go down in Origin folklore.

Josh Papalii made a victorious return for Queensland in the Origin decider.Source: Getty Images

9. MARK NAWAQANITAWASE’S TRY OF THE YEAR

There were several terrific stories during the 2025 season, but outside of Gehamat Shibasaki’s unlikely rise, it’s hard find one better than the emergence of former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitwase.

The Roosters took a risk on Nawaqanitawase, but it proved to be a masterstroke from club brass.

The outside back dazzled in his first full season of rugby league, leading the NRL’s try-scoring list and handing in several stunning moments.

The highlight though was his miraculous try against the Bulldogs in Round 11.

With the Bulldogs leading 18-14, Nawaqanitawase looked to be tackled into touch by Matt Burton only to pop the ball on his right foot in one motion, a kick he somehow chased down to score within inches of the dead ball line in a stunning play.

“Oh he can’t. Oh my god. How did he do that? Now has it touched the line? Oh no it hasn’t. What a try,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander exclaimed.

The try was later rewarded with Nawaqanitwase picking up the 2025 Dally M Try of the Year.

Mark Nawaqanitawase scored a stunning try against the Bulldogs.Source: Getty Images

8. TEDESCO WINS SECOND DALLY M MEDAL

In one of the comeback stories of the year, Roosters skipper James Tedesco bounced back after losing his rep jerseys to win his second Dally M Medal.

In arguably the best season of his career, Tedesco answered his critics and reminded everyone you can never write off a champion, with a stunning campaign.

Not only was Tedesco an unbackable favourite for the game’s highest individual honour, he romped to victory a whopping 22 points ahead of the second placed Nathan Cleary.

The landslide victory came on the back of leading a young Roosters side to the eighth spot in the finals and while they were knocked out in week one, they overachieved as a team.

Tedesco finished with the most run metres with 194.4 a game, to go with the most tackle breaks (164) and the third most linebreak assists (27) in 2025.

He also had the equal fifth most try assists with 21, to go with 11 tries and had he not ruled himself out of the Ashes Tour for his brother’s wedding, Tedesco may have won back his Kangaroos jersey.

Tedesco will have his eyes on a return to the Blues next season, after capping 2025 with the highest individual award in the game.

James Tedesco picked up his second Dally M Medal win in 2025.Source: Supplied

7. DCE QUITS MANLY LIVE ON TV BEFORE ROOSTERS SAGA

This was one of the more bizarre moments in recent rugby league history, and that’s saying something.

On the night of Monday, March 25, news broke that Manly’s champion half Daly Cherry-Evans wouldn’t be signing with the Sea Eagles beyond 2025.

The bombshell SMH report broke during an episode of NRL 360 and in a stunning twist, Manly CEO Tony Mestrov phoned in to tell the panel that a two-year deal worth $1.4 million would be tabled to DCE.

Cherry-Evans was given the right of reply an hour or so later on live television when he fronted up for an appearance on Channel 9’s 100% Footy, wearing street clothes instead of a Sea Eagles-branded polo in a sign that Manly fans weren’t going to like what they were about to hear.

Publicly, he knocked back the club’s impromptu offer to confirm the earlier report he’d be testing his value and end a decorated 15-year with Manly.

Speculation was rife soon after Cherry-Evans’ explosive Channel 9 appearance about where he’d end up.

The Roosters were the club he was always favoured to go but Cherry-Evans failed to confirm, leaving speculation to run riot.

The worst kept secret in the NRL was finally confirmed In November when the Roosters announced DCE had signed a one-year deal with an option for a second.

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Daly Cherry-Evans quit Manly early in the season, but wasn’t a Rooster until November.Source: News Corp Australia

6. LENIU CONFRONTS JT ON SIDELINE

Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu confronted Channel 9 commentator and future Immortal Johnathan Thurston on the sidelines over his commentary on his infamous monkey sledge aimed at Ezra Mam in Las Vegas in 2024.

After the Roosters’ 26-16 win over the Broncos in April, Leniu and Thurston were involved in a heated exchange on the sideline, which resulted in them having to be separated in the tunnel.

In the fall-out it emerged Leniu had called Thurston fake after calling for him to face a huge ban over his sledge of Mam and the Cowboys legend took offence.

Trent Robinson defended Leniu over the incident, saying it was just two men having a conversation, but the fall-out was messy and took the focus off the game in the days and weeks that followed.

However, it was not a good look for the game having a player who was banned for 10 games over the monkey-gate incident in a heated confrontation with one of the game’s greatest ever players during a live broadcast.

Spencer Leniu confronted Johnathan Thurston on the sideline.Source: Supplied

5. BRONCOS THRILLING FINALS WIN OVER RAIDERS

It was hailed as the greatest final of all-time as a Ben Hunt extra time field goal sunk the Raiders and propelled the Broncos to a preliminary final.

However, that final play from Hunt was just about the least eventful moment of the night in a seesawing final for the ages.

Reece Walsh and Hudson Young were sin-binned for a headbutt from the Broncos fullback that resulted in a scuffle, with the Raiders taking a commanding 28-12 lead in the 55th minute.

However, Walsh returned to inspire the Broncos to a miracle comeback scoring a try in the 66th minute, before having a hand in two others for Josiah Karapani and Gehamat Shibasaki to make it 28-26.

Then in the 80th minute, Walsh missed a two point field goal, but his leg was taken out by a Raiders player allowing the Broncos’ No.1 to slot a penalty goal to force extra time.

The Raiders thought they had won the game when Jamal Fogarty scored in golden point, but replays showed a knock-on from Jed Stuart in the lead-up.

Then after multiple misses from Walsh, Hunt stepped up to drain a long-range field goal to seal a famous win and leave Ricky Stuart and the Raiders devastated.

Ben Hunt iced the match winning field goal to win a finals thriller against the Raiders.Source: Getty Images

4. SLATER SACKS DCE AS MAROONS SKIPPER

Billy Slater made the bombshell decision to drop halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans after Queensland’s game one loss to the Blues and replace him with Tom Dearden.

Not since Trevor Gillmeister in 1994 had Queensland dropped their captain, but Slater felt the team needed to go in a new direction and pulled the trigger on the biggest call of his tenure as Maroons coach.

The sight of a confused Cherry-Evans almost pleading with his coach to pick him after the game one loss and Slater not guaranteeing anything shook the Origin arena and the Queensland camp to its core.

Greats on both sides slammed the decision after Cherry-Evans’ long service for the Maroons, but Slater was adamant he needed Dearden at halfback and made Cameron Munster captain for the rest of the series.

The huge call proved a masterstroke as the Maroons came back to win he series with Munster man of the match in game two and Dearden winning the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.

It was a brutal call on Cherry-Evans, but Slater was proved right and won his third series in four attempts to stun the Blues.

Billy Slater sacked Daly Cherry-Evans after the game one loss to the Blues.Source: Supplied

3. RAIDERS WIN MINOR PREMIERSHIP OUT OF NOWHERE

The Raiders were some experts’ prediction for the wooden spoon, but they came out of nowhere to win the minor premiership, in a stunning season from the Green Machine.

Critics will say they had a softer draw at times, but you can only beat who is in front of you and the Raiders deserve plenty of credit for a brilliant season that shook up the NRL world order.

Canberra lost just five games all season and clinched the minor premiership with a game to spare and were two wins clear of the second placed Storm with 19 victories.

Five-eighth Ethan Strange announced himself as a future superstar with a superb season, while fullback Kaeo Weekes wasn’t far behind him.

Ricky Stuart was a deserved winner of the Dally M coach of the year, after guiding the unheralded Raiders to a minor premiership upset for the ages.

Tapine and Josh Papalii deserve plenty of credit up front and Hudson Young was just about the Raiders’ best and most consistent player all year in the back row.

They may have had a disappointing end to the season after going out of the finals in straight sets, but the Raiders should be celebrated for winning a first minor premiership since 1990.

Ricky Stuart and Joseph Tapine hold aloft the minor premiership shield.Source: Getty Images

2. MUNSTER LEADS MAROONS TO ORIGIN TRIUMPH AFTER FATHER’S PASSING

Cameron Munster showed why he was one of the greatest Origin players ever, after leading Queensland to a come-from-behind series victory following the tragic death of his father.

The Blues won the first game of the series, before Munster, who had taken over the captaincy, inspired Queensland to a series levelling victory in Perth in a man-of-the-match display to force a decider.

Then on the eve of the third Origin clash tragedy struck, with Munster’s father passing away suddenly.

There were doubts Munster would even be able to play in the decider, after he left camp to spend time with his family.

However, the champion five-eighth chose to honour his dad’s memory on the field and made an emotional return in time to play.

Helped by a man-of-the-series clinching performance from Tom Dearden, Munster put in a heroic display in Sydney to lead Queensland to a 24-12 victory and win back the Shield.

Munster was mobbed by teammates as he fell to the turf drained from one of the most emotional periods of his career and life.

Even the biggest Blues fans couldn’t help but be happy for Munster after his heroic performance in the face of enormous personal heartache.

And the site of beaten Blues coach Laurie Daley comforting Munster after the game will live long in the memory of fans, as the champion No.6 etched another chapter into Origin folklore and added to his amazing legacy.

Cameron Munster lead the Maroons to victory after his dad sadly passed away.Source: Getty Images

1. WALSH STARS AS BRONCOS WIN THE PREMIERSHIP

The comeback kings of the NRL were down and out in all three finals, but came back to win a drought-breaking first Broncos premiership in 19 years and Reece Walsh was the star.

After inspiring comeback wins over the Raiders and Panthers, Walsh led the Broncos back from 22-10 down to win the decider 26-22 on the back of arguably the greatest individual grand final performance ever from the star fullback.

Walsh finished with 124 metres, 12 tackle busts, a linebreak, five linebreak assists, three try assists and a try to win the Clive Churchill Medal.

However, it was his three try-saving tackles, including one on Ryan Papenhuyzen in the final moments that sealed the title and will live long in the memories of every person who watched the game.

The Broncos looked beat so many teams in the finals and right up until the final minute of the decider, only for Walsh to pull off miraculous play after miraculous play to put his team on his back and clinch the premiership.

The Storm were resigned to back-to-back grand final defeats, as Walsh reigned supreme and helped Ben Hunt avenge his title loss in the 2015 decider.

The Grand Final was full of drama, with Adam Reynolds and Hunt going off injured and Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan helping lead the side to victory.

But it was Walsh who pulled off an unforgettable performance to silence his critics and lead the Broncos to a first premiership since 2006, and they may just be getting started as a dynasty beckons.

Reece Walsh won the Clive Churchill Medal as the Broncos won the 2025 premiership.Source: Getty Images