![\"Reece](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/reece-walsh-of-the-broncos-during-the-nrl-grand-final-match-WQW3P4SN5NBFXOACFG2EURCDWU.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDarren Lockyer has hailed Reece Walsh’s grand-final performance as the most dominant of all time after the fullback broke Brisbane’s premiership drought with a 26-22 win over Melbourne.<\/p>\n
In a decider for the ages at Accor Stadium on Sunday, the Broncos came from 22-12 down at halftime to stun the Storm and claim their first premiership since 2006.<\/p>\n
Brisbane completed the comeback without Adam Reynolds who limped off in the second half, before halves partner Ben Hunt also suffered a concussion with eight minutes left.<\/p>\n
Ezra Mam stepped up for the Broncos with a try assist and a big defensive play swinging the match, after a year where he has dominated headlines for the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n
But ultimately it was Walsh who was the hero, with his electric attack and never-say-die defence outdoing a superb first half from Melbourne’s all-star big four.<\/p>\n
The Brisbane star beat five men to score a superb first-half try, set up three others and produced three try-saving plays to take the Broncos to their seventh premiership.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Reece Walsh of the Broncos during the NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n
“I’ve never seen an individual dominate a grand final like that,” Lockyer told AAP.<\/p>\n
“Nathan Cleary did it a couple years ago, but that’s one of the best individuals performances. <\/p>\n
“We talk about his speed and flashiness, but tonight it’s toughness, especially. He’s such a team-focused person. He does all this stuff to help the team win!'”<\/p>\n
Walsh’s outing was a fitting end to a finals series he has dominated, having also saved Brisbane against both Canberra and Penrith.<\/p>\n
But as good as his finish was in the 94-minute epic against the Raiders earlier this month, Sunday night was even more special.<\/p>\n
With Brisbane trailing by 10 at the break, Walsh kept the Broncos in the match when he first scrambled to stop Tui Kamikamica getting a ball down.<\/p>\n
From the next set, Mam sent Gehamat Shibasaki over on the left edge, breathing life back into the game.<\/p>\n
Walsh then unleashed three minutes of attacking brilliance, with his quick hands first sending Deine Mariner over with a cut-out ball to make it a two-point game.<\/p>\n
Brisbane then had the lead when Walsh got the ball, accelerated and threw another cut-out ball for Shibasaki to grab his second with 23 minutes to play.<\/p>\n
Then with Melbourne fighting to take back the lead, Walsh produced two more try-saving plays to keep the Broncos on top.<\/p>\n
The fullback first chased down opposite number Ryan Papenhuyzen when he broke from a scrum, before another last-line-of-defence tackle on the Storm No.1 in the dying minutes.<\/p>\n
“He was outstanding.<\/p>\n
“He saved five tries out there, phenomenal. Right to the death, which is the spirit of this team.”<\/p>\n
Brisbane’s efforts to hold on came after they capitulated in similar circumstances two years ago against Penrith, as well as back in 2015 at the death against North Queensland.<\/p>\n
But they were a different team on Sunday, holding on until the siren and amid more drama with Melbourne lock Trent Loiero sin-binned late for a shoulder charge.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Walsh was the shining light for Brisbane in a first half dominated by Melbourne.<\/p>\n
The No.1 laid on the fastest grand-final try of the NRL era when he burst onto a ball in the fourth minute, bust through Jack Howarth and sent a cut-out ball Mariner’s way.<\/p>\n
But Melbourne led 16-6 through a brilliant 15 minute spell from Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Eliesa Katoa and Papenhuyzen.<\/p>\n
And while Walsh’s superb 30-metre try reduced the margin, Hughes appeared to have Melbourne on their way to a title when he scored to make it 22-12 at halftime. <\/p>\n
Ultimately though the Storm made too many poor choices in the second half, and were left to settle for a second straight grand-final loss after last year’s defeat to Penrith.<\/p>\n
“It’s tough losing a grand final, whatever the situation, and certainly with the lead we had,” coach Craig Bellamy said.<\/p>\n
“When Kamikamica lost that ball over the line, that was a big turning point.<\/p>\n
“We would have liked to have won, but we haven’t and the Broncos were too good.”<\/p>\n
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including hope the peace deal for Gaza will become reality, a league and sevens star is coming to the Warriors, and why your social feeds could soon be flooded with fakes. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Darren Lockyer has hailed Reece Walsh’s grand-final performance as the most dominant of all time after the fullback…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":61462,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[85,42,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-61461","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-australia","9":"tag-headlines","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61461\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}