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When-was-the-last-time-Broncos-won-a-Grand-Final: Brisbane Ends 19-Year Drought in Dramatic Final By BBC Sport Staff Sydney, Australia — The Brisbane Broncos have secured their seventh premiership title in the National Rugby League (NRL), defeating the Melbourne Storm in a thrilling Grand Final held at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The victory, a hard-fought 26-22 comeback on the first Sunday in October 2025, conclusively answers the long-running question of when-was-the-last-time-Broncos-won-a-Grand-Final by putting an end to a demanding 19-year wait for the Queensland club. Prior to this highly anticipated win, the last time the Brisbane Broncos raised the Provan-Summons Trophy was in 2006, marking a significant period of near misses and disappointment for the historic franchise. The 2025 premiership decider provided a dramatic narrative worthy of breaking such a prolonged drought. The Broncos found themselves trailing by ten points at half-time, down 22-12 after a first half dominated by the Melbourne Storm’s clinical attack. The high-scoring nature of the opening 40 minutes, which yielded six tries in total, set the stage for an intense second-half contest. Brisbane, often criticised in previous years for lacking the composure to execute comebacks in high-stakes matches, displayed immense resilience to shut out the Storm in the second half, scoring the only three tries after the interval. The shift in momentum was largely credited to a standout performance from star fullback Reece Walsh, who was later awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for player of the match. Walsh scored a spectacular individual try in the first half to keep his side in contention and then proceeded to set up three further tries in the second half, alongside producing several critical try-saving defensive efforts. The full-time whistle, confirming the 26-22 scoreline, ignited celebrations in Brisbane, signalling not just a win, but the conclusion of a difficult chapter in the club’s history. The Weight of Expectation The 19-year period since the club's 2006 victory had become synonymous with fluctuating form and immense pressure, particularly for a club established as one of the most successful and financially powerful in Australian sport.
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The 2006 victory, a gritty 15-8 win over the same Melbourne Storm, was delivered under the coaching of legendary figure Wayne Bennett. The subsequent near-two-decade drought saw the club undergo multiple coaching changes and structural overhauls in an effort to recapture past glories. The pressure reached a peak during the team’s subsequent Grand Final appearances. In 2015, the Broncos suffered what many fans consider their most painful loss, falling to the North Queensland Cowboys in extra-time, a game often cited for its golden-point climax. More recently, in 2023, the team reached the final only to be defeated by the Penrith Panthers, a loss that added further psychological weight to the club’s premiership aspirations. Analyst and former player opinions frequently pointed to a systemic lack of resilience in finals football that the club needed to overcome. Speaking after the game, new Broncos coach Michael Maguire, who took over the reins for the 2025 season, dismissed the idea that past criticisms fuelled the comeback, instead focusing on the dedication of his squad. "I've been around this game long enough where those narratives tend to balance themselves out," Coach Maguire told reporters. "What matters is what the group believes, and they believed they could do it, even when we were down by ten. They showed the commitment needed to break that cycle. It’s a credit to their resolve.
" Individual Brilliance and Team Spirit The victory was made all the more challenging by mid-game injury setbacks. Veteran halfback and team captain Adam Reynolds was forced off early in the second half with a hamstring injury, followed shortly after by the loss of his halves partner, Ben Hunt, to a head injury assessment. The fact that the Broncos achieved their decisive surge while fielding a significantly diminished spine highlighted the depth and character of the squad. Reece Walsh, the 23-year-old fullback, encapsulated this effort. His performance featured not only thrilling attacking flair but also a game-sealing defensive tackle on Storm full-back Ryan Papenhuyzen in the final minute, preventing a certain try that would have levelled the scores. His emotional reaction upon receiving the Clive Churchill Medal reflected the magnitude of the achievement. "It hasn't sunk in yet," Walsh stated. "A lot of people wrote us off this year, but we knew what we had in the sheds. This is for the fans who have stood by us for 19 years. " Future Outlook and Legacy The 2025 Grand Final win immediately repositions the Brisbane Broncos within the NRL hierarchy. It validates the club’s recruitment strategy and the aggressive coaching changes implemented following the previous season.
With the drought now over, the weight of expectation may shift, allowing the team to focus on building a sustained period of success rather than simply chasing a single title. For the Melbourne Storm, the loss represents a second consecutive Grand Final defeat, following their runners-up finish in 2024. Storm coach Craig Bellamy acknowledged the difficulty of the defeat, particularly given their first-half lead. “It’s tough losing a grand final, whatever the situation, and certainly with the lead we had,” Bellamy commented. “The Broncos were too good in the end, they found another gear when we couldn't. ” For Brisbane, this premiership trophy does more than just fill a gap in the cabinet; it marks the beginning of a new era. The victory confirms the emergence of a new generation of leaders like Walsh and breaks the psychological hold of the past, offering a positive outlook for the club’s long-term future in the competition. The question of when-was-the-last-time-Broncos-won-a-Grand-Final is no longer a source of historical frustration, but a recent, triumphant fact.
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