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Brisbane Broncos End 19-Year Wait After Historic Comeback Against Melbourne Storm The Brisbane Broncos have secured the 2025 National Rugby League (NRL) Premiership, defeating the Melbourne Storm 26-22 in a captivating Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The victory marks Brisbane’s first title in 19 years and was achieved through a remarkable second-half turnaround, overcoming a ten-point deficit set by a dominant Melbourne side before the interval. Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was named the Clive Churchill Medallist for his match-defining performance in the high-stakes encounter. The match, played in front of a capacity crowd, lived up to its billing as a clash between Melbourne’s famed defensive discipline and Brisbane's explosive attacking prowess. The contest began at a blistering pace, yielding the highest-scoring first half in NRL Grand Final history. Brisbane struck first through winger Deine Mariner, but the Storm quickly wrestled back control, leveraging their formidable forward pack and tactical kicking game led by halves Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster. By half-time, Melbourne appeared to be dictating the terms of the contest, holding a commanding 22-12 lead following tries from Nick Meaney, Eli Katoa, Will Warbrick, and Hughes himself. The Storm's clinical 95% completion rate in the opening 40 minutes suggested a continuation of the club's long-established finals mastery. However, the second half delivered a decisive reversal of fortunes.
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The Broncos’ response was immediate and unrelenting, scoring three consecutive tries within 12 minutes of the restart. Centre Gehamat Shibasaki, who finished with a double, crossed first, narrowing the gap before Mariner claimed his second to draw the scores level. The momentum shifted definitively when Walsh delivered a pinpoint pass to Shibasaki for his second try, putting Brisbane ahead 26-22, a scoreline they would heroically defend for the final quarter. The Broncos’ resilience was tested severely throughout the half, notably when key playmakers Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt were forced from the field due to injury and concussion, respectively. Speaking on the team’s ability to rally, Broncos coach Michael Maguire praised his squad's inherent fortitude. “We spoke a lot about backing our fitness and our belief, and that second half showed the sheer character of these players,” Maguire told reporters after the final whistle. “To lose two of your generals and still execute the plan under that kind of pressure is a credit to the entire squad. We knew what we were capable of, and they remained solid to that path. ” The victory was largely underpinned by the performance of 23-year-old Reece Walsh.
Despite being placed on report in the first half for a shoulder charge, the fullback was involved in three of Brisbane’s five tries, running for 176 metres and breaking 14 tackles. His pivotal moment came in the final minute, executing a desperate, game-saving tackle on Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who appeared destined to score the match-winner. The result carries significant historical weight for both clubs. For the Storm, it is their second consecutive Grand Final defeat, following their loss last year. The defeat also meant the club failed to claim an NRL Premiership entirely without the presence of the so-called ‘Big Three’ era legends of Smith, Cronk, and Slater. Conversely, the triumph is a monumental relief for the Broncos, who had not lifted the trophy since 2006—ironically, also against the Storm. The win also completed a Grand Final double for the Brisbane club, whose NRLW team secured their own premiership earlier in the day. The match was preceded by a week of intense media scrutiny and pre-game rhetoric, including comments from Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu, who suggested some Broncos players were "stuck up. " Broncos lock forward Pat Carrigan dismissed the comments, maintaining the squad was focused solely on the task at hand.
“We know who we are,” Carrigan said pre-match. “People are going to think and say whatever they want, but we had a job to do, and that was about locking into our roles and playing our brand of footy. ” This singular focus on performance proved decisive on the night. The conclusion of the 2025 season will now prompt a period of reflection for both sides. For the Storm, Coach Craig Bellamy faces the challenge of regrouping a squad that, despite immense consistency, fell short at the final hurdle. For the Brisbane Broncos, the victory confirms the club’s return to the elite echelon of the competition, fuelled by a blend of youthful talent and veteran guidance, finally laying to rest a nearly two-decade-long wait for premiership glory.
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