The Brisbane Broncos claimed their seventh premiership and ended a 19-year drought by defeating the Melbourne Storm 26-22 in a stunning comeback at Accor Stadium, Sydney.
The victory was sealed by a heroic individual performance from Reece Walsh, who won the Clive Churchill Medal after overcoming a controversial first-half high shot to dominate the game.
In front of 80, 223 fans at Accor Stadium the Broncos capped a magnificent season as Ben Hunt savored redemption for 2015 and Adam Reynolds grabbed a second premiership eleven years after his first.
Michael Maguire joins Wayne Bennett, Chris Anderson, Jack Gibson, Tim Sheens and Phil Gould as the only coaches to have won titles with two clubs.
His stats were phenomenal with one try, three try assists, four line-break assists, 14 tackle busts, and multiple try-saving plays, including a match-sealer on Ryan Papenhuyzen in the final minute.
The game was a story of two halves:
• Storm's First Half Dominance: The Broncos started fast with an early try to Deine Mariner. However, the Storm quickly took control, with tries to Nick Meaney, Eli Katoa, and Will Warbrick. Despite a brilliant solo effort try from Walsh, the Storm restored their lead through Jahrome Hughes's brilliant footwork, heading into the breakup 22-12.
• Broncos' Resilient Second Half: The momentum shifted immediately after halftime when Storm prop Tui Kamikamica fumbled the ball over the line. The Broncos capitalized, beginning their fightback with a try to Gehamat Shibasaki.
The Broncos' victory was made more remarkable by the loss of both their experienced halves in the second half including, Captain Adam Reynolds, who was forced off with a calf injury and five-eighth Ben Hunt who was later knocked out with a concussion.
In their absence, the combination of Walsh, Ezra Mam, and the remaining players stood tall.
Mam created a crucial turnover with a massive tackle, leading to a quick-fire double from the wing-centre pairing of Mariner and Shibasaki, putting Brisbane ahead 26-22 with 20 minutes to play.
The Storm's challenge was finally broken when Trent Loiero was sin-binned for a shoulder charge in the final minutes, allowing the shorthanded Broncos to hold on for the premiership.
The win also saw coach Michael Maguire join an elite club of coaches to win premierships at two different clubs, while Ben Hunt savored redemption after his 2015 Grand Final heartbreak.
