In the next few days, Reece Walsh should go to the effort of getting a photograph of Stephen Crichton standing over him and shouting in his face framed.
Walsh skipped down the right side of the field in the final minute of the grand final, looking to inspire a miracle Broncos comeback.
But he slipped over and lost the ball backwards. Crichton made sure he let him know what he thought.
Crichton, who is heading to the Bulldogs, will leave the Panthers with a third premiership ring.
Reece Walsh was kept quiet for much of the grand final, but couldn’t be contained all night.Credit: Getty
Walsh will need to wait at least another year, after what was a mixed night for the Brisbane Boy Wonder. A photograph of Crichton standing over him will provide valuable motivation in the future.
There was so much excitement and buzz surrounding Walsh leading into Sunday’s decider.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys went as far as to describe Walsh as “the Justin Bieber of rugby league”, such is his pulling power.
But he was kept quiet for most of the night by the premiers. Was it a case of Walsh having an off night, or the Panthers keeping him out of the game?
He only had four runs by half-time. He even sent an injury scare through the camp when he appeared to roll his ankle in the fourth minute.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said on Saturday Penrith would do well to contain Walsh, but there was no way they could contain him the entire 80 minutes.
Walters was proved right when Walsh stepped off his left foot and blew past Cleary before sending Ezra Mam on his way for his third try.
It looked beautiful in real time and even more amazing in slow motion. But there was simply not enough of it from the No.1.
The Broncos were somehow still in the game at half-time, they struggled to get out of their own half, and they needed a spark from someone such as Walsh.
The fullback was clearly gassed by the end of the night, was caught out of position and trapped in his own in-goal and half a second off tackling Cleary for the match-winner.
Walsh has plenty of time on his side. Halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds, however, does not.
Reynolds looked set to celebrate his second premiership just after the hour.
He won a title in 2014 with Souths and was brought north to help the Broncos chase their own overdue silverware.
Now 33, Reynolds will play again next year and is likely to be handed one final extension for 2025.
Adam Reynolds kept the young Broncos calm and his right boot kept getting his side out of trouble.Credit: Getty
The Broncos are in the premiership window. Reynolds is holding his own as good as anyone. He was lost for words after full-time.
Panthers backrower Scott Sorensen dragged Reynolds to the ground in the 25th minute and he stayed down.
TV commentators feared a potential groin injury, or even an issue with his hip pointer. But Reynolds dusted himself off and kept going.
He kept the young Broncos calm and his right boot kept getting his side out of trouble.
The Broncos can hold their heads high. Walters, and Walsh, and Reynolds, have them believing again.
They lose Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth, who were both excellent, but do not be surprised if they are here again this time next year.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
