The Broncos have blown a 16-point second half lead to lose an epic Grand Final 26-24, with Reece Walsh struggling despite brilliant displays from Payne Haas and Ezra Mam.
Mam looked to have led the Broncos to the title with a second half hat-trick while Haas had a monumental game, but Walsh saved one of his worst performances for last.
Read on for the Brisbane Broncos Player Ratings.
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Under pump Broncos find crucial points | 00:33
BRONCOS RATINGS
1. REECE WALSH – 6
Outpointed by Dylan Edwards in the fullback battle. Had a quiet first half as Panthers dominated possession before bursting into life in the second period, making a crucial line break to set up Ezra Mam’s third in what looked in all likelihood the matchwinner.
Finished with 103 metres, 10 tackle busts, two linebreaks and a try assist but also had three errors in an up and down night for the young star.
2. JESSE ARTHARS – 9
A brave effort for Arthars who consistently got the Broncos out of trouble. Notched up a 123 metres, four tackle busts and a linebreak at halftime. Held his nerve with a huge take of a late Cleary bomb before finishing with 167 run metres, four tackle busts and four tackles.
3. KOTONI STAGGS – 6
Did superbly to get out of his own in goal and avoid a goal line drop out early. Missed a few tackles early but looked dangerous with ball in hand. Finished with 126 metres and 12 tackles but missed three and had an error.
Kenny strikes off ALL-TIME GF BLUNDER | 00:40
4. HERBIE FARNWORTH – 7
Defused a couple of kicks early with some brilliant hands. Tapped the ball back from a drop out to gift Mitch Kenny the first try of the night. Drew a crucial penalty before halftime with a tough carry. 71 run metres, five tackle busts and 11 tackles in the first 40. Finished with 152 run metres, six tackle busts, but had three errors and two missed tackles.
5. SELWYN COBBO – 8
Handling error from inside his own 20 gifted the Panthers field position early, but they held on in defence. Bounced back with some tough carries. Ran for 69 metres and made five tackle sin the first 40. Finished with 110 metres, two tackle busts and seven tackles.
6. EZRA MAM – 9
Not often you score three tries in a a grand final and lose. Produced a brilliant solo step and run to burn Dylan Edwards and run away for one of the great grand final tries to get on the board. Mam then blew the game open with his second try beating Yeo and Cleary before completing a second-half hattrick to put the Broncos in the box seat. Finished with 147 run metres, seven tackle busts, two linebreaks, two linebreak assists and a hat-trick.
7. ADAM REYNOLDS – 7
A game of moments for the little maestro. A short drop out was turned into a nightmare as Herbie Farnworth gifted Kenny the first try. Battled on after suffering a nasty looking groin injury in a brave display but ultimately was outplayed by Nathan Cleary. He finished with two tackle busts and 24 tackles but missed six.
Reynolds plays on after gruesome fall! | 00:35
8. THOMAS FLEGLER – 9
Solid start on both sides of the ball. Went off with a category three HIA after 25 minutes, but passed it and came back. Made a charging run to score under the posts just before the break. Finished with 91 run metres, five tackle busts and 32 tackles without a miss and a try.
9. BILLY WALTERS – 7
Set the tone early with a melee with Nathan Cleary to let him know the Broncos were not backing down. Had moments of impact including a superb early 40/20 but ultimately finished with zero run metres, 31 tackles and two missed tackles.
10. PAYNE HAAS – 9
A staggering effort from the Broncos big man. Finished with 156 run metres, three tackle busts, three offloads and 32 tackles without a miss. It prompted Joey Johns to question whether Haas could become the “greatest prop in the history of the game”.
11. KURT CAPEWELL – 7
Solid start on both sides of the ball. 28 run metres and 18 tackles in the first half. Finished with 68 run metres, a linebreak, 32 tackles and four missed tackles.
12. JORDAN RIKI – 6
Superb defensively early, but struggled to get involved in attack. 33 run metres and 18 tackles in the first 40. Finished with 70 run metres, 30 tackles and three missed tackles.
13. PATRICK CARRIGAN – 9
Got bounced off an attempted tackle in the opening minutes, but was in everything on both sides of the ball in a typical workhorse performance. Finished with 153 metres, two tackle busts, two offloads and 39 tackles in a valliant display from the Broncos skipper.
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Carrigan BELTED & early melee in 3 mins! | 00:41
INTERCHANGE BENCH:
14. TYSON SMOOTHY – 7
Provided spark off the bench to set up a crucial try to Tom Flegler before the break and was solid in defence. A try assist, a linebreak assist and five tackles in the first half. Finished with seven run metres, a linebreak assist, a try assist and 19 tackles.
15. BRENDAN PIAKURA – 6
Came on late and was solid on both sides of the ball. Finished with 14 run metres and 12 tackles.
16. KOBE HETHERINGTON – 6
Came on late in the game and was solid on both sides of the ball. Huge tackle on Leota to deny a try late in the game. Finished with 27 run metres and eight tackles.
17. KEENAN PALASIA – 9
Some strong charges and big tackles after coming on halfway through the first half to provide some much needed energy. 50 run metres and seven tackles in the first 40. Finished with 131 run metres and 11 tackles.
