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Grand Final hero Walsh: 'I did it for my brothers'
Scotty Bailey & Joel Gould, AAP • October 6th, 2025 6:40 pm
Grand final superstar Reece Walsh continues celebrations as the Broncos returned to Brisbane | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Reece Walsh says a desire to be tough for his Brisbane "brothers" helped inspire one of the greatest grand final performances in history against Melbourne.
Broncos players returned to Brisbane for more celebrations on Sunday after partying through the night in Sydney following their 26-22 defeat of the Storm.
While Walsh spent his time drinking out of toilet bowl-shaped cups and live-streaming Brisbane's festivities, critics were weighing up where his extraordinary performance ranked among the great grand final efforts by an individual.
The Broncos join their fans in celebration back at Suncorp Stadium | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Nathan Cleary's famous 2023 performance to sink the Broncos is widely regarded as the finest Clive Churchill Medal effort, with Walsh on the losing end that time.
Luke Priddis' masterclass in 2003, Cooper Cronk's showing in 2012 and Billy Slater's blitz in 2017 regularly rank among the other top ones.
But while recency bias can be a factor, the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer and Phil Gould have all ranked Walsh's effort on Sunday night as No.1.
Always known as an electric attacking player, Walsh's epic 30-metre try when he beat five men was an instant grand final classic in the first half.
He also set up three tries, but it was the three try-saving plays he made in the second half that ultimately proved just as vital.
"I am not known for the tough stuff but I did all of that for them tonight," Walsh told AAP.
"They are my brothers. I play for them and I will do anything for them. I have so much respect for all of them and I will do whatever it takes.
"I am blessed to be part of the team."
It is no exaggeration to say Walsh saved not only Brisbane's grand final, but their season.
The Broncos were struggling in 11th spot when the 23-year-old returned from a knee injury in June and inspired Brisbane to 13 wins in their remaining 16 games.
His demolition of Gold Coast was a sight to watch on return, and set the tone for an end-of-season that included match-defining displays against Canberra, Penrith and Melbourne.
Victims of clutch grand final plays in 2015 and 2023 when beaten at the death, Brisbane now have a heroic comeback tale of their own thanks to Walsh.
And it couldn't have come in a more fitting way as they ended the club's 19-year title drought, given match-winner Walsh grew up in Brisbane, aged just four when the Broncos last triumphed.
The triumphant Broncos are greeted by thousands of fans back at Suncorp Stadium | Video: AAP
"As a four-year-old kid all I wanted to do was play for the club," Walsh said.
"When I think about all the greats, I feel honoured.
"I feel like this is a bit of redemption for the 2015 and 2023 teams and for every single person that lives and bleeds for this club. We did it for them.
"It's been 19 years and we've just etched our names in history."
There were a number of heroes for Brisbane, who spent the final 10 minutes with several players defending out of position and just one man left on the bench.
Reece Walsh and coach Michael Maguire rejoice together after winning the 2025 NRL Grand Final | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Payne Haas and Xavier Willison were immense late in the game, their outside backs superb and Ezra Mam also as good in defence as he was in attack.
But all Broncos were happy to laud Walsh's performance as one for the ages.
"If he doesn't play the last couple of months we are not even in the grand final. He got us here and he got us home," veteran playmaker Ben Hunt said.
"He has developed that (tough) part of his game.
"Reece has always been known as the lairy playmaker who strikes fear into defenders.
"But he just works extremely hard on not just being a tough player but a very good defensive fullback as well."
2025 was the year of Reece Walsh - was it something in the water? | Scotty & Izzy
