Reece Walsh stars as Brisbane Broncos win one of the best NRL Grand Finals of all time

The 2025 NRL Grand Final did not disappoint with Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos both contributing to what was one of the best finals in history, with the Broncos ultimately coming out on top.

It actually marked the first NRL Grand Final to not feature Penrith Panthers since 2019 with Ivan Cleary’s side defeated in 2020 against Melbourne, before then winning four straight including against both of this year’s finalists.

Melbourne lost it last year and 15 of the players to feature in that game played against Brisbane, however, they could not go one better this year as they lost once again, with Brisbane being inspired by a brilliant Reece Walsh performance.

Walsh scored one but it was his defensive display that was so special as the Broncos won 26-22 to win their first NRL Grand Final in 19 years with veteran Ben Hunt getting his redemption ten years on from his infamous error against the Cowboys.

Plenty of the talent on show will likely be flying over to England later this month to take part in the Ashes and if they bring any of the quality and intensity that they did at Accor Stadium tonight, then the Ashes are primed to be incredible.

How Brisbane Broncos won the best NRL Grand Final in years

The Storm, who finished second in the regular season, were pre-match favourites against the Broncos who had placed fourth but it was Michael Maguire’s side who scored first.

Fans didn’t have to wait long either as Deine Mariner scored inside two minutes, dancing perilously close to the dead ball line as he ran it in under the sticks but it wasn’t long before Melbourne responded.

Tries from Nick Meaney, Eliesa Katoa and Will Warbrick made it 16-6 at the 20-minute mark and it seemed Brisbane were about to get blown out before Reece Walsh had his first moment of magic, dancing through tacklers to scurry over.

Jahrome Hughes hit back before the half with the Storm carrying a 22-12 lead into the shed but three quick tries from the Broncos pulled them to a 26-22 lead just before the hour mark, with the score remaining the same until the final hooter.

Reece Walsh’s incredible display continued with his try-saver on Ryan Papenhauzen being the biggest moment of the second-half, preventing the Storm from getting back into the game. One point of controversy was whether Walsh should have been sin binned in the first half with the full-back instead only put on report.

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CHAMPIONS 🐴 pic.twitter.com/qfSr9M10r9

— NRL (@NRL) October 5, 2025