2025 GF | PREMIERS - Brisbane 26-22 Melbourne @ Accor

[The Realist]

Well done to the Broncos. It felt like it was their Destiny to win this one.

The win streak with Reyno and Mam out started it, and it really felt like it after that miracle win in Canberra with Ben Hunt exorcising some of the demons of 2015. Then to get revenge on the team that snatched it away in 2023 in the dying minutes and it felt like fate was on their side.

As a Panthers fan heading into the finals, I feared no team except the Broncos, and it proved right. I think we will be bumping into you guys in the finals regularly for at least the next few years.

 

[The Realist]

I know 2020 was close on paper but we were never losing that game.

I am going to challenge you on that one. I remember this game very very well. If the Panthers had another 5 minutes (probably even 2) they would have run the Storm down. There were a heap of freak incidents in the 1st half that all fell the Storms way. It was weird as the Panthers were belting the Storm, and generally outplaying them but somehow the Storm were the ones consistently putting the points on. It was a very strange game on reflection.

Just imagine though, if you had the 2020 version of Paps last night. Would have been a different game.

 

[Trifili13]

Since being sacked as Tigers coach, Madge has won a Pacific Cup with NZ (2023), Origin (2024) and an NRL Grand Final (2025)View attachment 106898

Facts are facts I suppose, but hardly the same cattle in the above teams compared to the Tigers.

 

[blaza88z]

Rothfield is pretty quiet

After all the crap he threw at Madge all gear about overtraining the players, losing the playing group and then taking them on a boat cruise two days before a game they lost

What a dope

Paul Crawley just as quiet.

 

[some11]

They were all waiting to sink the boot in.

Pity.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Shiba was on a train & trial deal lmao

Wins origin and premiership

Another Bobby L

I can't believe they've picked Shitisucki.

 

[JamesRustle]

Well I thought the GF day experience was great. I don't give a toss for the non-footy entertainment, but being there, Teddy and the DJ chick added to the atmosphere. Thought they were both pretty good. The Bronco announcer during the game was the pits. Anyone know how/why the Broncos get to use the PA and not the Storm?

Game was a cracker and I enjoyed a high scoring GF. At the ground, I thought Ezra lifted the Broncos when he came on, Reece was unbelievable and Melbourne should have been up by 14-16 and had the game locked up by half time. Haas/Carrigan were top shelf.

2nd half, the storm forwards were absolutely gassed, taking ages to get back to be in position to take a hitup and all bunched in the middle. If a half or back rower went down, Wishart would have been ok, but he was ordinary at centre.

Wasn't sure whether 1) storm should have had a penalty when Papz dropped a bomb where Walsh didn't go for the ball and touched his leg and Shiba scored off the ensuing set and 2) Loiero's shoulder was that bad - didn't really matter that he was binned with 3 mins to go... have watched the replay and reckon 1) storm should have challenged as I think they get the penalty on technicality i.e. Walsh touched him in the air and 2) thought Katoa got the bronco round the chest/shoulder and jolted him back before Loiero made contact and Loiero's contact was minimal - there was a late replay that had a good aerial shot and I think the penalty and bin were given on what it looked like rather than what happened.

and Klein should have been dropped, not rewarded with a bunker appointment, as his ego gets in the way.

Anyway, met some good fans from both sides.

Oh and Ben Hunt... well I guess he served his penance for 2015 with a 7 year stint at the dragons, where he saved us from collecting a spoon or two, but I truly believe him not being on the park for the last 10 mins helped the Broncos keep their lead... he had a shocker in defence in the first half try spree... and I hope his head knock has him on a 2015 memory loop in perpetuity.

Party on Broncos and fans!

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

The Bronco announcer during the game was the pits. Anyone know how/why the Broncos get to use the PA and not the Storm?

It was Alex Glenn that was chirping - I saw him with the mic. Melbourne definitely had someone going in tandem with the cowbell at times. I just don't think they were as into it as Alex Glenn was.

 

[beave]

It was Alex Glenn that was chirping - I saw him with the mic. Melbourne definitely had someone going in tandem with the cowbell at times. I just don't think they were as into it as Alex Glenn was.

he was on the mic the week before at Suncorp doing the same shit and it was pretty cringey. All clubs do have the crowd gee up person but Alex was like letting your drunk uncle have a turn at singing Cher at backyard kareoke on xmas day......

get some rhythm ffs

 

[XXXX Cap]

Walsh is getting credit for the tries he scored or set up but he pulled off the match winner with his tackle on Papenhuyzen

He was through and it would’ve been under the sticks

He did what very few fullbacks would do and elected to tackle the support player on assumption that he would get the ball. Could have looked silly but the gamble paid off.

 

[moffla]

I don’t think Paps scores anyway to be honest. The cover was there.
The tackle was still incredibly important, he stopped about 15 - 20 metres of territory and a quick PTB as well.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

I recall a time when the Storm had solid goal line defence; what was that crap by Warbrick & Meaney?

 

[The Realist]

I recall a time when the Storm had solid goal line defence; what was that crap by Warbrick & Meaney?

Yeah, Warbrick should really take the War out of his name. He basically Bricked virtually every clutch moment he was involved with in the 2nd half. Also, Coates' defensive reads on the wing were WTF shocking.

 

[Billythekid]

Bellamy’s coaching is geared toward consistency. The issue with this is we never, ever have “gear changes” going into finals. We are just consistently great enough to be there or thereabouts.

The two recent comps we’ve won were both essentially blow overs. I know 2020 was close on paper but we were never losing that game.

We fold with a bit of adversity. It’s the biggest thing we miss from the Cam Smith days.

2 wins from our last 6 grand finals is no longer bad luck, we don’t prepare well for the big occasion - and if we do happen to be back next year I think the players will be f**king terrified unfortunately.

I don’t think this is at all fair. We lost in this game in about as close of a contest as you can get. One bounce of the ball got your way and we win it. This broncos team hit form at the right time and did the exact same thing against arguably the other 3 best teams in the comp (running them over at the end). Grand finals are bloody hard to win.

I think if anything Bellamy is just that good at getting his teams to the business end of the season that even when we’re not at our best we find a way to make it. Going into the finals every man and his dog wrote has off and our form looked absolutely terrible yet we still can within an inch of winning the whole thing.

Seriously it took Walsh having one of the all time great performances to stop us. Let’s not get carried away acting like we were terrible here.

In terms of changes I agree about Munster. He’s a decent 5/8 but he’s on WAY too much coin and just doesn’t get it done in the big games. Paps hasn’t had a great season but he did deliver in the GF and if not for Walsh going f**king god mode he probably wins us the game

 

[Big Pete]

Melbourne have some quality players coming through. Not just Pezet and Fa'alogo but they have a number of prospects in that Jersey Flegg side that look ready to take that next step. There's plenty more in the pipeline ahead so like Penrith I expect your team to be right up there again.

They probably will have to make some big decisions heading into 2027 but they'll be right up there again in 2026 and there's every chance you'll have a healthy squad. Once Hughes dislocated his shoulder all bets were off and while he braved through it he could barely pass the ball by the end of the night - he showed plenty of ticker.

Big off-season ahead for Howarth. He finally came of age last year but he had a disrupted season and it culminated in an early exit. Still think there's plenty of talent there but Craig might have to consider moving him into that Ryan Hoffman role.

 

[Reflector]

Tipped Storm by 22, lol

Did Grub Slater really tip them by that much?

 

[KennySterling]

Did Grub Slater really tip them by that much?

Cronk, I believe

 

[reanimate]

Since being sacked as Tigers coach, Madge has won a Pacific Cup with NZ (2023), Origin (2024) and an NRL Grand Final (2025)View attachment 106898

It also shows how hard it is to get the Tigers to do anything.

Madge beat the Kangaroos, the Maroons in QLD and broke the Broncos’ premiership drought and even he couldn’t get the Tigers to the finals.

 

[MRN]

Did Grub Slater really tip them by that much?

Cronk, I believe

Yeah It was definitely Cronk. Slater obviously tipped Melbourne but I can't find a margin prediction by him.

 

[some11]

Another Bobby L

Extremely poor at reading the game of rugby league. It's not for him is it.