Brisbane Broncos believer: Why I’ve bought 2023 NRL grand final tickets

As a lifelong Brisbane fan, I’m prepared to put my neck out to declare that the Broncos will be there on October 1. Veteran News Corp journalist Steve Zemek outlines why he is putting his money where his mouth is.

Reece Walsh celebrates Patrick Carrigan’s first try. Picture: NRL

As a lifelong Brisbane fan, I can still remember the words to ‘Hey Hey We’re The Broncos’ - the song that Alfie Langer, Kevvie and Kerrod Walters released in the lead up to the 1992 grand final.

And I’m chairman of the Society to Make Glenn Lazarus an Immortal.

It’s also why, as a Sydney-based Queenslander, I’ll be jumping online for grand final tickets when they go on sale to the public on Thursday.

I’m prepared to put my neck out to declare that the Broncos will be there on October 1.

Penrith still deserve to be favourites to go back-to-back-to-back.

But all year something has been building at Red Hill.

History shows us that to win a premiership you need three things - five-star defence, a superstar to take the game on and a premier front row.

All of which the Broncos have in their kitbag.

The Broncos have all the ingredients to win the premiership. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

THE BRICK WITH A BEARD

I said before that Glenn ‘The Brick With Eyes’ Lazarus should be an Immortal. You can’t ignore his standing as the only player to have won premierships at three different clubs.

But when all is said and done, Payne Haas might be better.

His work ethic, his motor, his ability to bend a line and get a quick play-the-ball - he gives the Broncos unparalleled impetus.

According to Fox Sports Stats, he’s run for an average of 167m a game this year. The next best being Addin Fonua-Blake who goes for 150m a game.

Together with Pat Carrigan and Tom Flegler, they’re the best one-two-three punch in the comp.

Just like Matt Scott, Paul Gallen, Jesse Bromwich, James Fisher-Harris and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were essential cogs when their sides won the title in the recent past, Haas is the Broncos’ beating heart.

The Brick with Eyes. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Payne Haas can surpass Lazarus. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

THE MAROON, WHITE AND YELLOW WALL

Recent history shows us that if a side ends the regular season having conceded the least points, more often than not they end up the premiers.

Defence wins comps.

Again, Penrith deserve to be favourites for this reason. They’ve let in a miserly 236 points this year - that’s 100 points less than the Warriors and the Broncos.

But there was something about the Broncos’ defensive effort against South Sydney and the Roosters over the last fortnight.

They attacked with their defence, swarmed in a pack and forced both sides into a mountain of errors.

It looked like premiership-calibre defence.

Reece Walsh is Brisbane’s golden child. Picture: NRL

THE SPARKLY-EARRING MAN

I love Reece Walsh’s swagger. I love that he wore a shimmering earring to his judiciary appearance and that he’s been compared to Justin Beiber.

You can tell he believes in his ability. The good ones always do.

You only have to look at the way he handled his Origin call up.

All the talk in the lead-up was about how NSW were going to bomb him until he was curled up behind the tryline in the foetal position.

Instead he announced himself as a blue chip No.1.

He’s been compared to Billy Slater in the way that he can break a game open with his speed.

But that’s unfair. Walsh has a better passing game than Slater ever did.

He’s got that X-factor that can take the Broncos to a title, and he’s going to be around for another 13 years or so.

As they say in the classics: “Hey hey we’re the Broncos, and we’re not horsing around. We’re too busy training, trying to lift the Winfield crown.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos believer: Why I’ve bought 2023 NRL grand final tickets