Brisbane Broncos defeat Penrith Panthers 16-14 to book grand final ticket and end Penrith dynasty
The Broncos are grand final bound! Brisbane have completed their revenge mission over Penrith in one of the most thrilling preliminary finals you will ever see, ending the Panthers’ dream of a five-peat.
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds has revealed how the pain of his missed conversion in the 2021 grand final inspired his heroics in Sunday’s heartstopping win to crush Penrith’s golden title dynasty.
Reynolds sensationally kicked the Broncos into their second grand final in three years with a booming 77th-minute sideline conversion to seal Brisbane’s epic 16-14 comeback win in a pulsating preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
Four years ago, Reynolds had a chance to level the decider against Penrith, only to miss a 76th-minute sideline kick at the same Suncorp venue, allowing the Panthers to edge out South Sydney 14-12.
PLAYER RATINGS FROM EPIC PRELIMINARY FINAL
But this time, when Deine Mariner crashed over to level scores at 14-all, Reynolds tapped into the ghosts of 2021 and the Iceman drilled home the match-winner to drive the dagger into the Panthers.
Reynolds is now just one win away from conquering his final frontier - captaining the Broncos to a premiership and breaking Brisbane’s 19-year title drought.
“I wouldn’t say I put to bed a few demons,” he said.
“But you want those kicks over again for sure ... they are moments in your career that you learn from and I certainly learnt from that a few years ago.
“It was just the process, it’s something that I have been practising for a hell of a long time.
“I knew once we scored the try that I had to separate the emotion from what was going on at the time.
“I didn’t separate the emotion from the actual kick (in 2021).
“It’s something that has been going over my head for a long time if I got the opportunity again, to shut off completely and just focus on the basics and making sure I had good contact with the ball and just go through my routine.
“I have been practising that since I was a little kid, at Waterloo Oval, back home (in Sydney).
“I replicated that in my mind a thousand times and to nail that kick was a good feeling.”
Reynolds’ trusty right boot set up a blockbuster NRL decider against the Storm next Sunday night at Accor Stadium in a replay of the 2006 grand final.
Reynolds and Brisbane coach Michael Maguire broke a 43-year title hoodoo at South Sydney in 2014 and now the dynamic duo can smash Brisbane’s drought 11 years later.
This wasn’t Brisbane’s greatest performance but their tryline defence was superb as Maguire lauded their heart to fight back from a 14-0 half-time deficit.
But the Broncos coach said he wouldn’t be truly satisfied until Brisbane lifted the NRL premiership for the first time since 2006.
“I always believed coming here that this was an opportunity we could create, so I’m rapt for the players,” he said.
“Their scramble was excellent.
“There are times when everyone feels the team can’t pull it off, but within this group at the moment, I keep saying there’s a lot more in this team.
“There’s one to go now.
“It’s important that we recognise what they have done to this moment, but it’s using that now in the big game.”
BRONCOS END PANTHERS DYNASTY
Adam Reynolds turned captain courageous as the Broncos skipper landed a booming sideline conversion to propel Brisbane to the grand final with a 16-14 defeat of the Panthers in a pulsating preliminary final on Sunday.
Penrith’s golden four-title dynasty is over after Reynolds sensationally exorcised his 2023 grand-final demons to plunge the dagger into Nathan Cleary’s Panthers on a day of drama at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos appeared to be gone when the Panthers came charging out of the blocks to claim a 14-0 half-time lead against a bumbling Brisbane side.
But Brisbane produced a comeback for the ages, with three second-half tries igniting a stunning revival before Reynolds became a hero with the match-winning conversion three minutes from time.
After Deine Mariner crossed to level scores at 14-all, Reynolds, 35, stepped up and owned the moment, silencing critics and claiming redemption after his grand-final nightmare two years ago.
Penrith broke Brisbane’s hearts in the 2023 decider but the Broncos have ended the Panthers’ dynasty - and can now establish one of their own in next Sunday’s NRL decider against the Storm at Accor Stadium.
MIGHTY MADGE
This wasn’t just sweet vindication for Reynolds, who was returning from a six-week layoff with a hamstring injury. This was a glorious celebration for Michael Maguire.
The veteran coach has steered the Broncos to a grand-final appearance in his first season in charge at Red Hill and Maguire is just one win away from breaking Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
The Broncos were sloppy at times in this grand-final qualifier but Maguire has instilled a hard edge in this team. They are never broken or beaten, even without suspended lock Pat Carrigan and injured utility Billy Walters.
HALF THEIR LUCK
While Panthers No.7 Nathan Cleary was magnificent in the first half, Maguire’s decision to recall Reynolds and Ezra Mam was vindicated.
Reynolds overcame a quiet first half with a try assist for Kotoni Staggs that gave Brisbane hope, while Mam was injected into the game at the 30-minute mark and came through injury-free in a boost for the NRL grand final.
With Cleary in control, the Panthers were cruising in the first half and appeared to be coasting to victory. But the Broncos have strike weapons all over the park and are a dangerous unit when they control possession and field position.
This wasn’t Brisbane’s finest performance but they are junkyard dogs who dig deep and play for each other.
POWER OF ONE
Reece Walsh has been the form player of the league over the past five weeks. For most of the game, ‘Reece Lightning’ was well contained by the Panthers, but Walsh is always capable of a moment of magic.
It arrived four minutes before full-time. Attacking Penrith’s left side, Walsh attracted three Panthers defenders and flung the ball into the path of Mariner, who crashed over to send Broncos fans wild.
Penrith were largely alert to Walsh’s back-man incursions but his 11 tackle busts and 152 metres were evidence of a player who rolls the dice relentlessly.
HEROIC HAAS
Payne Haas could become the greatest prop in Broncos history.
At 14-0 at half-time, the Broncos were shoddy. They looked gone. But without his partner-in-crime Carrigan, Haas was a colossus in the second half, single-handedly dragging Brisbane back into the contest.
The NSW Origin enforcer charged for 165 metres and added 39 tackles to go with his four offloads. What a juggernaut. What a performance from this 118kg fitness freak.
Haas’ competitive streak is the heartbeat of a Broncos side that has the hunger to win the club’s first title since 2006. The football gods are smiling on them. Maguire’s heroes will take some stopping in the big dance.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout