From last-minute glory to rugby triumph: Broncos, Warriors and All Blacks impress

In true rugby league finals fashion, the weekend delivered supreme performances that captivated fans, whether they were Broncos faithful or not.

For the first time in Australian rugby league history, the Brisbane Broncos have claimed both the men’s and women’s premierships in Sydney, and did so in the most emphatic style.

In a last-minute surge to snatch the title and end the Sydney Roosters’ 406-day winning streak, the Broncos women triumphed 22-18 at Accor Stadium.

Coming in as the second seed, the Queensland side held their composure despite a relentless second-half surge from the reigning premiers, who crossed for three unanswered tries to seize an 18-12 lead with just under 15 minutes left on the clock.

Despite having a second-half try denied to Dally M Winger of the Year Julia Robinson after an unfortunate knock-on in the lead-up - Brisbane’s patience was rewarded, with last-minute heroics delivered by two Pacific talents.

Dally M Rookie of the Year Shalom Sauaso made an immediate impact off the bench, charging through experienced defenders, including Roosters second-rower Olivia Kernick, to cross for a powerful try in the 60th minute.

Mele Hufanga of the Broncos on her way to scoring a try during the NRLW Grand Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos. Photo/Dan Himbrechts/ Photosport)

Ultimately, it was Broncos centre and Kiwi ferns representative Mele Hufanga who stole the show from the first whistle. Deservedly winning the Karyn Murphy medal for most valuable player, Hufanga’s presence was undeniable in her 17 tackle breaks, and match winning try in the 65th minute to seal the deal.

Momentum for the orange and maroon only grew into the evening, as the men took the field before a crowd of more than 80,000.

Melbourne displayed their class early, heading into half-time with a whopping four tries to one, ultimately coming to a halt for the remaining 40, unable to score a single point.

Often at the centre of controversy, Broncos fullback Rhys Walsh silenced his critics with arguably the best performance of his career. Involved in nearly every try, he played with supreme confidence, wrapping around teammate Ben Hunt and slicing through more than four Storm defenders from 20 metres out to score one of the best solo tries before half-time.

Clocking a total of 176 running metres, Walsh received the Clive Churchill medal of the year and Storm simply had no answer to Walsh’s rampage.

There were plenty of milestones to celebrate for the Broncos, starting with head coach Michael Maguire. Criticised during the season for reportedly overtraining his players, Maguire known throughout the game as “Madge”, brushed off the noise with a dismissive “blah blah blah.”

History was also made in the halves, with Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds becoming the oldest pairing in NRL history before finally lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy together.

For Hunt, the moment carried even greater weight, ten years on from the unforgettable 2015 grand final heartbreak against the Cowboys. He embodied resilience by sealing redemption in Broncos colours after his stint with the Dragons.

After another heartbreaking grand final loss to the Penrith Panthers in 2023, Adam Reynolds finally rewrote his story, this time victorious.

Queensland’s dominance wasn’t absolute, however, as the Warriors’ reserves side ran rampant over the Burleigh Bears, claiming a 50-20 victory in the Knock-On Effect Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Following an incredible NSW Cup season, it was a fairy-tale send-off for key players Tom Ale, Moala Graham-Taufa, Edward Kosi, and Bunty Afoa, all departing the club next season.

In other sports news, the All Blacks extended their winning streak over the Wallabies to 11 matches with a valiant 28-14 triumph at Optus Stadium in Perth.

With a bonus point secured, New Zealand would have claimed the Rugby Championship had Argentina edged out a full-strength South Africa 29-27 in a thrilling encounter. Click here for further information.