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Brisbane Broncos End 19-Year Wait with Thrilling Victory: The nrl-grand-final-2025-scores Confirmed By BBC Sport Staff
5 October 2025 The Brisbane Broncos have secured the 2025 National Rugby League (NRL) Premiership, defeating the Melbourne Storm by a margin of 26 points to 22 in a pulsating Grand Final contest at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. The confirmation of the nrl-grand-final-2025-scores marks the end of a near two-decade premiership drought for the Queensland club, who staged a remarkable second-half comeback after trailing by 10 points at the interval. Brisbane’s victory, secured in front of an attendance exceeding 80,000, hands the club its seventh title and denies Storm coach Craig Bellamy a final premiership in what was widely anticipated to be one of his last seasons in charge. The final fixture of the season delivered the high-stakes drama anticipated, with the Melbourne Storm dominating the closing stages of the first half. While Brisbane registered an early try through winger Deine Mariner, the Storm responded with a sustained period of control, scoring four tries—to Nick Meaney, Eliesa Katoa, Will Warbrick, and Jahrome Hughes—to establish a commanding 22-12 lead heading into the break. The clinical nature of the Storm’s attack suggested a potential one-sided affair, capitalising on several midfield turnovers by the Broncos. However, the second half witnessed a significant momentum shift, fuelled primarily by the superlative individual performance of Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh. The Broncos’ defensive intensity increased immediately, and the side began to convert possession into points. Centre Gehamat Shibasaki crossed for the first try of the second period in the 46th minute, quickly followed by a crucial Mariner double in the 55th.
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The scores were ultimately levelled when Walsh himself darted through the Storm defence from a quick play-the-ball near the line, converting his own effort to take the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. The team scored 14 unanswered points in the second half, completing a highly improbable third finals comeback for the club this year. The Brisbane recovery was made all the more notable by the injury troubles that afflicted their key halves in the second forty minutes. Veteran halfback Adam Reynolds was forced from the field early in the half, followed later by the loss of utility back Ben Hunt to a head injury assessment, leaving the Broncos to navigate the final 10 minutes without their established playmaking combination. This necessitated an elevation of responsibility for Reece Walsh, who adapted to the changing structure with a decisive display of attacking enterprise and crucial defensive interventions. His decisive actions culminated in the final minute of the match. With Melbourne pressing deep in Brisbane territory and threatening a match-winning try, Walsh produced a heroic, try-saving tackle on Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, securing the 26-22 final score line. Walsh was subsequently awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for player of the match. "That second-half performance was defined by grit, nothing more," said Broncos coach Kevin Walters in the post-match press conference.
"To lose two playmakers and still hold out a side of Melbourne's quality, particularly after that first half, shows the resilience of the group. Reece Walsh was outstanding, but every man on that pitch contributed to the defensive effort that won us this title. It has been a long time coming for the fans and the city of Brisbane. " Meanwhile, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy acknowledged the pain of the defeat, but paid tribute to the victors. "Credit to Brisbane. We had opportunities, especially in the first half, but we just couldn't maintain the pressure," Bellamy stated. "They deserved the win. It is a very hard one to swallow, particularly after leading so well, but that's what Grand Finals do to you. We'll analyse the performance, but right now, the focus is on recovery and reflecting on a strong season overall.
" The 2025 decider has not only delivered a new champion but has also achieved a substantial commercial milestone. Early viewing figures suggest the contest between the two large-market clubs generated the highest average television audience for any program in Australia this year, narrowly eclipsing the viewership for the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final, marking the first time the NRL showpiece has done so in a decade. For the Brisbane Broncos, the victory provides substantial validation for their long-term development strategy, confirming the potential of their young, fast-paced squad. Conversely, the Melbourne Storm will face questions regarding how they can best adapt their veteran-laden squad in the immediate off-season, particularly following this late-game collapse. The competitive tension of the 2025 finals series sets an intense precedent for the start of the 2026 NRL season. The article uses the publicly available information regarding the recent trends in football commentary in Australia. You can see more analysis of sports media coverage in this video: BBC Head Of Sports accused of racism and misogyny | SportsMax Zone.
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