Broncos comeback: Hunt "lost for words" after insane finish

• Broncos vs Panthers starts at 4:05pm AEST
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It's been 728 days since the Broncos had their hearts broken by the Panthers.

Nine players from that heart-breaking defeat remain on the books in Brisbane and today is time for revenge.

Nobody needs reminding about how the Panthers came back from 24-8 down with just 18 minutes left on the clock to eventually win the Premiership.

We will be live through the day until the siren with special Broncos shows coming up on SENQ. FOLLOW ALONG!

5:59pm Ben Hunt - "I'm honestly lost for words"

Ben Hunt has given his raw reaction following Brisbane's thrilling two-point victory over the Penrith Panthers.

Speaking on Broncos Radio, Hunt was left speechless following their dramatic finish.

"I'm honestly lost for words, I really am," Hunt said.

"It is just unbelievable to finish the game like that."

5:55pm THE BRONCOS ARE THROUGH TO THE GRAND FINAL

What a win. What a moment in time.

5:48pm BRONCOS ARE IN THE LEAD

WHAT. IS. GOING. ON.

After trailling all day, the Broncos are in the lead.

With four minutes left in the game, Deine Mariner tied the game with a try in the right hand corner.

And Adam Reynolds would step up to the plate and put them into the lead with a conversion straight through the middle.

You can't script it.

Penrith 14-16 Brisbane

5:43pm Broncos close the margin within a try

The Broncos through Xavier Willison have brought the margin into four points following a Nathan Cleary error.

But Reece Walsh has missed the conversion which would have made Penrith's lead to just two points.

Could that prove to be the difference between the two sides?

Penrith 14-10 Brisbane

5:25pm "Absolute garbage" Parker fumes following Martin penalty call

Corey Parker has slammed the decision not to give a sin bin to Penrith's Liam Martin following his hit on Ezra Mam and Nathan Cleary.

After a confrontation between the two following Cleary being given a crowding penalty, Martin came from far away and knocked both of them to ground.

After watching the replay, Parker was convinced that the Panthers' second rower would be sin binned.

"He's going to the bin for sure," Parker said before any decision was made.

But Grant Atkins would not give a card and instead called a penalty on Martin, the 347-game Broncos player, was surprised by the lack of carding.

"That is absolute garbage," he declared.

5:16pm Is the comeback on?

The Broncos have scored their first points of the game as they slowly claw back the Panthers' lead.

After Isaiah Papali'i infringed on the ruck, the Broncos got a set restart and made the most of it.

A grubber kick from Adam Reynolds would find Kotoni Staggs, who proceeded to score.

Reece Walsh just makes the conversion to bring the lead within eight points.

Penrith 14-6 Brisbane

5:13pm Parker on pivotal moment

The Broncos, after losing the ball in their own 10 metres, were able to defend their line and prevent the Panthers from scoring.

This led Corey Parker to believe that it was a crucial moment for the side to stay in the game.

"That was a pivotal moment in the game for the Brisbane Broncos," he said.

5:09pm The second half is underway!

Can the Broncos make a comeback or will the Panthers maintain their dominance?

__5:04pm Why the Broncos attack has been stifled

Corey Parker believes that the change in the lineup for the Broncos has seen their attack being stifled.

With Adam Reynolds back in the side, the Broncos legend believes that his inclusion has seen Walsh's impact diminished.

"It was the talk all week about how the flow of the attack was going to work with Adam Reynolds back into the contest," Parker said on Broncos Radio.

"It's nothing against Adam Reynolds, it just (that) by the ball gets to Reece Walsh, the offensive line has come too far, and everything breaks down off the back.

"We saw it three times. Every time Reece Walsh has got the ball, he's the main man; he's been pulling the trigger over the last five weeks.

"But the time he has had ball in hand, play has shut down."

4:53pm HALF TIME

The main break couldn't come fast enough for the Brisbane Broncos after being kept scoreless in the preliminary final.

The Panthers have dominated the possession and set completion game which has seen them generate more opportunities within their own half.

Penrith 14-0 Brisbane

4:46pm Alamoti adds another

The dream start for Penrith has continued with Paul Alamoti scoring yet another try.

It's now his 8th try in his last five games. He just seems to deliver in the big moments.

Cleary continues his perfect kicking game with 3/3 from the tee.

Penrith 14-0 Brisbane

4:39pm Cleary extends Penrith's lead

Two penalties within the space of 30 seconds from the Broncos have seen the Panthers extend the lead through a penalty goal.

An escort penalty from Gehamat Shibasaki and a dangerous tackle from Xavier Willison have taken the Penrith down the ground.

And Cleary has made the most of it with a successful conversion.

Penrith 8-0 Brisbane

__4:33pm Penrith almost double their lead

Casey McLean appeared to have picked off Reece Walsh in Penrith's defensive 10m and turned it back for a try of their own.

But before he could place it down, Grant Atkins had called McLean offside inside 10 metres.

Penrith still have the lead after 30 minutes.

4:18pm PENRITH TRY

Paul Alamoti has scored the first try of the match with a herculean effort to get the ball down in the right hand corner.

But Corey Parker believes the ball might have been dropped it despite the bunker awarding the try.

“That other angle made it look like he dropped the ball," he said.

"That’s huge."

Nathan Cleary has followed it up with a conversion.

Penrith 6-0 Brisbane

4:15pm Jensen gives away penalty

Brisbane's Corey Jensen has given away the first penalty of the match thorugh a high tackle on Dylan Edwards.

4:08pm Scott Sorensen RULED OUT

The Panthers forward suffered an early head knock and will now take no part in the match following a Category One concussion.

Not the way Penrith would have wanted to start the match.

4:05pm: THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY

3:52pm The Bronx faithful are out in full force

With a sell out crowd, there is no denying that the Broncos fans have come out in force to cheer their side on into a Grand Final spot.

3:45pm Only 20 minutes away from kick-off

The nerves are starting to build within Suncorp Stadium as the players go through their final warm-ups before kick-off.

3:37pm Penrith have come out for their warm-up

While the Broncos have been out on the field doing their pre-game warm up, the Panthers have now been sighted on field just half an hour out from kick off.

3:22pm The biggest challenge facing Reece Walsh

Matty Johns has given his thoughts about the Reece Walsh vs Nathan Cleary match-up.

On Friday, the 1997 premiership player would preview the match on SEN's Morning Glory with Matty Johns.

And in that analysis, he outlined that his battle against Nathan Cleary will be the biggest challenge for Walsh in this game.

“Cleary’s precision and the way he can compromise his kicks, react to what the fullback does and position himself," Johns said.

“And Reece Walsh, his raw speed. It’s the biggest challenge for every single fullback is coming up against Nathan Cleary."

For more of that analysis, read here.

3:10pm The Broncos are through to at least one Grand Final

The Broncos have progressed to the NRLW Grand Final with a resounding 30-6 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

It was a dominant performance by the girls, who will now face off against the unbeaten Sydney Roosters next week for the decider at Accor Stadium.

Broncos' fans will be hoping that is a good omen for the men's side when they kick off in just under an hour.

3:05pm Panthers and Broncos confirm final teams

Both the Broncos and Panthers are 1-17 for today's prelim final.

Daine Laurie is the 18th man for the Panthers, while Jesse Arthars fills the same role for the Broncos.

Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, and Xavier Willison all return from injury for the Broncos, with Mam to return via the bench.

2:46pm What impact can the 'forgotten man' have?

In his first game since Round 22, what impact will Xavier Willison have in the game?

After starting the season on the interchange bench, the 23-year-old worked his way into a starting role before breaking his arm during the Broncos’ demolition of the Rabbitohs.

While his selection inclusion has largely gone unnoticed, with most of the focus on Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam, Corey Parker thinks he will have plenty of impact from the bench to help assist the forwards.

“There has been three changes, obviously the big ones are Adam Reynolds, (Ezra) Mam and Xavier Willison,” Parker told SEN’s NRL Crunch Time.  

“We haven't spoken a lot about Xavier; he’s sort of been the forgotten guy.

“He comes off the bench after that broken arm. He hasn’t played in six weeks, so he’s going to be given a role.

“Up until that point, he was one of the form players for the Broncos in that middle part of the year, in that middle part of the season, so much so that he earned his starting spot.”  

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has also backed in Willison to perform during yesterday's press conference especially given they have Patrick Carrigan out for the match through suspension.

“To be able to have a player like him come back in, with Patty on the sidelines this week, is pretty special."

2:24pm Parker - Grant Atkins must be grand final referee

Corey Parker has declared Grant Atkins must be the referee of the NRL grand final after criticising Ashley Klein's performance in Friday's preliminary final between the Sharks and Storm.

18 penalties were blown through the game, evenly split between the two teams, with five six agains also given throughout the match.

Sharks' coach Craig Fitzgibbon was critical of Klein post-game, slamming the number of penalties blown and the limited time the ball was in play in the first half.

When asked on NRL Crunch Time if Klein would retain his position as grand final referee, Parker had a blunt response.

“No,” Parker said, “Grant Atkins is refereeing the grand final, that’s what I say."

“Put yourself in (Grant Atkins) shoes for a moment… the players and the referees on Friday night, they went through their business, 22 penalties out of that game.

“Grant Atkins is outside looking in, and yes, they could have been penalties, but just let the game flow.

“All Grant Atkins has to do today is let the two teams just battle it out and watch it flow, a little bit like what Adam Gee did in the 2023 Grand Final. Just let the teams just battle it out, let it flow, and he walks into a grand final.

“That's how it is going to unfold because can you imagine the stories that'll be coming out on Monday about the referee if it's Ashley Klein off the back of his performance.

“I'm not here to bash referees but let the boys just go about their business.

“23 minutes ball in play, ball in play out of 40!”

1:36pm Where the Broncos can win the game

After chatting with 2003 Premiership player Ben Ross on a special edition of NRL Crunch Time, Ben Davis and Corey Parker chatted about how the Broncos could win the game.

Both men believe that the right side duo of Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki could really exploit the Panthers’ left side in Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean which might break the game open for Brisbane.

Davis: “That is the chink in Penrith’s armour that left side.”

Parker: “Just to back him up there, you go back to that game against the Bulldogs, and yes, the Panthers put the cue in the rack at one point.”

“But between them on that left side, they had missed a combined 22 tackles together.

“Like Scott Sorensen missed six, but Blaize Talagi missed 10 tackles and then Casey McLean a further six.

“Out of the whole NRL, Benny, they're 12th in the competition for that left side defensively.

“They are only a handful off being the worst defensive side on the left-hand side.

“You go to the right-hand side for the Broncos from an attacking point of view, very good.

Davis: “You’ve got a test player in Staggs and someone who has worn a Maroon jersey in Shibasaki who has been one of the stories of the year."

“It’s a real strike weapon and point of difference that Brisbane has in that centres."

1:12pm Parker - "I'm one of Madge's biggest advocates"

Corey Parker has once again come to the defence of Michael Maguire declaring that he has been one of his biggest advocates of the 2014 Premiership coach.

It's certainly been a year of ups and downs in his first season as coach for the Broncos.

After starting the year red hot before falling out of the eight in the middle part of the season, which saw his coaching approach questioned, he has helped led the Broncos back into finals and now 80 minutes away from a Grand Final spot.

When asked on the text machine whether he had a bias against coach Michael Maguire and Adam Reynolds, given that they are from New South Wales, Parker was quick to dispel that, noting that he has been Maguire’s biggest advocate in his first season.

“That’s incorrect, I do appreciate what they have been able to do,” Parker explained.

“I’m one of Madge’s biggest advocates. There is nobody in the actual code that has done what Madge has been able to do from a coaching point of view.

“I hope he can get it done."

12:23pm Should Mam be in the starting 13?

If Corey Parker were in charge of the starting line-up, he would have Ezra Mam in his starting 13.

Currently, Mam, who is playing in his first game since Round 23 following a hamstring injury, will start from the bench as the No. 14.

But Parker thinks that given the five-eighth’s ability to run and cause problems for an opposition’s defensive line makes him ideal to be in the starting 13.

“I’ve said on our show (SENQ Breakfast) that I would start him,” Parker said on SEN's NRL Crunch Time.

“I just think that a player like that can prove so much unpredictability and what he does.

“I sort of work the other way, who don’t you want running at you?

“Now, Ezra is great defensively; he puts his body in front, but with ball in hand, he creates so much doubt in the defensive line.

“Now, if there is some fatigue, and there is definitely going to be some fatigue out there in the middle, currently it is 30 degrees.

“It will cool down a little, but I think his unpredictability in the way he goes about his running game will certainly trouble.”

11:15am How the Broncos must handle Cleary

Two-time premiership winner Ben Hannant has broken down how the Bronx must approach Cleary today, and it centres around Origin.

"Cleary, he’s just got ice running through his veins," Hannant told the SENQ Breakfast boys. "He is a special player and he has the right players around him.

"They’ve built this trust at Penrith, they know what each other does. They see things before it happens, you cannot give him opportunity off quick play of the ball because he will get you every day of the week.

"The key to us trying to take Cleary out is slow play off the balls. Slater worked him out in Origin. When he goes to kick the ball, he is only focused on kicking so put as much pressure on him at that moment. If we make sure the end of their set is not what they want then that’s how we get the upper hand."

2023 "stained the Broncos"

That's the brutal reality laid out by Pay Welsh and Ian Healy as they kick off today's all day coverage of the broncos v Panthers clash.

The topic of revenge has come up and here's what Pat had to say: "I have no doubt there is revenge being harboured by players.

"I think the way that Grand Final stained this club, that will be in the minds of the players that were there that night, still vivid.

"They will remember it. Madge will have had, somewhere in the videos, how they capitulated. I remember sitting at home thinking it would be a relaxed watch, then Cleary stole it from us."

Heals agree.

"It was a big stain on the club. This is why this has all the feelings of a Grand Final. Nine of the Broncos that played in that loss are back. Panthers know what they’re doing, we need to be special."

9:35am Taking no risks

Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire doesn’t believe that he is taking any gambles when it comes to selecting Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam for their preliminary final on Sunday.

For both Reynolds and Mam, it will be their first match back in the side since their Round 23 loss to the Melbourne Storm, where both sustained hamstring injuries.

However, despite their absences, the Broncos have been unbeaten after reshuffling their spine, which has prompted debate about whether their inclusion could disrupt the form they are in.

But the 2014 Premiership coach did not think that he was taking any risks when it came to selecting Reynolds as the starting halfback and Mam as the No. 14.

“It’s no gamble for me,” Maguire said in their final training session before their match against Penrith.

“I know the players intimately and I know their game inside-out.

“I’ve had some great experiences with our seven (Reynolds), and I know what he’s capable of.

“His leadership out there is going to be excellent."

8am "We fear nobody":

Broncos players insist they are not scared of the Panthers' dominance. Ivan Cleary's side are looking to reach their sixth consecutive Grand Final and win a fifth straight.

“We have got no fear,” Payne Haas said this week.

“If you look at the players we’ve got, that gives me lots of confidence in myself and I know it gives confidence to everyone here.

“It was pretty hard to take that one,” Haas says.

“I think we learnt a lot as a team and I think last year, it had affected us a bit.

“But I feel like now we’re such a different team with ‘Madge’ (Broncos coach Michael Maguire) here.

“I haven’t won a comp yet and obviously that’s something I really want to achieve.

“That’s the end goal."