It’s unlikely that any team since 1908 will have a worse offseason than the one the Broncos will experience over the next few months.
Kevin Walters’ men head into the summer with the nightmarish realization of having won the Premier League… and losing it in just 14 minutes.
The Broncos were the better team for much of a grand final, and when Ezra Mam scored a stunning hat trick midway through the second half, even the most ardent Panthers fan thought the trio was dead .
But despite the sadness, it has been a wonderful year for the Broncos, who went from wooden spoons to inches from Premiership glory just three years ago.
The team played fantastic offensive football all season and finished tied with the Panthers after the regular season with 18 wins and only six losses.
Full-back Reece Walsh has emerged as one of the game’s true superstars.
He had a great season, scoring nine tries and creating countless more for his wingers Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, Jesse Arthurs and Kotoni Staggs.
Mum, still in her early 20s, was sensational at five-eighth, while Adam Reynolds’ leadership and direction were crucial in many important matches.
Reynolds was unfairly targeted by some critics for the Broncos’ late collapse in the Big Dance – without his cool head, the Broncos would never have gotten as far as they did.
At the top, Payne Haas continued to break records with his incredible motor skills, often surpassing the number of meters run and tackles.
Forwards Pat Carrigan, Tom Flegler, Billy Walters and Jordan Riki all had the best seasons of their careers as the Broncos established themselves as a team to fear in 2024 and beyond.