NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos season review

For a 10-minute period in the grand final, Brisbane looked set to have ended their 17-year premiership drought off the back of a brilliant Ezra Mam hat-trick against the Panthers.

What unfolded from there was a devastating end to a fantastic campaign for the Broncos, with a masterclass from the ages from Nathan Cleary ending their hopes of a title, coming back in historic fashion to win 26-24 in the decider.

Despite the heartbreaking nature of the loss, it was a great year for the club and showed the remarkable turnaround of fortunes under head coach and premiership legend, Kevin Walters.

From a wooden spoon in 2020 and another bottom-four finish in Walters’ first season at the helm, Brisbane came from outside the top-eight to go within a whisker of lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy.

The side now look well-placed to become a genuine force heading into the remainder of this decade, with some talented young stars in the backline and some of the best forwards in the competition at…