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 their disposal.
The Sporting News takes a deep dive into the Broncos' season below.
Did the Brisbane Broncos over-deliver or under-deliver in 2022?
While our very own pre-season predictions had them slated for a big year, the general rugby league fanbase never expected the Broncos to reach the heights that they did - making it safe to say they OVER-DELIVERED.
After missing the finals for three-straight years, including a horror 16th-placed finish under Anthony Seibold, Brisbane have been able to build one of the better rosters in the NRL, blending a mix of youth and experience.
Their dominant Week 1 finals victory over the Storm was one of the best performances in the club's storied history, while their emphatic triumph against the Warriors in the prelim was just as impressive.
While they might have fallen agonisingly short of lifting the trophy at Accor Stadium on the October long weekend, their entire squad can hold their heads high after what was a tremendous season at Red Hill.
When did it fall apart for the Brisbane Broncos in 2023?
Leading by 16 points heading into the back-end of the NRL decider against Penrith, it looked as though the Broncos were cruising towards a drought-breaking victory.
Unfortunately, the heroics of Cleary in the final 18 minutes on Sunday night, which saw him set up two tries before crossing for the match winner under the posts with four minutes remaining, was the stuff of legend.
While the praise will undoubtedly be heaped onto the Panthers captain, the game-management in the dying stages from the Broncos was extremely disappointing.
Adam Reynolds, who was brought to the club to instil a calming influence in the No.7 jumper, came up with some disappointing plays and failed to get the Broncos over the line, while some others missed their assignments.
“If the Broncos get to the grand final and win, they have justification there and Reynolds has been unbelievable this year,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
"If you actually do watch the game, one or the other halfback had to stand up and Adam didn’t.”
After the damaging extra-time defeat against the Cowboys in the 2015 grand final, Brisbane fans deserved this result to go their way after so many years of heartache.
Mam's scintillating three tries were all in vain and it will be a long off-season for Walters and his squad to overcome the mental demons that come with such a result.
The best period to be a Brisbane Broncos fan in 2023
It's hard to single out any period in particular for the Broncos this year, with their entire campaign full of highlights thanks to the likes of Mam, Reynolds, Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan leading the charge.
However, their two finals victories gave a glimpse into what premiership success could taste like.
In the first weekend of September, Brisbane were able to blow off a long-standing heavyweight in Melbourne off the park with a 26-0 shutout at Suncorp Stadium, taking it to the side like few others have done for the past 20 years.
After earning a week off, the side got off to a shaky start in their grand final qualifier against the Warriors but were able to overcome the emotional rise of Andrew Webster's side to secure the 42-12 win in front of a raucous crowd.
Shining light: Reece Walsh
As difficult a task as it might be to single out any one player from the Broncos following their 2023 season, the performances of new recruit Walsh in the fullback role were incredible.
The 21-year-old returned to the Broncos on a cut-price deal considering his enormous potential and played well above his wage, helping orchestrate a top-four finish and grand final berth for the side.
Walsh's mix of pace, toughness and playmaking ability made him a threat across the park, tearing opposition defence's apart at will throughout the 27 rounds and finals series.
The speedster also shone in the State of Origin arena, forcing his way into the Maroons lineup and dominating the Blues across the first two games.
While there is still plenty of upside for Walsh and his best football ahead of him, the fullback has become a genuine superstar in the space of 12 months and will now be the marquee man for the Broncos over the next decade.
Reece Walsh 2023 NRL stats
| Games | 22 |
| Tries | 9 |
| Try Assists | 26 |
| Linebreaks | 21 |
| Tackle Breaks | 127 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 152m |
Will the Brisbane Broncos improve in 2024?
This is a tough question to answer, especially given the fact the Broncos reached some amazing heights in 2023 and the only way they could improve is by lifting the NRL premiership trophy.
For that reason - as well as the losses of rep stars Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth - we're going to say Brisbane will not improve next year, but should still be in premiership and top-four contention.
Brisbane Broncos player movements 2024
Gains:
Fletcher Baker
Losses:
Herbie Farnworth, Tom Flegler, Keenan Palasia
Unsigned
Jordan Pereira, Logan Bayliss
