Broncos coach Kevin Walters has reacted to his side's heartbreaking 26-24 defeat to Penrith, admitting the nature of the result 'pisses him off' after a back-and-forth contest.
In front of a raucous crowd at Accor Stadium, the reigning champions scored first through Mitch Kenny, before front-rower Tom Flegler hit back just before the break to narrow the deficit.
After the break it was all Brisbane, with young gun five-eighth Ezra Mam crossing for a breathtaking hat-trick to give the side a 16-point lead and send their fans into raptures.
Unfortunately for the underdogs, Nathan Cleary orchestrated the greatest comeback in NRL Grand Final history, laying on two tries before scoring the match-winner under the posts.
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Kevin Walter reacts to Brisbane Broncos grand final defeat
Speaking to the media post-game, the club legend and current head coach admitted the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after streaking out to a comfortable buffer.
“There’s no emotion in there, it’s very quiet… it’s just hard to get your head around," Walters said.
"It’s very disappointing and I feel for all the players in there that gave so much – it just wasn’t enough in the end.
“I think the whole stadium thought we’d done enough – except for a few people. It’s something we can get better at next year… but right now, it’s a pretty empty feeling.
“I’m okay myself, but I just feel for those boys in there. To finish like that, I watched the AFL Grand Final yesterday and thought that’s not a nice way to lose for the Lions. Here we are, sitting here in the same situation.
“Once the dust settles, everyone in that room can be extremely proud of where the club is now to where it was before all these guys got their hands on the club... it’s just absolutely remarkable.
"In the next couple of days, we can sit back and be really proud. Tonight, we wanted to win a premiership this year and we didn’t get it, so that pisses us off.
"I don’t think losing a grand final makes you more hungry."
But regardless of the result on Sunday night, Walters acknowledged the growth of the Broncos over the past three years, going from wooden spooners to within a whisker of premiership glory.
“If you look back to 2015, the Broncos lost in similar fashion... it just wasn’t meant to be tonight," he said.
"I can’t ask for anything more from our players. I’ve been in games when that’s happened to me as a player and a coach… but I’ve also had the other side of it, where it goes your way."
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds explains heartbreaking loss
One man at the centre of the action against the Panthers was veteran playmaker Adam Reynolds, who battled through a groin injury in an attempt to lead Brisbane to a drought-breaking title.
Just two years after falling short in his final game for the Rabbitohs, the 33-year-old was again on the losing end of a narrow result against the Panthers and expressed his disappointment post-game.
“The message was pretty clear out there – keep playing some footy," Reynolds said.
"We probably just went a bit one-out and they had all the momentum and we just couldn’t get it back. Losing in general is tough, it doesn’t matter the result… it’s a big game and you want to win.
"Unfortunately, I’ve been on the other end of it."
