How Walsh covered up for haunted Hunt; Broncos star on notice as Panthers beast surges — Crawls

Anyone questioning Michael Maguire’s decision to reinstate Adam Reynolds as the Broncos No.7 for Sunday’s blockbuster prelim final should go back and rewatch Ben Hunt’s performance in the recent finals victory over the Raiders.

If it wasn’t for Hunt getting the Broncos out of jail with the winning field goal in extra time, the veteran playmaker would have copped a bucketing for his performance in Canberra.

Which is why Hunt should also be thanking his lucky stars Reece Walsh returned from the sin bin in the mood he did.

Without Walsh’s blistering final spell, it would have been Hunt under the blowtorch last week instead of Jamal Fogarty copping the backlash.

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But it brings us to the potential roadblock now in front of Walsh.

Because while it was understandable that Maguire made the decision he did to return Reynolds to halfback on the back of how Hunt played in Canberra, it has also rightfully raised questions how it will now impact Walsh.

When Reynolds and Hunt combined in the halves to start the season the Broncos hardly set the world on fire, with a five and five record in the opening 10 games.

That of course was before Ezra Mam returned from his ban and, after a shaky start, the Broncos found their groove with the Reynolds/Mam halves partnership.

Then when Reynolds and Mam were out injured following that horror night in Melbourne in round 23, Walsh caught fire with Hunt at halfback and Billy Walters at five-eighth.

Now Reynolds is back as the chief playmaker, the concern is that it could be to the Broncos’ detriment if Reynolds and Hunt overplay their hand and don’t allow Walsh to continue to be the main man.

But that could be easier said than done given the challenges Reynolds and Hunt had combining at start the season.

Of course, there is the X factor that is Mam sitting on the bench this week.

But when and how Maguire brings Mam into the match will rely heavily on how the Reynolds/Hunt combination starts the game.

CHASING GRAND FINAL REDEMPTION

It is also a legitimate question to ask if the Broncos’ ageing halves will stand up (or crumble) in front of a sold-out home crowd at Suncorp when they go up against the force that is Nathan Cleary.

This also could have potentially huge ramifications on the legacy of two 35-year-old Broncos’ halves.

For all that Reynolds and Hunt have already achieved in their illustrious careers (that stretch 307 and 353 games respectively), this may be their final opportunity for them both to bury their grand final demons of the past.

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While both are contracted for next season, there is no guarantee their bodies will hold up until this time next year.

And you can only imagine where the postmortem will head if the Broncos’ season comes crashing to an end a game short of the grand final.

REYNO’S CHANCE TO SILENCE CRITICS

Reynolds of course has tasted grand final glory and defeat, although the two most recent losses in 2021 and 2023 have become the focal point for his critics, some who still question his ability to deliver in the big games.

Reynolds was just 24 when he won a comp with the Rabbitohs in 2014, but that was in a team where Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis and John Sutton were the dominant forces.

Reynolds then lost the 2021 decider when he was Souths’ skipper and missed a crucial shot at goal in the dying minutes that would have locked the scores at 14-all against the Panthers.

Then in 2023 Reynolds was again heavily criticised for failing to close out the game when the Broncos looked home for all money, before Cleary stepped up to inspire the Panthers’ famous comeback.

HUNT CAN FINALLY BURY SCARS OF 2015

Meanwhile, Hunt is still carrying the scars of the Broncos’ gut-wrenching 2015 golden point defeat to the Cowboys.

A decade on from what is still rated by many as the greatest grand final of all, the lasting memory is always of Hunt dropping the ball in overtime that opened the door for Johnathan Thurston to deliver the Cowboys an historic title.

It’s the flashback Hunt will never escape unless he can complete a new chapter here.

While Hunt has done it all at rep level for Queensland and Australia in the years since, at club level he still has questions that remain unanswered.

In seven seasons at the Dragons Hunt played in only one finals series in 2018.

And as mentioned earlier, if not for his winning field goal in the extra time win over the Raiders a couple of weeks back, Hunt would have been lambasted for what was a pretty ordinary performance by his standards.

While both Hunt and Reynolds will go down among the great halfbacks of their generation regardless, to carry a team to a title at this stage of their careers would be their crowning glory.

PLEASE GIVE US MORE OF THIS ANGRY NICHO

While Nicho Hynes has been on the angry pills of late, isn’t it great to finally see him earning the respect he’s been craving by simply playing the football we’ve all known he has been capable of since he won his Dally M Medal in 2022.

On the back of his recent crack at the media for not giving the Sharks’ enough respect, Hynes doubled down ahead of Friday night’s showdown with the Storm when he explained his recent change in attitude.

“I take things personally when people try and dis’ my family and that’s why I guess … maybe I’ve had enough of it over the last few years with people disrespecting the Sharks,” Hynes said.

While it all sounded a bit weird to this old bloke, it obviously points to the personal hurt Hynes has felt along the way.

But just seeing him back playing with the self-belief that has been missing for too long is all anyone ever wanted to see from Hynes.

We all know at his best, Hynes has the ability to compete at any level.

And if Nicho plays like he did last week when he combined brilliantly with halves partner Braydon Trindall against the Raiders, the Sharks have a tremendous hope of progressing to the grand final.

In fact, I wrote earlier this week that they are a huge chance of beating the Storm who haven’t exactly been in their best form in recent weeks.

UNDERRATED ENFORCER WHO CAN TAKE DOWN HAAS

For all the deserved raps Payne Haas gets, the most underrated enforcer in the game is the Panthers’ four-time premiership winner Moses Leota.

And while the Reece Walsh/Nathan Cleary showdown has stolen most of the spotlight this week, the battle up front in Brisbane could go a long way to deciding if it is Walsh or Cleary who comes out on top.

Which is why it was interesting listening to Panthers’ hooker Mitch Kenny speak about Leota during the week on NRL 360, with Kenny labelling Leota “the No.1” prop in the game.

“I couldn’t rate him any higher,” Kenny told NRL 360.

“He is the No.1 for me. I’m so lucky he’s on my team.

“You’re right, he doesn’t get the raps he deserves in the rugby league community.

“But I don’t think ‘Mos’ would have it any other way.

“He doesn’t try to make things about himself. He is just the ultimate team guy, and I think that is what makes him so good.

“Every week he goes out and he just batters whoever is in front of him.

“He keeps turning up, his effort plays are unbelievable.

“And the best thing about Mos bas well is that he brings people along with him.”

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