2023 Brisbane Broncos season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
NRL Rank | 2nd (Runners up) | |||
2023 record | Wins: 18; losses: 6 | |||
Points scored | For: 639; against: 425 | |||
Team information | ||||
CEO | Dave Donaghy | |||
Head Coach | Kevin Walters | |||
Captain | ||||
Stadium | Suncorp Stadium (52,500 – 11 games) The Gabba (41,974 – 3 home games) | |||
Avg. attendance | 32,910 (as at Round 6) [1] | |||
High attendance | 51,047 (Round 4) | |||
Low attendance | 17,125 (Round 1) | |||
Top scorers | ||||
Tries | Selwyn Cobbo | |||
Goals | Adam Reynolds | |||
Points | Adam Reynolds | |||
|
The 2023 Brisbane Broncos season was the 36th in the club's rugby league football history.
At the start of the final round (27) of the regular season, Brisbane was positioned on top of the NRL ladder. Having qualified for the finals, a significant number of regular players were rested. The Melbourne Storm subsequently won 32-22 at Suncorp Stadium and by the end of round 27, Brisbane missed out on their first minor premiership win since 2000 due to a lesser points differential than the Penrith Panthers. [2] Notwithstanding, Brisbane qualified to play Penrith in the 2023 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium on 1 October; however, Brisbane conceded the largest comeback in NRL Grand Final history in the final twenty minutes to lose 24-26. [3]
The Broncos also fielded a team in the NRL Women's Premiership.
The following player movements happened across the previous season, off-season and pre-season. [4]
Player | Previous Club | Length |
---|---|---|
Reece Walsh | New Zealand Warriors | 2025 |
Jesse Arthars | New Zealand Warriors | 2023 |
Jock Madden | Wests Tigers | 2024 |
Martin Taupau | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 2023 |
Player | New Club |
---|---|
Brenko Lee | Dolphins |
David Mead | Retired |
Te Maire Martin | New Zealand Warriors |
Ryan James | Retired |
Tyson Gamble | Newcastle Knights |
Jake Turpin | Sydney Roosters |
Zac Hosking | Penrith Panthers |
Tesi Niu | Dolphins |
Karl Oloapu | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
TC Robati | Released |
Date [5] | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 12 February | Trial 1 | ![]() | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 24–24 | Reece Walsh 5' Deine Mariner 27' Jordan Pereira 37', 40' | Kotoni Staggs (2/2) Reece Walsh (2/2) | 4,605 |
Saturday, 18 February | Trial 2 | ![]() | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 20–8 | Kurt Capewell 2' Selwyn Cobbo 7' Corey Oates 22' Jesse Arthars 70' | Kotoni Staggs (2/4) | 7,849 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 312 | +333 | 42 |
2 | ![]() | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 639 | 425 | +214 | 42 |
3 | ![]() | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 627 | 459 | +168 | 38 |
4 | ![]() | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 572 | 448 | +124 | 38 |
5 | ![]() | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 451 | +175 | 35 |
6 | ![]() | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 619 | 497 | +122 | 34 |
7 | ![]() | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 472 | 496 | −24 | 32 |
8 | ![]() | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 486 | 623 | −137 | 32 |
9 | ![]() | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 564 | 505 | +59 | 30 |
10 | ![]() | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 587 | 574 | +13 | 30 |
11 | ![]() | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 546 | 542 | +4 | 30 |
12 | ![]() | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 545 | 539 | +6 | 29 |
13 | ![]() | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 520 | 631 | −111 | 24 |
14 | ![]() | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 527 | 653 | −126 | 24 |
15 | ![]() | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 438 | 769 | −331 | 20 |
16 | ![]() | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 474 | 673 | −199 | 16 |
17 | ![]() | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 385 | 675 | −290 | 14 |
Round 1: 3 March 2023 | Penrith Panthers ![]() | 12–13 | ![]() | Penrith | |
20:05 AEDT | Tries: Crichton ![]() Luke ![]() Goals: Cleary 2/2 ![]() | Report | Tries: Farnworth ![]() Goals: Reynolds 2/2 ![]() Field goals: Reynolds ![]() | Stadium: BlueBet Stadium Attendance: 17,125 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Round 2: 10 March 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 28–16 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:05 AEST | Tries: Capewell ![]() Mam ![]() Staggs ![]() Walsh ![]() Goals: Reynolds 4/6 ![]() | Report | Tries: Nanai ![]() Goals: Holmes 4/4 ![]() Sin bin: Drinkwater ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 43,162 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Round 3: 18 March 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 40–18 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:05 AEST | Tries: Staggs ![]() Paix ![]() Cobbo ![]() Walsh ![]() Mam ![]() Goals: Reynolds 5/7 ![]() | Report | Tries: Feagai ![]() Sloan ![]() Sullivan ![]() Goals: Lomax 3/5 ![]() Field goals: Reynolds ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 26,612 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 4: 24 March 2023 | Dolphins ![]() | 12–18 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:00 AEST | Tries: Wallace ![]() Tabuai-Fidow ![]() Goals: Isaako 2/2 ![]() | Report | Tries: Arthars ![]() Cobbo ![]() Capewell ![]() Staggs ![]() Goals: Reynolds 1/4 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 51,047 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 5: 1 April 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 46–12 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Riki ![]() Capewell ![]() Haas ![]() Cobbo ![]() Farnworth ![]() Staggs ![]() Goals: Reynolds 7/8 ![]() | Report | Tries: Papali'i ![]() Simpkin ![]() Goals: Doueihi 2/2 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 27,553 Referee: Chris Sutton |
Round 6: 8 April 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 14–20 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Riki ![]() Arthars ![]() Goals: Reynolds 1/3 ![]() | Report | Tries: Rapana ![]() Hopoate ![]() Goals: Croker 4/4 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 31,962 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 7: 15 April 2023 | Gold Coast Titans ![]() | 26–43 | ![]() | Gold Coast | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Sami ![]() Khan-Pereira ![]() Leeming ![]() Goals: Boyd 5/5 ![]() Sin bin: T. Fa'asuamaleaui ![]() | Report | Tries: Riki ![]() Farnworth ![]() Walsh ![]() Arthars ![]() Capewell ![]() Mam ![]() Cobbo ![]() Goals: Reynolds 7/8 ![]() Field goals: Reynolds ![]() | Stadium: Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 26,563 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 8: 21 April 2023 | Parramatta Eels ![]() | 16–26 | ![]() | Darwin | |
19:30 ACST | Tries: Gutherson ![]() Sivo ![]() Russell ![]() Goals: Moses 2/3 ![]() Sin bin: Hopgood ![]() | Report | Tries: Farnworth ![]() Reynolds ![]() Mam ![]() Staggs ![]() Goals: Reynolds 5/7 ![]() Sin bin: Mam ![]() | Stadium: TIO Stadium Attendance: 11,864 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Round 9: 28 April 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 6–32 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:00 AEST | Tries: Arthars ![]() Goals: Reynolds 1/2 ![]() Sin bin: Farnworth ![]() | Report | Tries: Graham ![]() Mitchell ![]() Walker ![]() Goals: Mitchell 4/6 ![]() Sin bin: Murray ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 40,102 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Round 10: 5 May 2023 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ![]() | 6–32 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:05 AEST | Tries: B. Trbojevic ![]() Goals: Garrick 1/1 ![]() | Report | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Walters ![]() Arthars ![]() Farnworth ![]() Goals: Reynolds 4/6 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 50,077 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Round 11: 11 May 2023 | Melbourne Storm ![]() | 24–16 | ![]() | Melbourne | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Munster ![]() Warbrick ![]() Olam ![]() Goals: Meaney 4/6 ![]() Sin bin: Pene ![]() | Report | Tries: Farnworth ![]() Arthars ![]() Paix ![]() Goals: Walsh 2/3 ![]() Sin bin: Farnworth ![]() Carrigan ![]() Flegler ![]() | Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 16,043 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 12: 18 May 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 4–15 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Goals: Staggs 0/1 | Report | Tries: Turuva ![]() Cleary ![]() Goals: Cleary 3/3 ![]() Field goals: Cleary ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 33,343 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 13: 27 May 2023 | New Zealand Warriors ![]() | 22–26 | ![]() | Napier | |
19:30 NZST | Tries: Watene-Zelezniak ![]() Nicoll-Klokstad ![]() Montoya ![]() Goals: Johnson 3/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Mariner ![]() Riki ![]() Mam ![]() Goals: Reynolds 5/5 ![]() | Stadium: McLean Park Attendance: 15,600 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Round 14: 3 June 2023 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks ![]() | 12–20 | ![]() | Cronulla | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Talakai ![]() Kennedy ![]() Goals: Hynes 2/2 ![]() | Report | Tries: Staggs ![]() Mam ![]() Arthars ![]() Farnworth ![]() Goals: Reynolds 2/4 ![]() | Stadium: PointsBet Stadium Attendance: 12,318 Referee: Todd Smith |
Round 15: 10 June 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 24–20 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
17:30 AEST | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Piakura ![]() Reynolds ![]() Goals: Reynolds 4/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Young ![]() Ponga ![]() Croker ![]() Goals: Hastings 2/4 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 35,814 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 17: 25 June 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 12–18 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
14:00 AEST | Tries: Flegler ![]() Mam ![]() Goals: Reynolds 2/2 ![]() | Report | Tries: D. Fifita ![]() Kelly ![]() Khan-Pereira ![]() Goals: Boyd 3/4 ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 42,249 Referee: Chris Butler |
Round 18: 1 July 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 24–16 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Farnworth ![]() Goals: Reynolds 2/5 ![]() | Report | Tries: Nikorima ![]() Te Whare ![]() Marshall-King ![]() Goals: Isaako 2/3 ![]() | Stadium: The Gabba Attendance: 30,606 Referee: Peter Gough |
Round 20: 15 July 2023 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ![]() | 24–44 | ![]() | Belmore | |
15:00 AEST | Tries: Preston ![]() Averillo ![]() Waddell ![]() Goals: Burton 4/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Reynolds ![]() Capewell ![]() Walters ![]() Mariner ![]() Willison ![]() Mam ![]() Piakura ![]() Farnworth ![]() Goals: Reynolds 6/8 ![]() Sin bin: Cobbo ![]() | Stadium: Belmore Sports Ground Attendance: 17,103 Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski |
Round 21: 21 July 2023 | South Sydney Rabbitohs ![]() | 20–36 | ![]() | Sunshine Coast | |
20:00 AEST | Tries: Johnston ![]() Graham ![]() Tass ![]() Goals: Taaffe 4/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Staggs ![]() Cobbo ![]() Walsh ![]() Willison ![]() Reynolds ![]() Goals: Reynolds 6/6 ![]() Sin bin: Taupau ![]() Arthars ![]() | Stadium: Sunshine Coast Stadium Attendance: 8,931 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Round 22: 27 July 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 32–10 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Farnworth ![]() Mam ![]() Carrigan ![]() Staggs ![]() Goals: Reynolds 6/6 ![]() | Report | Tries: Bi. Smith ![]() Tupou ![]() Goals: S. Smith 1/2 ![]() | Stadium: The Gabba Attendance: 21,841 Referee: Grant Atkins |
Round 23: 5 August 2023 | North Queensland Cowboys ![]() | 14–30 | ![]() | Townsville | |
15:00 AEST | Tries: Feldt ![]() Luki ![]() Goals: Townsend 1/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Arthars ![]() Carrigan ![]() Mam ![]() Walsh ![]() Cobbo ![]() Goals: Staggs 5/6 ![]() | Stadium: Queensland Country Bank Stadium Attendance: 22,659 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
Round 24: 11 August 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 54–10 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
20:00 AEST | Tries: Reynolds ![]() Walters ![]() Mariner ![]() Farnworth ![]() Mam ![]() Capewell ![]() Walsh ![]() Goals: Reynolds 9/10 ![]() | Report | Tries: Russell ![]() Brown ![]() Goals: Gutherson 1/2 ![]() | Stadium: The Gabba Attendance: 29,005 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 26: 26 August 2023 | Canberra Raiders ![]() | 18–29 | ![]() | Canberra | |
19:35 AEST | Tries: Frawley ![]() Cotric ![]() Young ![]() Goals: Fogarty 3/4 ![]() Sin bin: Rapana ![]() | Report | Tries: Cobbo ![]() Staggs ![]() Mam ![]() Walsh ![]() Goals: Staggs 2/6 ![]() Field goals: Walsh ![]() | Stadium: GIO Stadium Attendance: 19,400 Referee: Adam Gee |
Round 27: 31 August 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 22–32 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Flegler ![]() Pereira ![]() Goals: Rogers 5/5 ![]() | Report | Tries: Anderson ![]() Fa'alogo ![]() Papenhuyzen ![]() Smith ![]() Goals: Papenhuyzen 4/6 ![]() Sin bin: Smith ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 43,271 Referee: Ashley Klein |
Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||||
9 September – Sydney | |||||||||||||||||||
1 | ![]() | 32 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 16 September – Auckland | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||
10 September – Newcastle | ![]() | 10 | 22 September – Sydney | ||||||||||||||||
5 | ![]() | 30 | ![]() | 38 | |||||||||||||||
8 | ![]() | 28 | ![]() | 4 | 1 October – Sydney | ||||||||||||||
![]() | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||
9 September – Sydney | 23 September – Brisbane | ![]() | 24 | ||||||||||||||||
6 | ![]() | 12 | ![]() | 42 | |||||||||||||||
7 | ![]() | 13 | 15 September – Melbourne | ![]() | 12 | ||||||||||||||
![]() | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
8 September – Brisbane | ![]() | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | ![]() | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | ![]() | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
QEF: 8 September 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 26–0 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Staggs ![]() Walsh ![]() Riki ![]() Cobbo ![]() Goals: Reynolds 5/5 ![]() | Report | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 50,197 Referee: Grant Atkins |
PF: 23 September 2023 | Brisbane Broncos ![]() | 42–12 | ![]() | Brisbane | |
19:50 AEST | Tries: Walters ![]() Farnworth ![]() Arthars ![]() Riki ![]() Mam ![]() Goals: Reynolds 6/6 ![]() Walsh 1/1 ![]() | Report | Tries: Watene-Zelezniak ![]() Montoya ![]() Goals: Pompey 0/3 Sin bin: Pompey ![]() | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 52,273 Referee: Gerard Sutton |
GF: 1 October 2023 | Penrith Panthers ![]() | 26–24 | ![]() | Sydney Olympic Park | |
19:30 AEDT | Tries: Kenny ![]() Leota ![]() Crichton ![]() Cleary ![]() Goals: Crichton 1/1 ![]() Cleary 4/4 ![]() | Report | Tries: Flegler ![]() Mam ![]() Goals: Reynolds 4/4 ![]() | Stadium: Accor Stadium Attendance: 81,947 Referee: Adam Gee |
2023 Brisbane Broncos Club Awards
The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Red Hill, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos currently compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) and play their home games at Lang Park in nearby Milton.
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL). The team is based 55 km (34 mi) west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith are the current reigning NRL Premiers, having won the title six times, including the last four times consecutively.
The Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and is the League's only team from outside Australia. They were formed in 1995 as the Auckland Warriors, and are affectionally known as the Wahs. The Warriors are coached by Andrew Webster with the captaincy position presently being vacant, after previous captain Tohu Harris announced his retirement in January 2025. The Warriors are based at Mount Smart Stadium in the Auckland suburb of Penrose.
The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. Also called the 2001 Telstra Premiership it was contested by thirteen Australia-based clubs plus one New Zealand–based club. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the NRL's first ever night-time grand final.
The 2003 NRL premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen teams competed, with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning in place of their failed joint-venture club, the Northern Eagles. Ultimately, the Penrith Panthers defeated reigning champions, the Sydney Roosters in the 2003 NRL grand final, claiming their first premiership since 1991.
The 2004 NRL season was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed during the regular season before the top eight finishing teams contested the finals series. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs defeated the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 NRL grand final and in doing so claimed their eighth premiership.
The 2006 NRL season was the 99th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the ninth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs competing for the 2006 Telstra Premiership. Throughout the 26 rounds of the regular season ten teams from New South Wales, two from Queensland and one each from Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand competed for the minor premiership. Eight of these teams qualified for the four-week finals series, with the Brisbane Broncos eventual victors over the Melbourne Storm in the grand final. Melbourne finished the regular season first so were awarded the minor premiership, but this was later revoked due to the Melbourne Storm salary cap breach.
Kevin David Walters is an Australian former professional rugby league player, coach, and pundit for Fox League.
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusion of a new team, the Gold Coast Titans, the competition was the largest run since the 1999 NRL season.
The history of the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club stretches back from their inception in the mid-1980s to the present day. They were introduced to the NSWRL's Winfield Cup premiership in 1988, taking the competition by storm in winning their first six games. The Broncos participated in 18 consecutive finals series from 1992–2009, winning premierships six times, including the 1992 and 1993 NSWRL premierships, the Superleague premiership in 1997 and then the 1998, 2000 and 2006 National Rugby League premierships.
This is a list of rivalries in the National Rugby League.
The 2012 Melbourne Storm season was the club's 15th NRL season. Coached by Craig Bellamy and captained by Cameron Smith, they competed in and won the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. The first nine weeks of the season were very successful, with the club winning all games for what was at the time their best start to a season. From round 10 to round 21 they won only three games and lost seven, including a five-game losing streak between rounds 16 and 21, their second worst ever. From round 22 onward they recovered their winning form and finished the regular season with five straight wins, finishing in second place. The Storm then went on to defeat South Sydney and Manly in the finals series before going on to face minor premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL Grand Final, winning 14–4 to claim the Premiership.
Kurt Capewell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Campbell Graham is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and Australia at international level.
Payne Haas is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL), and Australia at international level.
Brian To'o is an Australian and Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Stephen Crichton is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a centre for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. He has represented New South Wales in the State of Origin series and Samoa at international level.
The 2020 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2020 National Rugby League season held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on October 25. The match was contested between minor premiers Penrith Panthers and second-placed Melbourne Storm. Melbourne led the game 22-0 at half-time before holding off a late Penrith comeback to win 26-20, claiming their fourth premiership title. Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the official man of the match. The match was attended by 37,303 spectators due to an enforced limit to stadium capacity by the NSW government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. The game would be the last for Melbourne hooker and captain Cameron Smith after announcing his retirement in the following year, making him the most-capped player in the NRL with 430 games, and the most for a single club.
Jack Howarth is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or second-row forward for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2023 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2023 National Rugby League season in Australia. It was contested between the Penrith Panthers and the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday the 1st of October at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Penrith, who were the two-time defending premiers and the defending minor premiers, won the match 26–24 to claim their fifth premiership title, and became the first club in forty years to win three consecutive first-grade premierships, following the Parramatta Eels' three-peat from 1981 to 1983. Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary, who scored the winning try for his team, was awarded his second Clive Churchill Medal for being judged as the man of the match. The match gained significant notability for featuring the largest comeback victory in grand final history, with the Panthers overcoming a 24–8 deficit after 56 minutes by scoring 18 unanswered points to ultimately win the match.