NRL grand final live: Reece Walsh dominates epic decider as Brisbane come back to beat Melbourne

No surprises here.

The Brisbane dynamo was clearly the best player on the ground.

He made three try-saving tackles, including the crucial one in the final minute of the game, and was everywhere in attack for the Broncos, including a freakish 31st-minute try.

The 23-year-old was almost lost for words on the stage, but still managed to get in a cheeky comment to finish with.

“Plumber out,” he said, referencing his infamous toilet water incident.

Walsh came under fire during last month for filming himself drinking toilet water, claiming in jest that it aids muscle recovery.

It forced the furious Broncos to release a statement explaining Walsh’s “poor attempt at humour”.

True to the cheeky character he is, Walsh then stirred the pot even further by changing his Instagram profile picture to a photo of him wearing a plumbing uniform.

Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

I am lost for words!

That is one of the greatest sporting games I’ve ever witnessed.

From 10 points down, the Broncos have won their seventh premiership.

Adam Reynolds becomes just the fourth Brisbane captain to lift the trophy, and Michael Maguire does it in his first year.

From 13th position on the ladder half way through the season, they’ve gone all the way to the premiership.

And what a game from Reece Walsh.

He made a game-saving tackle on the second last play of the game when Melbourne threatened to break through for a match-winning try.

Jahrome Hughes hurt his knee on the last tackle of the game, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway - there was no getting through Brisbane’s defence in that second half.

A fracas broke out between the two teams after the last-minute drama, but play quickly resumed and the Broncos turned the ball over to put a stop to one of the great NRL grand finals of all time.

H2 2.06 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

Trent Loiero is going to finish the grand final in the bin for a high shot.

He’s been sent off with two minutes to go.

The Broncos can nearly touch it.

H2 2.34 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

Is that the premiership for Brisbane?

Xavier Coates has been taken over the sideline 10 metres out from the tryline, denying him a chance to level the scores.

Just moments later, a fracas has broken out.

This is one of the all-time great NRL grand finals.

H2 8.29 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

Brisbane veteran Ben Hunt has been knocked out cold in a concerning scene.

The Broncos star crashed into the turf after a hit to the head but wanted desperately to get up.

He rose to his feet but staggered 10 metres towards the sideline when Reece Walsh stopped him from falling back on his face.

A trainer rushed out to the pair and took hunt off the ground.

His game is done for sure.

Hunt showed Category 1 symptoms as soon as he got off, so he’s out.

Brisbane are now without their two most experienced players for the last eight minutes.

Josiah Karapani is unlikely to play any further part in the game as he undergoes a HIA down in the rooms.

H2 12.27 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

Ryan Papenhuyzen broke through the line to make a thrilling run but had his backhand flick picked off by Reece Walsh.

That was thrilling.

There are 80,223 in the house tonight!

What a crowd.

H2 21.19 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 26

Melbourne are rattled here.

The Broncos have scored again and they now LEAD!

The comeback kings are doing it again.

“They haven’t had the ball for the past 10 minutes, it’s been all Broncos,” Billy Slater said.

“They need to settle.”

Andrew Johns added: “They look a bit shellshocked.”

H2 23.51 - Melbourne 22 Brisbane 20

Brisbane will not lay down!

And who else but Reece Walsh? The Brisbane superstar has scored for the Broncos, dragging his side back to within two points.

But he couldn’t convert his own try in the absence of Reynolds.

“This is a grand final right out of the box,” Mat Thompson said.