In a new interview with 7NEWS Australia, I look back on the 2006 grand final and explain why I believe the Brisbane Broncos are set to repeat history in 2025. I talk about the relief of that final day, what winning really takes, the mid‑season turnaround this year, and the mental side of grand final football.
Table of Contents
- Relief, not replay: memories of 2006
- That iconic image: Lockyer and me lifting the trophy
- Echoes of 2006 in 2025: a mid‑season reawakening
- The coaching thread: Maj and the Walters legacy
- Mental strength: what decides a grand final
- Payne Haas and the danger of era comparisons
- How the Broncos must win on Sunday
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Relief, not replay: memories of 2006
The last day of my career was a day of relief more than anything else. After the pressure of a grand final build‑up, the initial feeling is simply that the job everyone expected you to do is done.
Oddly, I’ve never sat down to watch that game back. Ask a lot of footballers and you’ll find the same — we’re brutally critical of ourselves. Sitting through every mistake isn’t enjoyable. For me it wasn’t about not wanting to be emotional; it was about avoiding the harsh self‑analysis that comes with watching yourself play.
That iconic image: Lockyer and me lifting the trophy
Being called up on stage by Darren Lockyer to lift the trophy is a moment I’ll never forget. To share that with a player of his calibre, and to feel the bond of years playing together, made it deeply special.
It was also the end of my career and a moment when my thoughts turned to family — to my father, who never saw that final day. Combined with the gravity of the win, it remains one of the great moments of my footy life.
Echoes of 2006 in 2025: a mid‑season reawakening
There are uncanny parallels between our 2006 run and the Broncos’ season in 2025. A mid‑season turnaround, belief growing in the playing group, and a team rediscovering what it takes to be a great club.
This year has felt like a gradual reawakening rather than a single galvanising moment. Penrith and Melbourne have built success on consistency and toughness over long periods — that’s the blueprint. I reckon the Broncos have started to find that again: consistency, hard work and a renewed identity.
Team effort beats superstar reliance
Finals aren’t won by one player. In 2006 it wasn’t just the big names — it was the Berrigans shutting down opponents, Casey McGuire’s plays, and even Shane Perry from the Q Cup. The preliminary final this year against Penrith underlined that: there wasn’t one standout Broncos performance; they won on defence.
When no single player dominates the stat sheet, it usually means the team defended and competed as a unit. Defence wins big games — that’s the lesson they must carry into Sunday.
The coaching thread: Maj and the Walters legacy
Credit should be shared. While Kevin "Kevy" Walters built the structure and assembled the team and staff that pushed to a grand final just two years earlier, Nick "Maj" has brought his own touches and helped rediscover consistency this season.
The story of this year isn’t a simple split between coaches. Kev assembled foundations; Maj refined and steered the team through a season of renewal. Both played their part in getting the Broncos to this point.
Mental strength: what decides a grand final
At the end of the day, grand finals are won between the ears. These two teams are physically comparable; the difference is who handles the pressure best.
In my day Wayne Bennett was masterful at settling players — teaching us to switch off the noise and focus. The old adage applies: you cannot play the game until you play the game. Clubs now try to remove external noise by camping and isolating, but social media and phones have made the noise almost internal. Whoever manages that best will lift the trophy.
Payne Haas and the danger of era comparisons
Payne Haas is an exceptional player — I already think he’s surpassed many in my era. If he wins a grand final it will be a major milestone in his career, and the frightening part is he’s still only just getting started.
Comparing players across eras is fraught. Achievements, grand finals and context matter. Haas’ body of work will keep growing, but his performance in a grand final will certainly be seen as a defining chapter.
How the Broncos must win on Sunday
My advice is simple: start well and be mentally prepared. The Broncos have relied on come‑from‑behind wins, but that can’t be the plan when energy and margins are thin. The keys are:
- Start the game with intensity and control.
- Defend as a unit — defend like they did to survive the preliminary final.
- Switch off external noise and keep mental focus.
- Trust the team structure and the depth assembled over recent seasons.
Conclusion
The 2006 win was special, and the parallels to 2025 are real. Belief, grit, defence and mental strength are the foundations of big‑game success. If the Broncos bring those ingredients, they’ve got every chance to repeat what we achieved in 2006.
FAQ
Q: Do you ever watch the 2006 grand final back?
A: No. I’m critical of my own performances and prefer not to relive it on screen.
Q: What was the most memorable moment from that day?
A: Being called up by Darren Lockyer to lift the trophy — sharing that moment with him and thinking of family made it deeply emotional.
Q: What turned the Broncos' season around in 2025?
A: It wasn’t a single turning point. It felt like a gradual rediscovery of consistency, hard work and team identity under the coaching group.
Q: Who deserves credit for the Broncos’ success?
A: Both Kevin Walters for assembling much of the side and structure, and Maj for his coaching and touches this season — it’s a combined effort.
Q: What will decide the grand final?
A: Mental strength. Both teams are physically similar; the team that handles pressure, blocks out noise and executes under stress will prevail.
