Reece Walsh’s Golden Point Error Hands Warriors Dramatic Win Over Broncos
Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh endured a rollercoaster night in Auckland, going from brilliance to heartbreak in a dramatic 20-18 golden point loss to the New Zealand Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.
In one of the NRL season’s most intense finishes, the Warriors clinched victory after Walsh sent the golden point kick-off sailing over the dead-ball line. The costly mistake gifted the home side a penalty from halfway, which halfback Luke Metcalf slotted confidently from 50 meters out—despite having missed four earlier attempts. Assisted by a tailwind, Metcalf held his composure to seal the stunning win.
Walsh, who had been crucial to Brisbane’s late-game fightback, was visibly devastated, burying his head in his hands after the error. The 21-year-old had earlier suffered a knee knock in the opening minute, forcing a temporary switch to the wing. However, he bounced back to deliver a superb cutout pass for Jesse Arthars and later scored a try himself, grounding an Adam Reynolds kick.
Reynolds, the Broncos captain, converted both sideline goals to tie the game at 18-all, sending the match into extra time. But it was Walsh’s blunder on the first play of golden point that undid all of Brisbane’s hard work.
“That’s one of the most extraordinary golden point finishes in recent memory,” said Fox Sports commentator Warren Smith. Metcalf echoed the sentiment, recalling a golden point game in 2023 and saying, “I missed a field goal earlier, but it felt great to ice that moment tonight.”
Reynolds was gracious in defeat, commending Metcalf’s clutch performance. “It was a brave decision to take the shot and he nailed it. Credit to him,” he said, though he didn’t hold back on his assessment of the Broncos’ efforts. “We lost it in the first half. That wasn’t up to our standards.”
Brisbane struggled to capitalize on a strong wind advantage early on and were physically outmatched by the Warriors pack. Questions were raised about coach Michael Maguire’s selection, which included three hookers—Billy Walters, Cory Paix, and Tyson Smoothy—leaving the Broncos light on forwards.
Maguire acknowledged the need for sharper game management. “The effort’s there, but we need to be smarter in how we go about things,” he stated. Still, he found a silver lining in his team’s late push. “I liked the way we fought back. We gave ourselves a chance.”
For the Warriors, the win was a much-needed boost after last week’s 42-14 defeat to Melbourne. Despite missing key players like James Fisher-Harris, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, they surged to an 18-6 lead before weathering Brisbane’s rally.
Fullback Taine Tuaupiki was exceptional, notching 174 running meters from 23 carries. Marata Niukore also crossed the line in the 64th minute, seemingly sealing the result before Brisbane struck back. But it was 19-year-old debutant Leka Halasima who added extra spark, scoring a memorable try in his NRL debut.
In the end, it was a game of moments—and one moment Walsh will be desperate to forget.
