A decade after a handling error gifted the 2015 premiership to the North Queensland Cowboys, Brisbane Broncos veteran Ben Hunt has delivered his team a home preliminary final in dramatic circumstances.
Hunt slotted the match-winning golden point field goal in the 94th minute of a crazy match at GIO Stadium, breaking a 28-28 deadlock—and Raiders hearts in the process.
The Broncos looked dead and buried trailing 28-12 in the 55th minute, before an inspired spell from star fullback Reece Walsh saw the Broncos close to 26-28 in the final minutes.
On the final play of regular time, a blocked Reece Walsh field goal attempt appeared to deliver a two-point victory to the Raiders, however on review by the bunker Raiders forward Zac Hosking was ruled to have made contact with Walsh’s leg.
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The ensuing penalty was converted, locking the qualifying final at 28-28 at the end of 80 minutes.
After an intense 10 minutes of extra time the deadlock remained, sending one of the most chaotic NRL finals in memory beyond the 90-minute mark and into golden point.
‘It couldn’t happen to a better bloke’ says Michael Maguire
In the 93rd minute, the Raiders once again thought they’d clinched victory when Jamal Fogarty crossed following a contested bomb—but once again the bunker intervened, this time ruling the slightest of knock ons from Raiders winger Jed Stuart in the lead-up.
Barely a minute later the Broncos had surged up field and Hunt seized his moment, slotting the winning field goal thanks to a deflection off the right upright in a final dramatic twist to a truly remarkable match.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire was delighted for his veteran halfback after the game acknowledging the long, and at-times painful, history that preceded Hunt’s match-winning moment.
“It couldn’t happen to a better bloke,” Maguire said.
“You obviously go through a lot as a player in your career, and he’s obviously been through plenty, to see him standing there at the end with his arms up and the players being around him, they’re special moments.”
The Broncos move on to host a preliminary final in week three of the NRL finals at Suncorp Stadium, while the Raiders will face the Sharks at GIO Stadium next weekend.
WHAT A GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/6jlgSmqQdJ
— NRL (@NRL) September 14, 2025