Raiders and Broncos are still reckoning with the legacy of a classic
It's almost one year since Canberra and Brisbane met in the game of a lifetime and both sides are still learning to live with the fallout of perhaps the greatest match they'll ever play against one another.
Canberra and Brisbane are facing the legacy of a historic match from last year, which took place in the 94th minute of a semi-final. The Broncos emerged victorious, winning 29-28, but this victory holds significant emotional weight for both teams. The Broncos, who had gone 30 years without making the top four, won their first-ever grand final in 2026, a triumph that marked their greatest escape and their most cathartic moment since a 2023 grand final loss.
Meanwhile, Canberra had their wave break hard and a tsunami of other losses follow. Both teams have struggled to cope with the aftermath of this match, which has led to injuries, roster changes, and questions about their futures. The Broncos, however, still have a chance to play out a memorable home farewell for their modern-day favourite son, Josh Papalii.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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