The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town. Michael Maguire drove it in on Sunday, through Canberra and right on past the gates of GIO Stadium.
Reece Walsh might as well have hopped behind the wheel for the return trip 27 minutes before full-time, given what happened in the subsequent 10 minutes.
When you headbutt Hudson Young and flip the bird at the home fans, you deserve to sit in the bus bin and watch as Kaeo Weekes runs 100 metres and scores, and greet Pat Carrigan as he climbs aboard the bus bin too, and maybe even curse Ethan Strange as he looked to have killed the game for an 11-man Broncos outfit.
But then Walsh is back on the field, and Reece Lightning becomes Reece Frightening. His next 10 minutes might be the best of his career. He inspires three tries in six minutes and 28-12 with 14 minutes to go, turns into 28-26 with five to go. And they say nothing fun ever happens in Canberra.
The blockbuster was supposed to happen next Sunday between Canterbury and Penrith at Accor Stadium. The brawl was supposed to have happened on Saturday night when the Sharks beat the Roosters and fans rumbled among themselves. The Panthers are supposed to be the story, heading towards yet another grand final fairytale after sneaking into the eight.
But Madge knows the fairytale is happening right in front of him. His eyebrows do a little dance. Then Walsh makes the crossbar do a little wiggle, and the creases on his forehead fold the other way. The Raiders hold out and win the game.
Ben Hunt delivered the telling kick.Credit: Getty Images
They throw up their arms in victory, then throw up their arms in disbelief as Walsh’s smothered left leg earns a penalty and then kicks the penalty and sends this far-fetched, feral and genuinely first-class excuse for a match to extra-time. And golden point. And when Ben Hunt finally kicks the field goal to end this mad afternoon qualifying final, it is dark and the sea of green in the stands has turned a dull, sort of sad colour.
Like the facial expression of Ricky Stuart, which screams trying to think happy thoughts about 1995, when he was a player, and the Raiders beat the Broncos the last time these two teams met in an NRL finals series. This was a chance to repeat the good times and earn a week’s rest before making more magic. But there has been no rest for the wicked, and Stuart has been fighting this fight all week, well before his minor premiers actually got anywhere near the field.
