The Broncos might have enjoyed the perfect NRL grand final day, but it’s not the only thing the club has to celebrate right now.
Brisbane claimed both the NRL and NRLW premierships at Accor Stadium yesterday on a flawless day.
Those on-field successes have now spilled off the field, with the club’s value soaring by about $50 million.
The Broncos are an outlier in the NRL as the only team listed on the Australian stock exchange, meaning investors can buy and sell shares in the company.
Today, traders were doing plenty of the former, helping drive the share price up from its previous close of $1.32 to more than $2, although it has since fallen back to the mid $1.80s as of 3pm (AEDT).
It’s made the Broncos one of the top performers on the entire ASX today.
That has seen the value of the club surge by about $50 million in the space of a day, with its market capitalisation rising from a tick under $130 million to $180 million.
It’s a major increase from the start of the year, when its value was sitting at around $90 million.
The majority of Broncos shares – just under 70 per cent – are held by News Corp, which limits how much the company is actually traded on the ASX.
Because of that, the company has previously said its share price hasn’t been an accurate reflection of its true value.
The Broncos defeated the previously undefeated Sydney Roosters 22-18 to claim the NRLW premiership yesterday afternoon, before a Reece Walsh masterclass propelled the men’s side to a 26-22 win over the Melbourne Storm, and with it the club’s first NRL premiership since 2006.
Brisbane Broncos players face fines for lighting up cigars as part of NRL premiership celebrations
The Brisbane Broncos’ long-awaited premiership celebrations have taken a dramatic turn and could now land the club in trouble.
After storming home from a 22–12 halftime deficit to stun the Melbourne Storm and secure their first NRL title since 2006 on Sunday night, the Broncos let loose in the sheds at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Players donned ski goggles, sprayed champagne, and lit cigars as they celebrated the historic win in scenes reminiscent of NBA great Michael Jordan’s championship rituals.
But according to News Corp, stadium staff were forced to step in and ask players to extinguish the cigars, warning the team could face a fine for smoking inside the venue.
Under NSW’s Smoke-Free Environment Act 2000, individuals can be hit with on-the-spot fines of $300 for smoking in spectator areas, while venue operators risk penalties up to $5,500 for allowing it or failing to display appropriate signage.
Accor Stadium’s official website states: ‘Smoking and vaping in the seating bowl and other public areas of the Stadium is not permitted.
‘There are dedicated smoking and vaping areas available. For directions to these designated smoking areas, please see a stadium staff member.’
Despite the looming fine, the mood in the Broncos’ camp was euphoric.
The celebrations continued late into the night, with the team spotted at The Star Casino before returning to their hotel around 7am ahead of their flight home to Brisbane.
Star fullback Reece Walsh, who hadn’t touched alcohol all year, stole the show with his emotional post-game interview and social media antics.
‘I’m on top of the world right now,’ Walsh told Channel 9.
‘Look at the people in this room right now. This is the reason why we turn up. I’m just so grateful.
His performance in the grand final has already been hailed as one of the greatest in NRL history.
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer told Nine’s Today: ‘It was incredible. I’ve never seen a performance by an individual on a big stage like that ever, and I don’t think we’ll see another one for a long time.
‘He had a hand in every Broncos try. He scored that incredible individual try and he saved four tries. It’s just a phenomenal performance from him.
‘We talk about his flashiness and his flair. But last night he played tough and it was a complete performance, incredible.’
Rugby league commentator Phil Gould also joined the chorus of praise, saying:
‘It’s one of the more extraordinary individual performances from a player in a big game.
What Reece Walsh did tonight … he set up tries, he scored tries.
That’s incredible. He’s a superstar.
It’s the best individual performance I’ve seen from a player in a big game.’
