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In the thick of National Rugby League grand final week, the stories come incessantly. Full circle moments, ties between rival clubs, storybook comebacks, driving criticisms, and men with a point to prove.

But when the athletes run onto the pitch at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Sunday night, no player will capture more focus than Brisbane's custodian Reece Lightning. He is a story in himself, having masterminded the miraculous comeback victory over season leaders Canberra three weeks ago with a display that was imperfect but highly engaging.

“Handsome player? Absolutely. Touch of swagger in him? Without doubt,” commented broadcaster Matty Johns this week, who had ranked the fullback's closing stages in that semi-final as – alongside Nathan Cleary in the last year's championship against the Broncos – the finest he had witnessed. But the commentator also pointed out that it must be remembered how “durable” the young star is, pointing to his energetic attacking play free of self-preservation.

And he emerged again last week, appearing as the dramatic figure who set up the equalising try facing the western Sydney side, but then admitted his weakness in passing the kicking tee – having earlier err-ed one important kick – to the veteran halfback for the dynasty ender.

Away from the game, the star has also experienced his portion of personal adversity. The fullback grew up in Nerang with his dad Rod and stepmother Jodie, and has had scarce communication with his Kiwi mother. His daughter Leila, who has been a frequent presence at Broncos games, was born in the pandemic year, but Walsh and the child's mother have since separated. That year proved notably challenging for the athlete after he was apprehended in possession of cocaine, and broke down in front of the cameras when delivering a sincere remorse.

But the player they call the speedster looks now to be in a positive space. He was brilliant in the Brisbane's unlikely surge to the last year's championship, and although the club's difficulties under the coach last year and a physical setback in the early season have proven obstacles, the fullback seems on the rise again.

His effect on the Broncos' performance this year has grown, and he has credited his progress to performance expert Jacqui Louder, who also works with the Melbourne. “She clears my mind, and she assists greatly with my mindset if I experience a particular emotion or how to approach specific situations if I'm discouraged or I'm below par,” he said.

With decorated fingertips, a celebrity appearance and a affinity with the attention (he started a vlog on the streaming site this year), Walsh is as flamboyant as they come in the rugby league. So when the Storm forward Stefano Utoikamanu said on recently he thought some of the Brisbane players were “stuck up,” it seemed obvious to guess who he was indicating.

“He suggests that because we get more fans to our games than they achieve,” Walsh responded. “There’s a lot of chatter around the Broncs that we’re show ponies and we don’t want to work hard, but it’s not until you’re part of the team that you witness how dedicated we are and how much sacrifice we give for each other.”

After an extended period of NRL dominance by the Panthers, renowned for their strong yet disciplined approach, the the upcoming championship is expected to be more open, changing course in an moment. “All it requires a short period when you’ve got an individual like the speedster, or the match-winners they’ve got in their team,” opposition star Cameron Munster said. “We need to be on full alert for 80.”

These clubs accumulated higher totals than any other during the regular season, and the fullback's danger – together with veteran organizers Adam Reynolds and the hooker – is equally countered by the Melbourne, who boast the highly regarded backline in the competition. Munster, playmaker Jahrome Hughes and dummy-half Harry Grant each have a case as the sport's top in their roles, but the star said the trio still have a mission to prove.

They are still without a title without any one of Melbourne’s “big three” of the fullback, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, the last of the three to leave the game in 2021. “I was fortunate to have the legendary group that pretty much carried me for those two premierships we won [in 2017 and 2020],” Munster said. “To be able to go through that era of the legendary group, and now be able to perhaps win one on our own would be really nice.”

The halfback said this team was ready to win. “The key factor was, a lot of people likely believed we would not triumph without those [star trio] guys, so there’s a little bit of a driving factor there.”