- Breached NSW Health rules on smoking in stadiums
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.
Clive Churchill Medal winner Reece Walsh puffs on a cigar in the sheds after the Broncos won the 2025 NRL Grand Final
Smoking and vaping is outlawed by NSW Health in all stadiums except for designated area
‘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.
I just needed to do my job. I cried before last week’s game. I got to the team room before our game. I saw the boys were a little nervous and that calmed me down and I knew I had to do the job for them.’
Walsh later posted videos flaunting his premiership ring, saying, ‘There’s no rocks on this, only diamonds on this ring brah,’ and followed it up with a selfie captioned, ‘I just won a comp WTF.’
Broncos players were reportedly told to put the cigars out by staff at Accor Stadium
The players who were smoking the cigars could be fined by the NSW Government, along with the venue
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.’
