Brisbane Broncos 1988

[Big Pete]

So over the past few years, I've been collecting old Rugby League Annuals dating back to 1987. They're really great books and I've learned a lot from them, but since they're out-of-print and can be quite difficult to get, I thought it'd be cool to share all the Broncos related content on here. I'm going to be covering every single round of the 88 season, representative games and will include end of season summaries.

All credit to David Middleton.

I hope you guys enjoy it.

 

[Big Pete]

WINFIELD CUP ROUND 1
BRISBANE 44; MANLY 10 at Lang Park

The Brisbane Broncos turned the Rugby League world on its ear when they rampaged over the 1987 premiers Manly to win their debut match in the Winfield Cup 44-10.

The seven tries to two win was as convincing as it was surprising and bookmakers were sent rushing to revise their early season premiership season premiership markets.

Broncos captain Wally Lewis played a commanding role in the win, scoring two tries himself, laying on two others and directing the attack with incredible control.

The tributes to Lewis were glowing in the post-match wrap up, and the magnificent contribution of his team-mates seemed to be a little overshadowed.

Lock Terry Matterson, a Sydney recruit playing only his second match in first grade, scored two tries and kicked eight goals from nine attempts for a personal tally of 24 points. It was one of the finest debuts in the Winfield Cup history.

Hooker Greg Conescu, halfback Allan Langer, centres Gene Miles and Chris Johns and forwards Keith Gee and Greg Dowling were outstanding performers for the Broncos.

Manly trailled 14-6 hallftime, and were unlucky not to be closer. But in the second 40 minutes the Broncos stampeded and the premiers turned in a dismal performance.

BRISBANE 44 (Lewis 2, Matterson 2, Le Man, Noke, Kilroy tries; Matterson 8 goals) defeated Manly 10 (Shearer, Lyons tries; O’Connor goal)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Bryan Niebling, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling, Keith Gee, Brett Le Man, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Mark Hohn, Billy Noke, Craig Grauf

Manly
Dale Shearer, David Ronson, Matt Burke, Michael O’Connor, Stuart Davis
Cliff Lyons, Des Hasler
Phil Daley, Paul Vautin, Don McKinnon, Ian Gately, Noel Cleal, Owen Cunningham
Reserves: Paul Shaw

 

[Big Pete]

Round 2

BRISBANE 20; PENRITH 18 at Lang Park

The Brisbane Broncos discovered the reality of the Winfield Cup when they were forced to a desperate finish against the much improved Panthers.

Brisbane began in the same vein as their previous start against Manly and led 16-12 at halftime. But the Broncos didn’t count on the Penrith side, filled with new found resilience and competitiveness, staging a dramatic second half comeback when swept them to the lead 18-16.

The experienced men in the Broncos side helped the Winfield Cup newcomers stay steady and with 10 minutes to play former Brothers winger Joe Kilroy finished off a length of the field movement to score the matchwinning try for the Broncos.

Rival halfbacks Greg Alexander and Allan Langer played superb roles for their sides. Langer dominated centre-field with his slippery, darting runs, while Alexander plotted Penrith’s comeback bid and cover defended with class.

Broncos’ coach Wayne Bennett reminded his weary troops after the match to win in the Sydney premiership required 80 minutes of effort, not 60.

Brisbane second-rower Keith Gee was the best player in a top quality match. He overshadowed the “big guns” on both sides.

Brisbane Broncos 20 (Conescu, Langer, Gee, Kilroy tries; Matterson 2 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 18 (Goodwin, Izzard, Cartwright tries; Baker 3 goals)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Bryan Niebling, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Kerrod Walters, Mark Hohn

Penrith
David Greene, Neil Baker, Graeme Bradley, Chris Mortimer, Ken Gittins
Brad Izzard, Greg Alexander
Matt Goodwin, Royce Simmons, Peter Kelly, John Cartwright, Mark Geyer, Colin Van der Voort
Reserves: Greg Clements, Col Bentley

 

[Big Pete]

Round 3
BRISBANE 38; WESTS 4 at Orana Park

Brisbane went about their business in a cool, confident and methodical manner and were never seriously extended by the rookie Magpies.

Apart from Allan Fallah and Allen Geelan Wests fielded a team of greenhorns, and although tey showed plenty of fight, there was never much doubt that Lewis, Dowling and co. would win the day.

“King Wally” took it nice and easy, and did just enough to send the Magpies packing – a sure sign of a player in control of proceedings.

The Broncos led 16-0 after only 18 minutes and the match was as good as won. They settled back for half an hour, and were quite uninspiring before running in four more tries later in the game.

Wests desperately missed the experience of Ian Schubert, Ian Freeman and Trevor Cogger. Coach Laurie Freier said the team of youngsters was “overawared early”.

The Broncos centre import Chris Johns continued his excellent season form with two tries, while 21-year-old lock Terry Matterson contributed another 14 points to his big early season points tally.

Brisbane Broncos 38 (Johns 2, Scott, Teevan, Lewis, Langer, Matterson tries; Matterson 5 goals) defeated Wests 14 (Geelan try)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Rohan Teevan, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Mark Hohn, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: David Bourke, Bryan Niebling

Wests
Steve McCoy, John Allanson, Michael Hoy, Allen Geelan, Danny Peacock
Michael McClintock, Doug Rawlings
Scott Tronc, Allan Fallah, Dave Woods, Gary Bukowski, David Gallagher, Cameron Blair
Reserves: Wayne Simonds, Scott Gale, Ian Howcroft, Craig Teitzel

 

[Big Pete]

Round 4
BRISBANE 24; NORTHS 12 at North Sydney Oval

Norths without a win from their first three matches, fully extended the high-rolling Brisbane Broncos for 40 minutes. The Bears then fell into old habits and allowed Brisbane the simplest of wins.

At halftime it was 6-all and the Bears had made the running for 40 minutes. Brisbane scored first through elusive halfback Allan Langer but Norths responded with a spectacular against the run-of-play try that started within their own quarter.

The forgotten man of Rugby League, Kerry Boustead scored the try, giving Norths’ supporter great hope. With the scores level at the break, the North Sydney Oval crowd gave their stars a standing ovation.

But in the second half, all the worst aspects of a Bears’ bad day surfaced – panic passes, wrong options and frustrating mistakes made life easy for the Broncos and they coasted to a four tries to two win.

Wally Lewis, steered the Broncos home in a cool display, Langer added zip, and hooker Greg Conescu probed and schemed down centre field for the entire 80 minutes.

There were encouraging features for Norths, despite their fourth loss. Halfback Jamie Tuite made a useful debut, and John Dorahy, Kevin Marr, Adrian Toole and Steve Hanson showed patches of good form.

Brisbane Broncos 24 (Langer, Kilroy, Noke, Conescu; Matterson 4 goals) defeated North Sydney Bears 12 (Boustead, Teasdell tries; Dorahy 2 goals)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Rohan Teevan, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Bryan Niebling, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Mark Hohn, David Bourke, Andrew Tessmann

North Sydney
John Dorahy, Kerry Boustead, Brett French, Ian French, Andrew Fullager
Greg Florimo, Jamie Tuite
Martin Bella, Tony Rea, Steve Hanson, Adrian Toole, Gary Smith, Kevin Marr
Reserves: Gary Maguire, Fred Teasdell, Peter Martin

 

[Big Pete]

Round 5
BRISBANE 24; PARRAMATTA 18 at Lang Park

The biggest Lang Park crowd of the season to date watched a heartstopper between Parramatta and Brisbane – that finished with the Broncos alone at the top of the Winfield premiership.

The Eels, ravaged by injuries and a severe form slump in previous weeks, came out breathing fire and rattled the Broncos as no other side had managed to do.

After 20 minutes Parramatta led 12-2, but showing vast reserves of courage and coolness under pressure, the Broncos fought back to 12-10 after half an hour. A Danny Crnkovich try five minutes before the break kicked Parramatta away again, to 16-10.

A sensational duel between State of Origin halves Allan Langer (Brisbane) and Peter Sterling (Parramatta) was the highlight of the match as both probed and schemed to look for the winning edge.

Ultimately the Broncos took control, overtaking the Eels for the first time after 50 minutes and then moving to a 24-18 lead after 65 minutes.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was displeased at aspects of his side’s game, especially their poor attention to fundamentals, but praised the character and steel in the team that allowed them to resist Parramatta for the final, tension-packed 15 minutes.

Brisbane Broncos 24 (Miles, Hancock, Langer, Lewis tries; Matterson 4 goals) defeated Parramatta Eels 18 (Jackson, Wynn, Crnkovich tries; Garnon 2, Ella goals)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Mark Hohn, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Bryan Niebling, Andrew Tessmann

Parramatta
Danny Crknovich, Mark Robinson, Brett Garnon, Brian Jackson, Eric Grothe
Steve Ella, Peter Sterling
Terry Leabeater, Michael Moseley, Peter Wynn, Paul Taylor, Craig Izzard, Bob Lindner
Reserves: Tony Chalmers, Mark Clinton

 

[Big Pete]

1988 Panasonic Cup Round 1

PENRITH PANTHERS 24 defeated BRISBANE BRONCOS 10 at Parramatta Stadium

Man of the Match: Greg Alexander

 

[Big Pete]

I'll leave it there for tonight.

Here's a couple of points that I found interesting.

Over time, that Round 1 game completely over-shadowed the Broncos early run of form. In reality, it was a good second half performance and the Broncos really struggled to put a proper 80 minutes together. If anything, they were fortunate to receive a fairly comfy run in the beginning.

I always enjoy hearing guys like Keith Gee being early stand-outs. Outside of perhaps 1910 mentioning him, I've barely heard a peep about him. However, from the sounds of it, he was one of the form players in the side.

Also, I never quite figured out how the Panasonic Competition worked until I read the book. It was a mid-season competition that would open in mid-February and would last until late May. Brisbane played their first round match in early April where they evidently went down to the Panthers. Those are the only details I came across, so if anyone has anything it'd be cool to know.

 

[Brent81]

I'll leave it there for tonight.

Here's a couple of points that I found interesting.

Over time, that Round 1 game completely over-shadowed the Broncos early run of form. In reality, it was a good second half performance and the Broncos really struggled to put a proper 80 minutes together. If anything, they were fortunate to receive a fairly comfy run in the beginning.

I always enjoy hearing guys like Keith Gee being early stand-outs. Outside of perhaps 1910 mentioning him, I've barely heard a peep about him. However, from the sounds of it, he was one of the form players in the side.

Also, I never quite figured out how the Panasonic Competition worked until I read the book. It was a mid-season competition that would open in mid-February and would last until late May. Brisbane played their first round match in early April where they evidently went down to the Panthers. Those are the only details I came across, so if anyone has anything it'd be cool to know.

I can tell you that we won the Panasonic Cup in 1989. That's about it. I think it was the successor to the AMCO Cup - which used to have a combined Brisbane team in it...anyone know?

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Yeah, that was a great comp. Used to be the Tooth Cup and KB Cup. Played on a Wednesday night at Leichhardt Oval.
I think it was basically a knock-out comp and was played in quarters. Most teams played a mixture of first and reserve graders.

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[Splinter]

Played in quarters as a knock out format. I went to a couple of Combined Brisbane games at Lang Park

 

[Socnorb]

There was also the Amco shield which played as a Curtin raiser. This was made up of school teams. My school won it one year , must have been around 76. First Qld team to win anything. Was a huge deal for the whole school I think I was still in primary. Team contained . P Vautin.

 

[Big Pete]

Round 6

BRISBANE 24; NEWCASTLE 10 at Newcastle International Sports Centre

The Brisbane Broncos continued their winning charge despite a massive 30,220 crowd, nearly all of whom were there to cheer the Knights.

The Broncos, spearheaded by trump cards Wally Lewis and Greg Dowling, resisted a brave challenge by the Knights. The Queenslanders waited for all their southern rivals to make a mistake and then took control.

The conditions were abysmal, driving rain and a cold north-easterly wind – but none of it dampened the enthusiasm of a record Newcastle crowd and a 30 year record crowd by a premiership match outside the Moore Park area.

Lewis, in his inimitable style, controlled the match with his long raking kicks and his authoritative direction of play. Up front Dowling was heavily involved, taking on the keen young Knights pack who stood their ground well for most of the match.

But in the end, the Broncos, with the experience of five international had an extra edge, in a dour, muddy struggle.

Brisbane 24 (Hancock, Langer, Miles, Dowling tries; Matterson 4 goals)) defeated Newcastle 10 (Fulmer, McKiernan tries; Tew goal)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Andrew Tessmann, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Rohan Teevan, Brad Tessmann

Newcastle
Tony Kemp, Steve Fulmer, Glenn Frendo, Glenn Miller, Gavin Hanrahan
Robbie McCormack, Robbie Tew
Tony Butterfield, Tony Townsend, David Thorne, Michael McKiernan, Sam Stewart, David Boyd
[FONT=&amp]Reserves: Brett Shore, Marc Glanville[/FONT]

 

[Big Pete]

ROUND 7
BALMAIN 26; BRISBANE 18 at Lang Park

The Brisbane Broncos crashed to defeat at last in the Winfield Cup – at the hands of Balmain – in one of the season’s highest quality matches.

Balmain played with Test match intensity, lifting their game to great heights against one of the competition’s heavyweights

The Tigers’ win was well-conceived, generated through a powerful, hungry and mobile pack of forwards that overshadowed the Queensland six.

Steve Roach, Benny Elias and Paul Sironen, internationals all, outgunned their opposition. Roach comprehensively won his duel with Test prop Greg Dowling while Elias was too slick and smart for his rival, Greg Conescu.

His “dummy” to score the matchwinning try 13 minutes from the end was a magical piece of quick thinking and anticipation.

Garry Jack was superb at the back for Balmain. Late in the day he miraculously prevented Broncos’ winger Rohan Teevan from scoring by flipping him on his back over the Tigers’ line.

Allan Langer was again the pick of the Broncos.

Balmain 26 (Davidson, Jack, Gale, Elias tries; Conlon 5 goals) defeated Brisbane 18 (Teevan, Hancock, Johns tries; Matterson 3 goals)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Rohan Teevan, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Brad Tessman, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Mark Hohn, Brett Le Man

Balmain
Garry Jack, Clint Robinson, Scott Gale, Matt Parish, John Davidson
Ross Conlon, David Rowles
Bruce McGuire, Benny Elias, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, David Brooks, Kevin Hardwick
Reserves: Michael Neil, Steve Edmend, Gary Freeman

 

[Big Pete]

Round 8
CRONULLA 38; BRISBANE 8 at Caltex Field

Brisbane were sent tumbling from the Winfield Cup lead by a hot Cronulla side in by far the Broncos’ worst performance of the year so far.

Brisbane fell into error after error and never looked like overhauling a massive 18-0 headstart they allowed Cronulla after just eight minutes.

The Broncos were just a shadow of the side that a month earlier was riding high in the Winfield Cup after mighty performances against Manly, Penrith and Parramatta.

In successive defeats they had tasted the reality of tough Sydney competition, losing first, narrowly, to Balmain and then by six tries to two to the dashing Sharks.

Cronulla halfback Barry Russell turned in his third five star performance in as many weeks behind the Sharks pack. His darting, explosive runs added a new dimension to Cronulla’s attack, and the livewires Andrew Ettingshausen and Jonathan Docking were quick to capitilise.

Both players scored two tries in a day to remember at Caltex Field.

The foundation work of the forwards, notably David Hatch and Gavin Miller, inspired the younger players to great deeds.

Cronulla 38 (Docking 2, Ettingshausen 2, Davies, Coleman tries; Wilson 4, Watson 3 goals) defeated Brisbane 8 (Langer, Hancock tries)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Rohan Teevan, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Mark Hohn, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Bryan Niebling, Peter Benson

Cronulla
Jonathan Docking, Glenn Coleman, Andrew Ettingshausen, Greg Davies, Sean Watson
Michael Speechley, Barry Russell
Craig Dimond, Michael Porter, Dane Sorensen, Gavin Miller, Alan Wilson, David Hatch
Reserves: Malcolm Wheeler, Dan Stains, Ron Quinn, Guy Picken

 

[Big Pete]

ROUND 9
BRISBANE 24; EASTS 20 at Lang Park

The Broncos put together a stunning second half comeback to deny Easts their second win of the season in a thriller at Lang Park.

Down 14-0 at halftime, the Broncos surged back to lead, incredibly 24-14 just half an hour later. It was a winning break- and the Easts could do was score three minutes from fulltime to draw back to 24-20.

Brisbane played themselves back into form after two losses and a disastrous first half against Easts. The Broncos survived a punishing softening up period, but signs of weariness showed late in the first half when Easts scored three tries in 10 minutes.

Coach Wayne Bennett was forced to make changes through injury at halftime with Joe Kilroy moving to fullback for Colin Scott and Keith Gee replacing Mark Hohn. They were winning moves.

Kilroy scored the try that gave the Broncos a “sniff” of victory and was a threat every time he handled. Gee showed excellent ball skills to initate some dangerous attacking raids.

Captain Wally Lewis played his part too. He scored two second half tries to put the Broncos in an unassailable position.

BRISBANE 24 (Lewis 2, Kilroy, Matterson tries; Matterson 4 goals) defeated EASTS 20 (Wurth, Smith, Challis, McGahan tries; Smith 2 goals)

Brisbane:
Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Brett Plowman, Gene Miles, Rohan Teevan
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Andrew Tessmann, Mark Hohn, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Michael Hancock, Keith Gee

Easts
Wayne Portlock, Steve Morris, Tony Melrose, David Smith, Wayne Challis
Brendan Hall, Gary Wurth
Danny Shepherd, David Trewhella, Pat Jarvis, Mike McLean, Trevor Gillmeister, Hugh McGahan
Reserves: Laurie Spina, John Elias, David French, Peter Johnston

 

[Big Pete]

ROUND 10
GOLD COAST 25; BRISBANE 22 at Seagulls Stadium

Two and a half months and eight losses after entering the Winfield Cup, the Gold Coast Giants scored their first win.

In front of their biggest crowd and against competition heavyweights and near neighbours Brisbane, the Giants scored a famous 25-22 victory.

It was a grand final for the Giants, pumped up as never before – and they showed remarkable resilience and determination to defy a late Broncos’ challenge.

The match was close and thoroughly exciting throughout with the lead changing five times during the game.

The Giants were deserving winners, and ended nine weeks of frustration and misery where they had come so close to winning but had only a draw to show for their toil.

Billy Johnstone outplayed State of Origin hooker Greg Conescu in a tough personal duel, while Peter Smith, Chris Close and Mark Gee all turned in their best displays of the season for the Giants.

Broncos’ captain Wally Lewis was put out of the match with a shoulder injury after a punishing Ron Gibss tackle midway through the second half.

GOLD COAST 25 (Mieni 2, Close, Gibbs tries; McCarthy 4 goals; Gee field goal) defeated BRISBANE 22 (Lewis 2, Matterson, Conescu tries; Matterson 3 goals)

Brisbane:
Joe Kilroy, Rohan Teevan, Brett Plowman, Gene Miles, Chris Johns
Wally Lewis, Allan Langer
Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Andrew Tessman, Mark Hohn, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson.
Reserves: Keith Gee, Gary French, Peter Benson

Gold Coast
Troy McCarthy, Ben Gonzales, Scott Mieni, Neil Hunt, Mark Ross;
Mark Gee, Geoff Bagnall
Peter Smith, Billy Johnstone, Jim Cowell, Ron Gibbs, Chris Close, Robert Simpkins
[FONT=&amp]Reserves: Keith Neller, Greg Whitebread[/FONT]