Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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I was reading a book today and it had the best & worst days of every club, and I thought I would post the Broncos best & worst days.
Brisbane Broncos - Best Days (1988-2013)
1. September 27, 1992 - Premiership hijacked to Queensland
The international-laden Broncos entered the premiership in 1988 immediately burdened with sky-high expectations, but missed the finals in three of their first four seasons. However, coach Wayne Bennett's strength in his convictions, the brilliance of Allan Langer, the Walters twins and Steve Renouf, and the astute recruitment of forwards Glenn Lazarus and Trevor Gillmeister bore fruit in '92. The Broncos were runaway minor premiers and duly despatched Illawarra in the major semi to qualify for their maiden Grand Final before producing one of the most dominant performances of all time to rout St George 28-8 in the decider. Captain Langer and nuggety second-rower Alan Cann bagged doubles, while Renouf iced the result with a length-of-the-field try, sparking wild celebrations as the premiership trophy headed north of Sydney for the first time.
2. October 1, 2006 - Sixth Grand Final the sweetest of them all
The Broncos became renowned for their late season fade-outs during the first half of the 2000's, and were headed for a similarly meek exit in '06 before embarking on a stirring revival in the latter rounds and staging a phenomenal preliminary final comeback to sink the Bulldogs. Brisbane entered the Grand Final as underdogs for the first time against minor premiers Melbourne, but the guile of captain Darren Lockyer and a committed all-round team performance set the platform for a tense 15-8 victory, sending retiring club legend Shane Webcke out a winner.
3. September 27, 1998 - Best of the best
Stung by claims they had only won half a premiership by taking out the 1997 Super League title, the Broncos set about proving they were the best team in the land by winning the inaugural NRL competition. Brisbane's path to the minor premiership included an emphatic 26-6 away defeat of ARL champs Newcastle, while they swamped Melbourne and the Roosters in the finals on their way to the decider. Trailing Canterbury 10-12 at the break in the Grand Final, the Broncos' overwhelming class - including backline guns Langer, Walters, Lockyer, Renouf and Sailor, and the engine-room trumps Tallis, Webcke and Carroll - ultimately told with a 28-point second-half shutout. Langer became the first skipper to hoist the NRL trophy following Brisbane's emphatic 38-12 victory.
4. September 17, 2011 - Locky's courageous last act at Suncorp
The Broncos were overwhelming favourites to dispose of St George Illawarra in week two of the 2011 finals and led throughout, but couldn't land the killer blow. The 48,474-strong Brisbane crowd held it's collective breath when skipper Darren Lockyer, making his final appearance at the ground, was left dazed after colliding with airborne Broncos fullback Gerard Beale, while the Dragons scored late to send the match into golden point. Lockyer played on with a fractured cheekbone, and in just the second minute of extra-time snapped a brilliant field goal under immense pressure to see the Broncos home 13-12. He was mobbed by teammates as the crowd went berserk - a spine-tingling moment that would turn out to be Lockyer's last in a Brisbane jumper when he was eventually forced to withdraw from the preliminary final.
5. March 6, 1988 - Astonishing premiership debut
Fielding six Test players and a further two Origin reps in their starting line-up meant the Broncos were under pressure to perform from day one - and they lived up to expectations in spectacular fashion in their premiership debut in the opening round of 1988 at Lang Park. Brisbane obliterated defending premiers the Manly Sea Eagles (who contained seven Test stars themselves) to the tune of 44-10. Broncos captain Wally Lewis was at his masterly best, scoring two tries, while unheralded ex-Roosters lock Terry Matterson notched 24 points, a club record that stood for 14 years. The Broncos won their first six games before fading out to miss the finals.
Brisbane Broncos - Worst Days (1988-2013)
1. April 28, 1999 - 'Alfie' quits
The Broncos began their defence of the inaugural NRL premiership in disastrous fashion, losing their first five games in 1999 with several superstars battling to find form. In an unprecedented act by coach Wayne Bennett, captain and perpetual linchpin Allan Langer was benched during a jammy draw with North Queensland. The brilliant halfback, who had played for Australia just two days before the Cowboys clash, announced his immediate retirement the following Wednesday in a tearful press conference, citing his loss of enthusiasm for the game. The Broncos rallied to reach the finals, while Langer made an admirable comeback with the club in 2002.
2. September 20, 2008 - Semi-final heartbreaker ends Bennett's tenure
Following a qualifying final victory over the Roosters, the Broncos were rocked by a police investigation into sexual assault allegations levelled at rep stars Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd ahead of their semi-final showdown with defending champs Melbourne Storm, who had been shock week-one losers to the Warriors. With the off-field crisis, coach Wayne Bennett's impending departure and the 50,466-strong Suncorp Stadium lifting the atmosphere to fever pitch, the archrivals staged one of the most absorbing and dramatic finals matches of all time. Underdogs Brisbane led throughout and held a two-point advantage in the dying minutes, but match-sealing tries to Boyd and Ben Hannant were denied by the video referee. An error by Ashton Sims then gifted the Storm possession deep in Broncos territory, and Greg Inglis dived over out wide with 30 seconds remaining to snatch a 16-14 win. Most Broncos lay slumped on the turf, while captain Darren Lockyer's anguished screaming remains one of the most poignant post-match scenes in recent memory.
3. August 1, 2009 - Capital punishment
Life after Wayne Bennett must have seemed like a dark and scary place for the Broncos following their Round 21 trip to Canberra in 2009. The Raiders, languishing in 14th spot, subjected the visitors to a 10-try, 56-0 drubbing - a club-record defeat and Brisbane's seventh in eight games. After being given a bath by the media and supporters in the days that followed, the Ivan Henjak-coached Broncos won their next seven matches to reach the preliminary final stage.
4. September 21, 2011 - Lockyer pulls out of preliminary final
Following Darren Lockyer's heroic golden point field goal in the semi-final eclipse of St George Illawarra, attention turned to the retiring skipper's race against the clock to be declared fit for the preliminary final showdown with Manly. He had surgery to insert three titanium plates into his fractured cheekbone, and each passing day seemed to deliver a different theory on the likelihood of his availability. Lockyer took a helicopter flight to Sydney two days before the game to protect the injury from the air pressure of commercial aeroplane travel, but made the agonising decision to pull out the following day. The gallant but rudderless young Broncos went down 26-14 to the Sea Eagles, ending Lockyer's glittering career with the club.
5. September 10, 1994 - Three-peat quest halted by Bears
Two-time premiers Brisbane had struggled for consistency throughout 1994, failing to win more than two games in a row during their first 17 rounds. But the star-studded glamour club built some nice momentum heading into the finals and emphatically despatched Manly in the opening week of the post-season. The September specialists met long-suffering Norths in the minor semi final and started overwhelming favourites. Despite falling 10 points behind, the Broncos levelled at 14-all early in the second half and were dominating field position and possession, but could not land the go-ahead score. A field goal by Bears halfback Jason Taylor with six minutes remaining consigned the frustrated Broncos to a 15-14 defeat, ending their premiership reign.
Do you agree with this list?
Brisbane Broncos - Best Days (1988-2013)
1. September 27, 1992 - Premiership hijacked to Queensland
The international-laden Broncos entered the premiership in 1988 immediately burdened with sky-high expectations, but missed the finals in three of their first four seasons. However, coach Wayne Bennett's strength in his convictions, the brilliance of Allan Langer, the Walters twins and Steve Renouf, and the astute recruitment of forwards Glenn Lazarus and Trevor Gillmeister bore fruit in '92. The Broncos were runaway minor premiers and duly despatched Illawarra in the major semi to qualify for their maiden Grand Final before producing one of the most dominant performances of all time to rout St George 28-8 in the decider. Captain Langer and nuggety second-rower Alan Cann bagged doubles, while Renouf iced the result with a length-of-the-field try, sparking wild celebrations as the premiership trophy headed north of Sydney for the first time.
2. October 1, 2006 - Sixth Grand Final the sweetest of them all
The Broncos became renowned for their late season fade-outs during the first half of the 2000's, and were headed for a similarly meek exit in '06 before embarking on a stirring revival in the latter rounds and staging a phenomenal preliminary final comeback to sink the Bulldogs. Brisbane entered the Grand Final as underdogs for the first time against minor premiers Melbourne, but the guile of captain Darren Lockyer and a committed all-round team performance set the platform for a tense 15-8 victory, sending retiring club legend Shane Webcke out a winner.
3. September 27, 1998 - Best of the best
Stung by claims they had only won half a premiership by taking out the 1997 Super League title, the Broncos set about proving they were the best team in the land by winning the inaugural NRL competition. Brisbane's path to the minor premiership included an emphatic 26-6 away defeat of ARL champs Newcastle, while they swamped Melbourne and the Roosters in the finals on their way to the decider. Trailing Canterbury 10-12 at the break in the Grand Final, the Broncos' overwhelming class - including backline guns Langer, Walters, Lockyer, Renouf and Sailor, and the engine-room trumps Tallis, Webcke and Carroll - ultimately told with a 28-point second-half shutout. Langer became the first skipper to hoist the NRL trophy following Brisbane's emphatic 38-12 victory.
4. September 17, 2011 - Locky's courageous last act at Suncorp
The Broncos were overwhelming favourites to dispose of St George Illawarra in week two of the 2011 finals and led throughout, but couldn't land the killer blow. The 48,474-strong Brisbane crowd held it's collective breath when skipper Darren Lockyer, making his final appearance at the ground, was left dazed after colliding with airborne Broncos fullback Gerard Beale, while the Dragons scored late to send the match into golden point. Lockyer played on with a fractured cheekbone, and in just the second minute of extra-time snapped a brilliant field goal under immense pressure to see the Broncos home 13-12. He was mobbed by teammates as the crowd went berserk - a spine-tingling moment that would turn out to be Lockyer's last in a Brisbane jumper when he was eventually forced to withdraw from the preliminary final.
5. March 6, 1988 - Astonishing premiership debut
Fielding six Test players and a further two Origin reps in their starting line-up meant the Broncos were under pressure to perform from day one - and they lived up to expectations in spectacular fashion in their premiership debut in the opening round of 1988 at Lang Park. Brisbane obliterated defending premiers the Manly Sea Eagles (who contained seven Test stars themselves) to the tune of 44-10. Broncos captain Wally Lewis was at his masterly best, scoring two tries, while unheralded ex-Roosters lock Terry Matterson notched 24 points, a club record that stood for 14 years. The Broncos won their first six games before fading out to miss the finals.
Brisbane Broncos - Worst Days (1988-2013)
1. April 28, 1999 - 'Alfie' quits
The Broncos began their defence of the inaugural NRL premiership in disastrous fashion, losing their first five games in 1999 with several superstars battling to find form. In an unprecedented act by coach Wayne Bennett, captain and perpetual linchpin Allan Langer was benched during a jammy draw with North Queensland. The brilliant halfback, who had played for Australia just two days before the Cowboys clash, announced his immediate retirement the following Wednesday in a tearful press conference, citing his loss of enthusiasm for the game. The Broncos rallied to reach the finals, while Langer made an admirable comeback with the club in 2002.
2. September 20, 2008 - Semi-final heartbreaker ends Bennett's tenure
Following a qualifying final victory over the Roosters, the Broncos were rocked by a police investigation into sexual assault allegations levelled at rep stars Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd ahead of their semi-final showdown with defending champs Melbourne Storm, who had been shock week-one losers to the Warriors. With the off-field crisis, coach Wayne Bennett's impending departure and the 50,466-strong Suncorp Stadium lifting the atmosphere to fever pitch, the archrivals staged one of the most absorbing and dramatic finals matches of all time. Underdogs Brisbane led throughout and held a two-point advantage in the dying minutes, but match-sealing tries to Boyd and Ben Hannant were denied by the video referee. An error by Ashton Sims then gifted the Storm possession deep in Broncos territory, and Greg Inglis dived over out wide with 30 seconds remaining to snatch a 16-14 win. Most Broncos lay slumped on the turf, while captain Darren Lockyer's anguished screaming remains one of the most poignant post-match scenes in recent memory.
3. August 1, 2009 - Capital punishment
Life after Wayne Bennett must have seemed like a dark and scary place for the Broncos following their Round 21 trip to Canberra in 2009. The Raiders, languishing in 14th spot, subjected the visitors to a 10-try, 56-0 drubbing - a club-record defeat and Brisbane's seventh in eight games. After being given a bath by the media and supporters in the days that followed, the Ivan Henjak-coached Broncos won their next seven matches to reach the preliminary final stage.
4. September 21, 2011 - Lockyer pulls out of preliminary final
Following Darren Lockyer's heroic golden point field goal in the semi-final eclipse of St George Illawarra, attention turned to the retiring skipper's race against the clock to be declared fit for the preliminary final showdown with Manly. He had surgery to insert three titanium plates into his fractured cheekbone, and each passing day seemed to deliver a different theory on the likelihood of his availability. Lockyer took a helicopter flight to Sydney two days before the game to protect the injury from the air pressure of commercial aeroplane travel, but made the agonising decision to pull out the following day. The gallant but rudderless young Broncos went down 26-14 to the Sea Eagles, ending Lockyer's glittering career with the club.
5. September 10, 1994 - Three-peat quest halted by Bears
Two-time premiers Brisbane had struggled for consistency throughout 1994, failing to win more than two games in a row during their first 17 rounds. But the star-studded glamour club built some nice momentum heading into the finals and emphatically despatched Manly in the opening week of the post-season. The September specialists met long-suffering Norths in the minor semi final and started overwhelming favourites. Despite falling 10 points behind, the Broncos levelled at 14-all early in the second half and were dominating field position and possession, but could not land the go-ahead score. A field goal by Bears halfback Jason Taylor with six minutes remaining consigned the frustrated Broncos to a 15-14 defeat, ending their premiership reign.
Do you agree with this list?
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