Broncos vs Raiders 26-12 1991 Round 3 @ Lang Park
After their first real successful season for the Broncos in 1990, many felt the Broncos would build heavily
and be a real force in 1991 particularly with the addition of the axe to give their forward pack an extra punch, however the Broncos showed that while they definitely had the potential to be a real threat
they were just too inconsistent week in and week out, success however would eventually come in 1991.
Coming off a disappoint loss the Broncos were looking to bounce back against the Raiders at Lang Park.
Brisbane Broncos
1. Tony Currie
2. Brett Plowman
3. Steve Renouf
4. Chris Johns
5. Michael Hancock
6. Kevin Walters
7. Alan Langer
8. Andrew Tessman
9. Kerrod Walters
10. Gavin Allen
11. Trevor Gillmeister
12. Andrew Gee
13. Gene Miles
14. Greg Dowling
15. Terry Matterson
16. John Plath
17. Willie Morganson
Canberra Raiders
1. Darrell McDonald
2. Paul Martin
3. Mal Meninga
4. Scott Gale
5. Mark Bell
6. Matthew Wood
7. Ricky Stuart
8. Brent Todd
9. Steve Walters
10. Glenn Lazarus
11. David Barnhill
12. Gary Coyne
13. Laurie Daley
14. Phil Carey
15. Glenn Ryan
16. Brett Boyd
17. Jason Croker
First Half report
Langer kicks off for the Broncos, good first set from both the Raiders and Broncos, raiders in the second set get a great kick off deep into the Broncos second half which they managed to regain possession and deep in attack. They send the ball wide on the attack with the Broncos offside, playing advantage but Renouf manages an intercept and nobody was going to stop him but the ref calls it back.
The Raiders then decide to take the 2 from out wide and Meninga makes it 2-0 to the Raiders. Broncos get penalised next set for slowing down the play the ball and the Raiders again are attacking the Broncos side, Raiders put up a bomb which sees Plowman having to push the ball over the deadball line with pressure put on by the raiders. Langer takes the line dropout and again the Raiders are on the offensive, Broncos get a penalty for interference on a defender. Broncos first set for quiet a while but are struggling to make ground, Langer makes his trademark chip and chase which helps get them out of their half but the Raiders are definitely on top at the moment.
Broncos look better when they run straight and offload with purpose but otherwise aren't making too much metres out of their half atm. Raiders deep into the Broncos half, working well up the middle, ball movement involving Stuart, Daley, Walters, Todd and Lazarus sees a massive gap for Scott Gale to run through to score. Right next to the posts and Meninga misses! 6-0 to the Raiders and look to be in control of this match, however the Broncos put in an excellent defensive set and the Raiders give up possession from a knock on early in the tackle count. This is the Broncos best opportunity to put pressure on the Raiders, from the scrum the Broncos are making great metres, strong runs from Plowman, Allen, sees them spread it out wide for Hancock but a poor pass ruins an opportunity, the Broncos still retain possession. Tessman puts up a bomb, looks for all money McDonald the fullback for the Raiders had it covered with no pressure but he made an absolute meal of it and a line drop out to the Broncos. Broncos are looking better, Plowman makes a strong run, followed by Allen who offloads to Kevin Walters who was nearly through a half gap. Andrew Gee hits it up, gets a swinging arm though he well and truely milked it with a dive most soccer players would be proud of. Broncos decide to take the 2 through Langer of all people and nearly right in front and it hits the upright and the Raiders regather possession from poor chasing by the Broncos.
Raiders making their way out of their half, kick with Hancock chasing, brings it back and runs over Meninga and makes some great metres, Broncos are starting to look like they are getting back into this game. Langer puts up a bomb, Meninga gets a forward pass and also knocks on giving the Broncos another opportunity. Langer, to walters to johns, back to walters, dummied back to Currie who was tackled before he had the ball, McDonald is sinbinned for 5 minutes, The Broncos get marched another ten minutes and Plowman nearly over in the corner, the Broncos spread it out wide and it looks for all money Renouf was certain to score with trademark agility shown but the ball comes loose backwards from an attempted tackle and Gee picks up and dives over for a try. 6-4 to the Broncos. Langer takes the conversion and is successful, it's now 6-6 and the Broncos right from kick return are cutting the Raiders to shreds, Currie sends it to Langer who sends it to back to Currie looking for support, doesn't find anyone at first but then gets an offload to Kerrod Walters who makes a great run gets it to Hancock looking for open space. Broncos unlucky not to get a penalty for a slow play the ball, Broncos continue to cut the Raiders defence, Broncos attacking the Raiders line, Broncos jinks and looking certain to score about to ground it but Stuart kicks it out of his hands and at worst it should have been play on for which would have seen Gee score his second, pissweak decision.
To rub salt into the wounds the Raiders get a penalty from the scrum and then on the attack the raiders lose possession with a knock on but called play on and tackle restarted. Raiders get a penalty and deep on attack, daley puts in a grubber eventually but Currie takes it well. Kevin Walters looks dangerous with the ball making a good run from dummy half and the Broncos kick early in the tackle count, find grass and the raiders give up possession near the halfway line. Daley knocks the ball backwards out of Kevin Walters hands and the Raiders are back on the attack, but not long on they too cough up possession. From the scrum, Hancock, Dowling make good runs finding the Raiders offside and the Broncos deep in Raiders territory. Allen takes the first hit up followed by Dowling, Langer shifts it to Miles looking for a runner, back to langer, gets it to Johns, Kerrod had an opportunity for a try but can't take the pass. Penalty to the Raiders gets them out of trouble, looking tired the game has so far been played at a pretty fast rate and a lot of ball movement. Raiders attacking the Broncos line, Broncos probably should have been penalised for offside but aren't. Bad luck for the Raiders as they knock it on thanks to hands in the play the ball from Kerrod. Renouf goes down hurt from a tackle involving Meninga and loses possession backwards but the Raiders knock on in the process. Broncos feed and the Broncos attacking the Raiders half, Kevin Walters makes a great break, finds Currie in support but gets tackled. Kevin goes from dummy half gets it to Plowman attacking out wide gets tackled. They spread it cross field, Langer had Miles charging onto the ball but instead spread it out wide.
Kerrod Walters spreads it out wide, but Plowman can't take the loose pass. A couple of tackles later the Raiders make an absolute meal of a play the ball and the Broncos get another gift opportunity. Broncos setting up nicely testing the Raiders defence, Matterson to Langer, Langer kicks for Plowman and the ball just out with Plowman unlucky. Lots of errors but still a good match so far when both sides hold the ball. Meninga kicks, almost goes out of the full but Curries gets it, returns it but not quite to the ten metre mark, gets a penalty and Matterson kicks for touch. Broncos attacking and it looks like Kevin Walters will make a clear break but its a forward pass and only just. Broncos are playing hot potato and while it provides opportunities they are killing opportunities with poor ball security so far. Raiders on attack and Langer shows his trademark ability to pinch the ball taking pressure off the Broncos. Broncos works it up but again poor ball security sees them cough it up, Raiders could have been away but the ball travels backwards, Kevin takes the ball but is a mile offside and it's a penalty to the Raiders. Raiders on the attack and Carey gets backslammed into the ground, knocking his head, players from both sides concerned as well as the crowd. Gets to his feet looks like his in lala land and is heading to the sideline.
No penalty and its a play the ball. Stuart to Daley make a break but the Broncos manage to get the ball, too much side to side stuff till now when Renouf makes a big break down the sideline but gets ankle tapped. Gets up and passes to langer who looks for Hancock but he coughs it up, so many tries on offer for both sides but so many just gone begging. Halftime and it's 6-6, both sides too guilty of making mistakes, the side that manages to maintain possession and shows patience will win this.
2nd Half report to come.