Round 3
Broncos 30 d. Eels 10

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Brisbane Broncos
Tame Tupou [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
Darren Lockyer [F8] 4 Pts; 1t
Karmichael Hunt [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
Justin Hodges [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
David Stagg [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
Michael Ennis [DH] 4 Pts; 2/5g
Corey Parker [SR] 2 Pts; 1/1g

Parramatta Eels
Michael Vella [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
Ben Smith [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Luke Burt [WG] 2 Pts; 1/2g



Lockyer and Hodges inspire Broncos victory
Mon March 27, 2006
Darren Lockyer turned the clock back a few years and Justin Hodges played his best match since his golden year of 2002 as the Broncos defeated bogey side Parramatta 30-10 at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.

Lockyer has come under heavy criticism as a five-eighth with talk that the Test captain would be moved to fullback for the Anzac Test against New Zealand in Brisbane next month. Lockyer provided the inspiration for the Broncos as they produced easily their most impressive performance for at least 12 months.

Hodges has been a controversial figure since leaving the Broncos in 2001 to sign a $200,000 a season deal with the Roosters. Hodges departure saw him dropped to the Queensland Cup by coach Wayne Bennett. He responded in 2002 by having a magnificent season at right centre and proved to be the buy of the season by the Roosters. He suffered a serious knee injury in 2003 and his 2004 never got off the ground where he returned back to Brisbane for the 2005 season.

On his form in the opening three grounds, Hodges will have to be the first centre picked for Queensland in the opening State of Origin match and yesterday showed the talent that he has when his mind is switched onto football. Hodges proved impossible for the Eels defence to stop and was the standout Broncos performer in the opening two rounds.

Parramatta coach Brian Smith yet again weilded the last minute changes, which only confused his own side in the end. Bennett maybe past his prime as a coach but Bennett's strength as a coach has always been able to focus on his own side and ignore the opposition. Smith's tactics to chop and change the side backfired badly as the Broncos looked far more settled and relaxed as the match went on.

The Eels did start the match stronger when Michael Vella showed great determination to crash over in the 7th minute with Luke Burt adding the extras for Parramatta to lead 6-0.

Two tries from Tame Tupou in the 12th and 28th minutes got Brisbane the lead, which they held until halftime. Michael Ennis was unable to convert both the tries as the Broncos led 8-6.

Karmichael Hunt created the next try for the Broncos when he found a yawning gap with Lockyer backing up on the inside to score next to the posts. Ennis converted with Brisbane out to a 14-6 lead.

Parramatta threw caution to the wind with a daring chip kick from Tim Smith finding Luke Burt into clear space. The ball was spun wide on the next tackle with a terrific bullet ball from John Morris finding Ben Smith to score in the 53rd minute. Burt missed with the conversion attempt as Brisbane held a slender 14-10 lead.

The Broncos ran in three late tries to seal victory with Hodges crossing in the 58th minute and that was followed up by Hunt in the 62nd and David Stagg in the 72nd as Brisbane ran out 30-10 victors, scoring six tries to the Eels two.

Smith named an eight-man bench and included two blokes who weren't even named on the bench. Justin Tsoulos who wasn't even named on an extended bench was promoted to the starting side with captain Nathan Cayless relegated to the bench. Michael Vella came into the starting side with starting prop Paul Stringer not playing. Luke O'Dwyer who is normally a backrower came into five-eighth for John Morris who was relegated to the bench. Peter Lewis wasn't even named in the original squad of 21 but came onto the bench.

Only PJ Marsh was one of the original reserves selected that remained on the bench. Out went Stringer and six of the nominated interchange players Dean Widders, Luke O'Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Daniel Wagon. It was all too confusing and most of all it confused the Parramatta players and never for one milli-second concerned or confused Bennett and the Broncos.

It's little wonder Bennett who maybe past his prime has won four NRL, one Super League and one BRL premierships and Smith is still on a duck.

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