Round 24
Gold Coast Titans 21 l. Brisbane Broncos 25

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Lockyer Class Topples Titans
Sat August 23, 2008
Source: www.broncos.com.au

WOW Brisbane Broncos captain Darren Lockyer has shown pure class and experience in guiding his side to a thrilling 25-21 golden point extra-time victory over the Gold Coast Titans tonight.

A heroic Lockyer, who almost didn't play due to illness, managed to pull off a miraculous play in the fourth minute of extra-time which allowed Greg Eastwood to score and seal the match for the Broncos in front of 39, 757 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett expressed his respect for Lockyer and his side which managed to fight back after trailing 14-6 at half-time.

"That's just how courageous he is," Bennett said.

"I was elated with the boys at half-time?and I knew we could win it from there."

"There's a great belief in these guys."

"There was seven sets in a row we defended on our line?that won us the game."

The Titans half-time lead of 14-6 was shortened in the 44th minute when Broncos try-scoring specialist Denan Kemp nabbed his 17th try of the season.

Corey Parker hit the post with his conversion from out wide to leave the score at 14-10.

Broncos hooker Michael Ennis (pictured) caught the Titans defence napping in the 52nd minute when he dummied and dived over to level the scores at 14-all.

Parker made no mistake with the conversion this time to give the Broncos a 16-14 lead.

A load of possession inside enemy territory eventually capitulated with Darius Boyd crossing out wide to give the Broncos a 20-14 lead in the 64th minute.

But a lack of communication from the Broncos allowed Titan Josh Graham to latch onto a dropped ball and score in the 68th minute.

Scott Prince levelled the scores at 20-all with the conversion.

A late shoulder charge penalty against Titan Ashley Harrison gave Michael Ennis the chance to kick the Broncos to a lead, but his attempt from 38metres fell well short.

Mat Rogers had everyone on the edge of their seat when his field goal attempt from 47metres out barely missed.

Darren Lockyer then nailed a field goal with his second attempt in the 77th minute to give the Broncos a 21-20 lead.

Rogers then pulled off a massive play when stripped the ball one minute later, allowing Prince to level the scores at 21-all with a textbook field goal and send the match into golden point extra-time.

Lockyer almost pulled off a miracle in the first set of extra-time, but his 50metre field goal attempt landed just metres short.

Prince then missed a field goal attempt in the next set.

Lockyer then showed why he is a league legend when he ran the ball on the last tackle and passed to Joel Moon who eventually put Eastwood over the line to give the Broncos a thrilling win.

The Broncos got off to the best start possible in the 3rd minute when ex-Panthers Peter Wallace and Joel Clinton combined to give Clinton his first try of the season.

Parker slotted a simple conversion to give the home side a 6-nil lead.

Boyd missed a golden opportunity to extend the Broncos lead when he got an unfavourable bounce after a deft kick from Wallace.

The Broncos then showcased some of their best defence, holding out a number of repeat sets on their own line.

The defence couldn't hold out forever though and nippy Titans fullback Preston Campbell finally found a hole to dance through in the 20th minute.

Prince added the extras to level the scores at 6-all.

Rogers gave his side the lead in the 30th minute when he found a gap in some tired defence and dived under the posts, allowing Prince to convert and take the score to 12-6.

A dubious penalty against Justin Hodges allowed Prince to kick the Titans to 14-6 lead at the break.

BRISBANE BRONCOS 25 (J Clinton, D Kemp, D Boyd, M Ennis, G Eastwood tries; C Parker 4 goals; D Lockyer field goal) def GOLD COAST TITANS 21 (P Campbell, M Rogers, J Graham tries; S Prince 4 goals; S Prince field goal) at Suncorp Stadium.

Referee: Ben Cummins

Crowd: 39 757

Report Source: www.broncos.com.au


Karmichael Hunt Yellow For Comeback
Fri August 22, 2008
Source: www.broncos.com.au

WOW Brisbane Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt says he will have something else to think about when he makes his return from injury against the Gold Coast Titans tonight.

Both teams will run out onto Suncorp Stadium wearing fluorescent yellow socks as part of a testicular cancer awareness campaign.

The campaign was kicked off by Titans forward Brad Meyers earlier this week, after the international had a couple of mates diagnosed with the disease.

The Broncos were happy to get on board with the intitative, and Hunt said it would give the players reason to reflect before they go out in the big derby clash.

"You are normally pretty quiet and focussed before a game of this magnitude," said Hunt, who missed the Broncos' last game with a calf muscle injury.

"But as you are putting those yellow socks on, you will certainly have something else to think about.

"While it is a massive match for us, things like this remind you that there are important things in life other than football."

As part of the Hang On To Your Mates campaign, a simple SMS number has been set up to help raise funds through "TEXTY" support, where a simple text of name and suburb raises 50 cents each time. By texting 19711223* you can help support the fight against testicular cancer too.

For donations and further information log onto: www.hangontoyourmates.com.au.

Tonight's match will kick off at Suncorp at 7.30pm, with there still over 10,000 tickets available.

News Source: www.broncos.com.au

Wed August 20, 2008
• Broncos and Titans settle CEO bet
  
Wed January 23, 2008
• Broncos v Titans switch
  

Advanced Search