Round 26
Brisbane Broncos 24 d. Newcastle Knights 2

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

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

Broncos seal 5th as Knights face nervous wait
Sat September 6, 2008
The Brisbane Broncos will head into the Finals full of confidence with an impressive 24-2 victory against Newcastle in front of 37,552 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Newcastle will be sweating on Parramatta defeating the Warriors by under 50 points when they meet at Parramatta Stadium tonight (Saturday). Should the Warriors record a victory (or even draw) or the Eels rack up a Cricket score the Knights will miss out on the Finals.

It's been a great effort by a rookie Knights outfit to be on the egde of the finals and they've been a credit to their coach Brian Smith and the entire Hunter district.

Brisbane's class and power shined through as Newcastle had no answer to the Broncos second half onslaught.

The danger signs were there in the first half and the Knights did remarkably well to trail just 6-2 at the break with the only try coming to Darius Boyd in the 19th minute.

Karmichael Hunt got the Broncos off to the ideal start in the second half crashing over to extend their lead out by eight points.

It was a piece of brilliance from Hunt that opened up the floodgates and put the Knights out of contention in the match. Hunt against the run of play swooped on a chip kick by Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen and put the Broncos firmly on the attack. Newcastle forward Steve Simpson was sin-binned for holding on in the tackle.

With Simpson off the field the Broncos scored two tries to push the lead out to 20-2. Ben Hannant crashed over in the next set of six after Simpson left the field and Boyd scored his second try just before Simpson returned.

Joel Moon scored in the final minute to extend Brisbane's lead out to 22 points, but Tonie Carroll in his final match on home soil was unable to convert.

Brisbane's victory margin could have been more with Corey Parker only landing two from five and the Broncos bombing several tries.

An impressive crowd of not much under 40,000 turned up to say goodbye to Broncos legends Carroll and coach Wayne Bennett - despite the wet weather in Brisbane during the day. Bennett addressed the crowd after the game and thanked the supporters and players for his 21 seasons at the Broncos.

Bennett has been the rock and foundation of the Broncos and his contribution can't be measured in words. Bennett earlier this year was named coach in the Queensland Team of the Century winning five full premierships with the Broncos plus one Super League title, two World Club Challenge titles, two pre-season titles and one mid-week title. Bennett before joining the Broncos coached Canberra to their maiden grand final appearance and coached Brisbane Souths to premiership success in 1985 when the BRL was regarded as a first grade competition.

Even if Newcastle make the finals next week they'll have to travel to Brookvale Oval or Olympic Park in a task that is nearly mission impossible with all possible statistics going against them.

Meanwhile, in the Toyota Cup Brisbane moved to second position with an 18-6 victory against Newcastle. The Broncos will automatically drop back a spot should there be a victor in the Warriors v Eels clash unless there's a draw. Penrith have the chance to move back into second spot should they defeat Manly. Newcastle finished well outside of the top eight in the Toyota Cup.

Discussion: Broncos v Knights

COMPREHENSIVE STATS
NRL: Broncos 24 v Knights 2
NYC: Broncos 18 v Knights 6

Rleague.com Weekend Coverage & Preview


Broncos wear heritage strip to honour Bennett
Fri September 5, 2008
Source: www.broncos.com.au

The WOW Brisbane Broncos will honour the contribution Wayne Bennett has made to the club by wearing their 2008 heritage jersey tonight.

The Broncos will run out in the jersey - an exact copy of the strip the club wore in their first match in the competition in 1988 - against Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium.

Bennett will coach the Broncos in what could be his final home match at Suncorp tonight, with Brisbane needing a victory over the Knights and the Dragons to beat the Roosters to earn fourth spot and a home semifinal next week.

Broncos' chief executive Bruno Cullen said there was justification for wearing the strip that was created for the NRL's heritage round back in April.

"It is a special night for Wayne and the club," said Cullen.

"We think wearing a jersey that is reminiscent of the first jumper the Broncos wore back in 1988 is a fitting tribute."

The club is urging fans to stay at the ground after full-time, with video tributes for Bennett and retiring lock Tonie Carroll to be shown. The pair will then address the crowd.

News Source: www.broncos.com.au

Thu September 4, 2008
• Knights take on Broncos for spot in Finals
  
Tue September 2, 2008
• Newcastle's tight hold on 8th position
  
Tue September 2, 2008
• Ennis back for Broncos
  

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