Round 9
Knights 32 d. Broncos 30

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

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

Knights edge out Broncos in classic
Mon May 8, 2006
Newcastle and Brisbane have produced some of the best games at EnergyAustralia Stadium and yesterday's match was no exception with the home side emerging two point victors in an absolute thriller.

Australia's two finest players of the last ten years Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer matched it all the way as both champions were in fine form backing up from the Test match. On Friday Johns and Lockyer combined in a special treat and two days later were going stride for stride opposing each other trying to gain the upper hand.

Johns' position as the greatest halfback the game has produced and his standing as the next Immortal are already assured and yesterday showed how important he is to the Newcastle side. Lockyer's standing as one of the top three fullbacks alongside Clive Churchill and Graeme Langlands was somewhat forgotten but highlighted perfectly when he moved back to the custodian role in Friday's Test against New Zealand where he was in his own element. Lockyer is one of the all-time great fullback's and he's proven to be an above average five-eighth who is starting to hit top form after a slow start to the season.

Newcastle coach Michael Hagan was one of the first to praise Lockyer for his performance yesterday by saying, "Darren was outstanding and likewise on Friday night in the Test. If you give the ball to him on the right part of the field at six, he's pretty hard to handle so I wouldn't be tinkering with things too much, to be honest.
"When he went to fullback in the Test after Karmichael Hunt got injured, the Kiwis were tired and Darren's a natural footy player so he was always going to be dangerous in that situation. He's made a decision that five-eighth is where he wants to play, and he seems comfortable there. He's handled it pretty well."

Brisbane jumped to an early 8-0 lead thanks to a 4th minute penalty goal from Corey Parker and a converted try to New Zealand International Tame Tupou in the 12th minute. Newcastle struck back with tries to David Seage in the 16th minute and Steve Simpson four minutes later to lead 10-8. Tupou scored his second try as the Broncos led 14-10 heading into the final stages of the opening half. Newcastle scored two tries in the final three minutes to go into the break leading 20-14 with Todd Lowrie scoring in the 37th minute and Brian Carney right on the stroke of halftime. There were suggestions that Carney's try came from a foward pass.

Carney scored his second try three minutes into the second half as Newcastle raced out to a 24-14 and looked poised for the two points. The Broncos mounted a spirited comeback scoring three tries in six minutes to regain the lead. Greg Eastwood powered his way over in the 46th minute, Darius Boyd crossed over wide out four minutes later and Lockyer raced 50m backing up a Broncos break immediately after the Boyd try.

Newcastle leveled up the scores in the 57th minute when Riley Brown scored with Andrew Johns successful with the conversion. Johns landed a penalty goal in the 63rd minute to push the Knights clear and the scores remained that way until fulltime.

Lockyer after the match said, "Near half-time our body language was a bit down because we had a couple of injuries. I'm really proud of the boys for the way we hung in there. It was a big game for us because a win would have released the pressure valve going into Origin."

Brisbane lost halfback Shane Perry (medial ligament) and interchange player Ian Lacey (calf) during the first half and both players are expected to be ruled out for sometime.

The bumper crowd of over 20,000 saw two fine champions in action and not a struck match between them.

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