Finals Week Two
Newcastle Knights 6 l. Brisbane Broncos 50

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

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

Broncos destroy Knights
Sun September 17, 2006
Brisbane have won their first Finals match since 2002 to set themselves a showdown with the Bulldogs next Friday night to decide the first position in the Grand Final defeating Newcastle 50-6.

The Broncos were awesome in everything they did and Newcastle had no answer to Brisbane's forward power and the genius of Darren Lockyer.

Newcastle started the match well enough and had an early opportunity to register points with Andrew Johns missing a penalty goal attempt.

Brisbane slowly started to get on top and opened the scoring in the 16th minute with David Stagg scoring outwide. Lockyer landed a great sideline conversion for the Broncos to lead 6-0.

Brent Tate scored four minutes later when he crossed over from near the line after a great flick pass from Karmichael Hunt to extend Brisbane's lead to 12-0 with Corey Parker adding the extras.

Justin Hodges crossed for Brisbane's 3rd try in the 34th minute when he pounced on a well-timed grubber kick from Lockyer. Parker was again successful with the conversion to push the Broncos 18 clear.

Newcastle had a chance to score just before half-time when Brian Carney was pushed into touch. The Broncos sealed the match in the final minute of the opening half when Shaun Berrigan sliced through Johns and some lazy defence around the ruck and found Hunt in support to score under the posts.

The Knights needed a miracle in the second half but Brisbane deflated any remote chance when Parker landed a 43rd minute penalty goal.

Tries to Dane Carlaw in the 49th minute and Petero Civoniceva five minutes later pushed the Broncos well clear at 38-0.

Lockyer backed up to score in the 57th minute and Lockyer was heavily involved two minutes later creating a great try finished off by Darius Boyd. Parker converted both tries for Brisbane to lead 50-0 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Broncos pulled up stumps resting Lockyer and Shane Webcke as Newcastle finally got themselves some good field position and scored in the final stages through Kurt Gidley who was the only Knights player who could hold his head high.

Brisbane were totally awesome in everything they did and will be further confident knowing they'll be playing a side they've beaten 55-6 in two matches this year.

Newcastle have had a good season and saved their worst ever performance for the Finals stage and until their final try was heading for the biggest defeat in Finals football. Newtown's 55-7 victory over St George in 1944 still remains the largest victory.


Johns v Lockyer - Live at Aussie Stadium
Sat September 16, 2006
Tonight is the first time Rugby League champions Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer do battle on the semi-final stage after numourous duals at club and state level.

Using the word 'champion' comes very loosely but both Johns, 32, and Lockyer, 29, demand and deserve the title as champion and both have given the game excellent service on the field.

Johns' standing in the game as a future Immortal is assured and he'll be inducted in as soon as the rules permit him to be. Johns has been the Newcastle side for the last decade and his rise as a Rugby League legend has co-incided with Newcastle's rise as a Rugby League force. Johns made his debut in 1993 where he was only used as a replacement and has been a permanent fixture in the No.7 jumper since he scored 23 points in his first starting match against Souths in Round 1 of the 1994 competition.

The deeds and feats of Johns stand him alone as one of the true champions of our game. Johns has scored more points than any other player at Premiership level, he's led Newcastle to a Premiership in 2001, been an exceptional performer at representative level, been a one-man team for his club and raised the bar on many aspects of halfback play including his variety of kicks and strong front-on defence. The best ever halfback debate was always interesting between Keith Holman, Billy Smith, Tom Raudonikis, Steve Mortimer, Peter Sterling, Allan Langer and Ricky Stuart. All champion halfbacks but Johns has put the debate beyond doubt by creating his own legacy and performance. All those halfbacks brought something different to the table that made them special, Johns has brought the lot except maybe a bit of the Raudonikis raw toughness and Mortimer's speed off the mark. Yet Johns is both tough and explosive plus many more.

With Super League breaking out in 1995 Johns received his big break with Ricky Stuart and Allan Langer not considered for representative honours and he made the New South Wales and Australian sides where he has been in them ever since when available.

The only times Newcastle have missed the semi-finals since Johns has been in the No.7 were 1994 (Johns' first full year), 1996 (when Johns lost his way in the latter end of the season), 2004 (Johns only played three matches) and 2005 (Johns missed the first half of the season). Such has been Johns' influence that his presence means Newcastle are always going to be a shot at winning the title no matter who else they put on the field.

Lockyer will always be ranked lower than Johns but his achievements and honours in the game stack up very impressively.

Johns has captained Australia in just two Tests whereas Lockyer has led his country in 15 Tests and many more to come. The current record for most Tests as captain is held by Clive Churchill with 24 followed by former Queensland legends Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga with 23 each. If Lockyer continues on until the 2008 World Cup than he has a chance of breaking Churchill's record and also Mal Meninga's record of 45 Tests.

Lockyer has played 257 first grade games, 29 Tests and 24 State of Origins compared with Johns who has 245 first grade games, 21 Tests and 23 State of Origins. Lockyer has led Queensland on 10 occasions in 2001, 2004-06 and Johns has led New South Wales on six occasions in 2002-03.

Whereas Johns has always had to carry Newcastle, Lockyer who made his debut in spectacular fashion in 1995 coming on the field as a second half replacement against Parramatta turning a deficit into a 60-14 win played alongside another champion of the game. Lockyer was able to focus on his own game whilst Langer was the heart and soul of the Broncos from day one until his shock retirement in early 1999 and Langer's comeback season finale in 2002 after a successful stint with Warrington.

Lockyer has only had to carry the Broncos on his own back since 2003 and made the switch from fullback to five-eighth for the 2004 season. Johns has made his mark as a true champion in the one position and the best ever in his position whereas Lockyer has made his mark in two totally different roles. Lockyer is a better fullback and deserves his standing alongside Immortals Clive Churchill and Graeme Langlands as the best post-war fullbacks Australia has produced. Lockyer's achievements as a five-eighth stack up very well however and whilst he's no Lewis, he's certainly up there with champions from the last 20 years in Brett Kenny, Terry Lamb, Laurie Daley and Brad Fittler.

Only five players have scored 100 tries and 1,000 points at Premiership with Lockyer this year joining Lamb, Greg Alexander, Ryan Girdler and Hazem El Masri in the special club.

Strangely enough if Brisbane are to win the Premiership this year, Lockyer will become just the 3rd five-eighth in the last 60 years at least to captain his side to a Premiership. Considering there's been plenty of halfbacks naturally, hookers, props, second-rowers and even centres - it's bizzare that a key position such as five-eighth could only produce Lamb in 1995 and Fittler in 2002 that led their sides to Grand Final glory.

Only a special player can be such a success and be dominant in two totally different positions and Lockyer has done that. His standing in the game and the accolades that comes his way is richly deserving.

Rugby League fans were treated to many fine Mortimer v Sterling battles for a decade where they met on eight occasions on the Finals stage with both champions coming out with four wins each - Mortimer 1979, twice in 1984 and 1985 and Sterling twice each in 1983 and 1986. It was virtually a given that Mortimer and Sterling would apply their touches of genius at the Sydney Cricket Ground and it was something that fans of Canterbury, Parramatta and Rugby League admired. Both were different styles of halfback with Sterling a pure tradesman and controller and Mortimer who was brilliant and instinctive but could carry out a game plan. Different styles and ways but always found a way to meet in the big games.

Canberra and Brisbane dominated Rugby League in the late 1980's and through to the mid-1990's when the Raiders era came to an end. Yet Stuart and Langer only met twice at Finals level in 1990 at Sydney and in 1995 at Brisbane. The Raiders and Broncos met three times with Stuart missing the 1993 clash through injury. Canberra and Brisbane circled each other during that period without the dream Grand Final ever happening. The same is now happening with Newcastle and Brisbane.

Johns and Lockyer are the two current day champions and both Newcastle and Brisbane have been two of the most successful clubs over the last decade - yet neither club and neither player has had the opportunity to meet in a Finals match. Both sides came into the competition in 1988, both won Premierships when it was split and both have been flagship sides for the code. This is the first time they've met away from EnergyAustralia Stadium, Suncorp Stadium or ANZ Stadium and this should be a real treat for Sydney based people who appreciate the beauty and genius of our champions.

Newcastle v Brisbane should be a corker and in between that is the dual between two of the greatest players our great game has ever produced. Lockyer from Roma Cities and Johns from Cessnock. Both country boys meeting in the big smoke.

People who head out to Aussie Stadium tonight can always say that they saw Johns v Lockyer live for their clubs as many saw Sterling v Mortimer live in the 1980's and many more fine battles before and since.

Fri September 15, 2006
• Knights lose Simpson
  
Thu September 14, 2006
• Preview: Broncos v Knights
  
Tue September 12, 2006
• Gidley fullback as Knights reshuffle
  
Tue September 12, 2006
• Brisbane line up for Knights final
  

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