Broncos winger, Wendell Sailor
Spectators at Brisbane’s ANZ Stadium sat in stunned silence as their Broncos’ heroes trudged from the field down 20-6 to the eighth placed Cronulla Sharks in a NRL qualifying final.
Brisbane, the runaway minor premiers, were expected to make easy work of the boys from ‘The Shire’, but with prop, Jason Stevens dominating in the rucks and David Peachey proving elusive at fullback, Cronulla scored four tries to one in a stunning 40-minute display.
Just as stunning was the second half form reversal, with the Broncos scoring 28 points to nil, with Ben Ikin scoring two tries; Lote Tuqiri, Shaun Berrigan and Gorden Tallis one each, while Darren Lockyer kicked four goals to make the final score 34-20. Tallis had scored the Broncos’ only try of the first half and was the best player on the field over 80 minutes. (He also scored the first try of the second half).
“Gorden was magnificent for us,” said coach, Wayne Bennett. “He was the only one who looked like penetrating in the first half and he kept up the good work in the second.”
Giant Wingers, Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor were like extra forwards in the age of unlimited inter-change, and they began to off-load as the Sharks’ defence tired. In the first half the Broncos had spread the ball wide without taking control in the middle and that was a recipe for disaster, giving the green light to Stevens and fellow prop, Martin Lang to dominate. Brisbane were without Test prop, Shane Webcke who was nursing a broken arm.
Tallis said the Broncos’ were such a tight knit group, they would be hard to beat for the premiership, even without Allan Langer, who was playing for Warrington in England. Kevin Walters played halfback and captained the side in 2000.
Reigning premiers, Melbourne Storm joined Cronulla as one of the two club’s eliminated in the first week of the finals, going down 30-16 to the Knights in Newcastle, with home town halfback, Andrew Johns in magnificent touch.
Parramatta thrashed the Roosters 32-8 in the third qualifying final, with Tallis describing the Eels as the team to beat for the premiership. Parramatta’s most experienced player, Jim Dymock was inspirational with the ball while the Hindmarsh brothers, Ian and Nathan defended tirelessly.
Four Canberra players were charged with dangerous tackles after the Raiders’ 28-16 win over Penrith in the other qualifying final played in the nation’s capital. David Furner and Andrew McFadden were placed on report by referee, Stephen Clark for a spear tackle on Tony Puletua, with Puletua complaining of neck soreness after the match. Jason Croker and Simon Woolford were placed on report for an almost identical tackle 90 seconds later.
Man of the Match was Canberra halfback, Brett Finch who scored a crucial try just before halftime. Canberra coach, Mal Meninga had revealed before the game he would stand down from his post at the end of the 2001 season.
About Author
