Broncos leave it late to seal finals spot

Updated September 01, 2012 05:23:59

Brisbane snapped a six-game losing streak to sneak into the finals courtesy of a 19-12 victory over the Panthers at Lang Park on Friday night.

Needing a victory to secure their spot in the top eight, the Broncos had to wait until an Alex Glenn try in the 76th minute to put a gallant Penrith away.

Half-back and man-of-the-match Peter Wallace sealed the deal with a field goal from 30 metres out with just over a minute left.

Only an unlikely, massive win by the ninth-placed Tigers over the Storm on Saturday night can knock the Broncos out of the finals.

"It's been a tough road, I'm just so grateful that we could get ourselves over the line tonight," Civoniceva told Grandstand.

"It's a start of a new competition next week. We'll regroup and get ready for the challenge."

Civoniceva said the Brisbane forward pack was tremendous in helping turn around a shocking run for Brisbane.

"It was just a matter of holding strong and keeping our confidence," he said.

"It's fantastic the way we have held it together.

"There were some tough times there no doubt, but we have regrouped. Now all we can do is focus on next week."

Brisbane can finish as high as seventh if the Raiders lose to the Warriors in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.

But it is more likely the eighth-ranked Broncos will travel to Townsville to meet the fifth-ranked North Queensland in an elimination final next weekend.

And Anthony Griffin's men will have to perform a lot better than they did against the 17th-placed Panthers if they stand any chance against Johnathan Thurston's high-octane Cowboys outfit.

While the Broncos defence was impressive for most of the evening, it failed to defuse a Luke Walsh cross-field kick that landed in the lap of five-eight Lachlan Coote to level the scores at 12-12 in the 70th minute.

Earlier in the second half, only some outstanding work by the in-form Justin Hodges and Ben Te'o got Brisbane on the scoreboard and into a six-point lead after Penrith held a 6-0 advantage going into half-time.

Prior to that, Wallace and halves partner Corey Norman struggled to orchestrate a way through the Penrith defensive line despite quality field position and a high completion rate.

The aggressive Hodges always looked most likely, and it was the veteran centre's line break and off-load to Wallace five minutes after the restart that got Brisbane's ball rolling.

Te'o continued his rich vein of try-scoring form seven minutes later, when he yet again proved unstoppable from 10 metres out.

Penrith had its fair share of attacking chances and threatened the spoil the party when Coote crossed, but Norman saved his best for last with a lovely, flat ball for Glenn to race through a yawning gap and over the line to effectively ice the contest.

Broncos centre Jack Reed said Brisbane did well to keep its composure after trailing at half-time.

"The enthusiasm was there from the boys, we just had to slow our heads down a little bit and take it to the line and play it a bit squarer, which our halves did in the second half and it worked out," he said.

Broncos: 19 (P Wallace, B Te'o, A Glenn tries; Wallace 2/2, Norman 1/1 cons; Wallace field goal)

Panthers: 12 (J Mansour, L Coote tries; L Walsh 2/2 cons)

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, penrith-2750, nsw

First posted August 31, 2012 21:29:46

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Cleary to leave Warriors for Penrith

Updated June 29, 2011 14:19:00

Ivan Cleary will leave the Warriors at the end of the NRL season to take on the head coaching position at Penrith for the next three years.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah announced that despite Cleary still having a year to run on his contract, both parties had agreed on an early release.

New Panthers general manager of football Phil Gould pursued Cleary after Matt Elliott was told two months ago he would not be retained at the club for next season.

Scurrah revealed the Warriors initially closed the door on the possibility of granting Cleary an early release, but changed their mind after deciding they could not guarantee him the same long-term job security that Penrith was offering.

"While we were discussing the potential to extend Ivan's contract over the last week, it became apparent to both parties that Ivan had a chance to secure his long-term coaching career with Penrith immediately and that we were not in a position at the moment to guarantee a similar term," Scurrah said.

"Given the circumstances, it also became clear to both of us that it wouldn't have been in anyone's interests for Ivan to fulfil the last year of his contract with the Warriors when he had an immediate opportunity offering him significant security elsewhere."

Cleary, who finished his playing career with the Warriors, holds the record as the club's longest-serving NRL coach.

He said he was grateful to the Warriors for the opportunity they had given him when he was handed the first-grade coaching reins in 2006.

"This club means a lot to me and always will, having finished my playing career here and then having the chance to coach at first-grade level," he said.

"I feel we're now in great shape on and off the field and we're highly-respected throughout the NRL.

"I'm grateful I've now been given the opportunity to take on a new challenge but before then there's much to be done.

"After today's announcement, my total focus will be on working together with the staff and players to ensure the Warriors are the best they can be for the rest of this season.

"I won't be talking about anything beyond the 2011 season."

Scurrah said both parties were keen to make an announcement as soon as possible, with the Warriors still in finals contention.

Cleary's appointment rules out Penrith caretaker Steve Georgallis from assuming the role full-time next season - despite Georgallis recording a win in his first NRL assignment against the Cowboys last week.

Cleary scored 439 points in 53 matches for the Warriors from 2000-2002 and finished his career with the 2002 grand final against the Sydney Roosters.

He will bring up his 150th game in charge of the club in the last round of the regular season against North Queensland at Mt Smart Stadium.

Gould said Cleary's recruitment was a major boost for the rebuilding Panthers and thanked the Warriors for their handling of the matter.

"This is a wonderful result for the club and marks the beginning of a new era for the Penrith Panthers," Gould said in a statement.

"Ivan has enjoyed an outstanding career in rugby league, proving himself to be a player and coach of the highest standards.

"Ivan's character, professionalism and experience made him the perfect candidate for this important position at the Panthers."

Gould coached Cleary at the Sydney Roosters back in the 1990s.

Former Leeds Rhinos and New Zealand Test coach Brian McClennan and Warriors assistant Tony Iro are frontrunners to replace Cleary at the Auckland club.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, penrith-2750, new-zealand

First posted June 29, 2011 08:46:00

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Maroons leave it late in Origin opener

By Chris Paine

Updated May 25, 2011 23:37:00

It took one of Queensland's legendary State of Origin comebacks to settle the opening match of the 2011 series, as Billy Slater's late try lifted the Maroons to a thrilling 16-12 win over New South Wales at Lang Park.

The combinations forged in five consecutive series victories - and in the Australian Test side - ultimately came to the fore as Slater, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Cam Smith dragged Queensland to victory.

The Maroons dominated possession and looked the more dangerous of the sides for the first hour, but skill errors in strong field position robbed them of the opportunity to lead by more than 10 points with 15 minutes remaining.

That left the door ajar for a New South Wales fightback and the Blues duly obliged with tries from Mitchell Pearce and Michael Jennings in the space of four minutes giving the visitors a shock 12-10 lead with just over 10 minutes left.

But as the saying goes Queensland can never be written off - and so it proved as Slater scored the match winner in the 72nd minute when he found a familiar inside ball from Lockyer.

It was a fitting contribution from Maroons skipper Lockyer, who equalled Allan Langer's record of 34 Origin appearances on the night in front of 52,144 fans.

"Lockyer just whispered to me, because he can't yell too loud anymore, stay inside me and I knew where to be," Slater told ABC Grandstand of the 10th try in his glittering Origin career.

"The hole opened up and I was lucky to get over the line."

The Maroons successfully negotiated the nervous closing stages to set up a 1-0 lead in their bid for an incredible sixth consecutive series win, with the Blues left to contemplate how they can fight back at the Olympic stadium in Game II.

"The boys have those great combinations that have been built over the last five seasons and hopefully it can continue for the next two games at least," said veteran forward Petero Civoniceva.

Thurston opened the scoring when he touched down on Smith's clever grubber in the fifth minute, and some staunch Blues defence shut out Queensland for the remainder of the first half.

But a lapse in judgment gave debutant Jharal Yow Yeh his first taste of the Origin tryline six minutes into the second half when the powerful Broncos winger pounced on some poor judgement by opposite number Brett Morris.

Thurston missed a crucial penalty from right in front on the hour mark that would have put Queensland out by two converted tries, and NSW made the most of its reprieve as Pearce and Jennings raced in to score.

At 12-10 the new-look Blues, boasting five debutants, were poised to spring a major upset before Lockyer took control with his sublime pass to Slater.

"I looked up at the clock when they scored their second try. There was 10 minutes to go and I knew if we got some field position we would get a chance," Slater added.

"It was a great team effort by the boys, just hanging in there."

Queensland's playmakers and outside backs would take the credit but it was the rolling forward momentum, laid chiefly by the bone-crushing runs of Cowboys prop Matt Scott, that gave them room to work with.

New South Wales by contrast struggled to break into the Queensland half without the aid of handling errors and penalties, and perhaps Stuart will look to freshen up a lacklustre forward pack.

Greg Bird was the exception - he ran hard into half-gaps and off-loaded the ball well to his support players - while skipper Paul Gallen provided a key link in the movement that led to Dugan putting Jennings into space for the second try.

"We stop playing for a minute and they win the game," Gallen told Grandstand.

"We know we can well and truly compete with them. We just have to play for 80 minutes next time."

Debutant Maroons centre Dane Nielsen was singled out for praise by Slater, who lauded the defensive efforts of his Storm team-mate, while Darius Boyd made a target of clubmate Mark Gasnier with a couple of jarring ball-and-all tackles.

Dugan and Akuila Uate also performed strongly on debut for the Blues, but it was a quiet night for Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward as Pearce shouldered most of the kicking responsibilities.

Stuart was installed as the Blues' first full-time coach in a ploy to end Queensland's domination of the interstate rivalry under Mal Meninga's stewardship.

NSW last won an Origin series in 2005, when Stuart was in his first stint as Blues coach.

QLD: 16 (J Thurston, J Yow Yeh, B Slater tries; Thurston 2/3 conversions)

NSW: 12 (M Pearce, M Jennings tries; J Soward 2/2 conversions)

Tags: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted May 25, 2011 21:56:00

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Broncos leave out Origin stars

Posted May 24, 2011 15:18:00

State of Origin stars Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant have been left out of the Broncos side for Friday night's NRL clash with Manly at Lang Park.

Maroons team-mates Corey Park and Jharal Yow Yeh were named on an extended bench by Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, with their condition to be assessed after Origin I.

But niggling complaints to Lockyer (thigh/back), Thaiday (groin) and Hannant (calf) leading into the series opener have ensured their omission for Friday night.

Alex Glenn will skipper the Broncos while youngster Corey Norman will don Lockyer's number six jersey.

A man who was in the Origin mix last year - Ben Te'o - will make is Broncos comeback against the Sea Eagles after overcoming a broken arm.

Te'o slots in at lock after scoring two tries for Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup last weekend - his first game in seven weeks.

Te'o, 21, was earmarked for Origin honours this year after 18th-man duties in 2010 before injury struck.

Wynnum winger Shea Moylan has been named as cover for Yow Yeh and Dane Gagai is on the opposite wing.

Young hooker Kurt Baptiste will make his NRL debut off the bench, Mitchell Dodds gets a start at prop for Hannant and Dunamis Lui has been named in the second row for Thaiday.

The clash, a home game for the Sea Eagles, will kick off a NRL double-header at the ground, with a Canterbury-Gold Coast clash to follow.

Broncos: Gerard Beale, Dane Gagai, Jack Reed, Dale Copley, Shea Moylan, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Mitchell Dodds, Andrew McCullough, Nick Kenny, Alex Glenn (c), Dunamis Lui, Ben Te'o. Interchange: Kurt Baptiste, Scott Anderson, Dane Carlaw, David Hala, Corey Parker, Jharal Yow Yeh (two to be omitted).

-ABC/AAP

SMS: brisbane broncos, darren lockyer, sam thaiday, ben hannant, state of o

SMS: rigin Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, state-of-origin, australia, qld, brisbane-4000

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Dragons leave it late to shrug Bunnies

Updated April 18, 2011 22:51:00

After a lengthy stalemate St George Illawarra finally brushed off a gallant South Sydney, the NRL premiers prevailing 16-0 in a uninspiring contest at the Olympic stadium on Monday night.

Showing the grit and patience that was a hallmark of their premiership run last year, the Dragons had to wait until a Darius Boyd try 13 minutes from time to see off the Bunnies, with Mark Gasnier's four-pointer five minutes later sealing the result.

The Dragons held a slender 2-0 lead before Boyd's breakthrough effort in a scoreline which had commentators reaching for the record books and fans wishing they were next door at the Easter Show.

The late blowout was not what the Rabbitohs deserved for what was a tough defensive effort, and in fact it was the men in red and green who looked more likely to score for much of the contest before the last onslaught.

But highlighting the problems facing coach John Lang, the Bunnies just could not get on the board.

While Matt Cooper played a leading role in Boyd's try, it was his defensive display in the 54th minute that may have been the match-winner as he held Chris McQueen up over the line.

Cooper struggled to recall his stunning effort to deny McQueen.

"I knew he was lunging out at the line and I was just trying to stop him scoring," Cooper said.

"I'd need to see it, I don't really know what happened. I just pulled him up."

The Rabbitohs continued to attack and benefited from four restarts of the tackle count as the visitors tried desperately to interrupt their raids, but Lang was left livid on the sideline when Rhys Wesser missed the last restart as he kicked the ball away on the first tackle.

Given a sniff, the Dragons finally cracked the Rabbitohs on the left edge, Cooper striding through and beautifully positioning Boyd for his fifth try of the year.

That rocked the Bunnies, who had given so much to that point, and it was no surprise when the Dragons raced over again, this time Ben Creagh offloaded for Gasnier to put the game beyond reach.

There was little evidence of the stalemate to come when Dave Tyrell broke through after only nine minutes and slammed the ball down as he reached out for the line but replays showed the rugged backrower was centimetres short.

It seemed a shock play when Soward took a penalty goal on 12 minutes when Roy Asotasi was found to be lying in the play the ball, but it was worth it.

Bunnies lock Michael Crocker was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Jason Nightingale, but that was one of few moments of action in a dour first period.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett applauded his side's resilience when forced into some desperate situations by a Souths side who refused to quit.

"In terms of a purist's game it probably wasn't everything you wanted, but in terms of effort and both teams doing their best to win a game of football it was outstanding," Bennett said.

"If they (Souths) turn and want to play like they did tonight then they are extremely difficult to beat.

"They wanted to show everybody how good they could be and they were very good."

That was little consolation for Lang however, with his Bunnies showing just two wins from the opening six rounds.

"We tried the shock tactic just about every time so the shock goes out of it after a couple of times," Lang said of his side's lack of patience.

"We had our opportunities but we couldn't get the points on the board and they did.

"Some of our attack was outstanding and they (the Dragons) are an unbelievably resilient side."

-AAP

First posted April 18, 2011 21:07:00

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