NRL: King Lockyer kicks golden-point winner

Trent Merrin of the Dragons takes on the defence. Photo / Getty Images

Broncos 13
Dragons 12

In a master-versus-apprentice clash, Darren Lockyer broke the heart of former coach Wayne Bennett by inspiring Brisbane's 13-12 golden-point NRL finals win over St George Illawarra.

Lockyer ensured his last game at his home ground would be remembered for all the right reasons when he sunk a wobbly 82nd-minute golden-point field goal to abruptly draw the curtain on departing coach Bennett's Dragons tenure.

The retiring Broncos pivot may have sent a 48,444-strong crowd home smiling, but it remains to be seen whether Lockyer will back up in next weekend's preliminary final against Manly.

The inspirational Broncos skipper copped an accidental knee to the cheek from teammate Gerard Beale in the 70th minute, prompting major concerns for his fitness.

Lockyer tried to brush off the injury scare after the Broncos dumped good friend Bennett's Dragons out of the NRL finals race, thanks to his dodgy field goal.

"It's a bit sore to be honest," he said of his injury.

"It (field goal) was pretty ugly but it got the job done.

"In the end we are going down to Sydney next week.

"If you beat the Dragons you have to earn it.

"It was my last game at Suncorp Stadium so to finish it like that it ensures good memories."

The Broncos dominated the first half but only had a 6-0 scoreline to show for their efforts by the main break.

Lockyer peppered the Dragons with big bombs and continued to take on the line in attack, however the retiree only managed to open up the Dragons in the 15th minute.

His sublime inside ball let backrower Ben Te'o crash over before Parker converted to give the hosts a deserved 6-0 buffer.

Always a threat, Lockyer looked to have delivered another body blow to the Dragons when he opened up the visitors in the 20th minute, only for young winger Dale Copley to spill the skipper's pass with the line open.

Adding to the Broncos' frustration, Corey Parker missed a 39th-minute penalty.

Parker tried to make amends when he landed a kick in the 48th minute to make it 8-0.

But suddenly the Dragons were breathing fire when interchange X-factor Adam Cuthbertson pounced on prop Michael Weyman's clever pass to crash over in the 55th minute to help cut the deficit to 8-6.

The Broncos appeared to have sealed the result when Copley crossed in the 67th minute to make it 12-6.

However, the Dragons kept the Suncorp Stadium crowd honest when first reserve Matt Prior appeared to have crossed in the 77th minute - only for the video referee to have ruled a knock-on in the lead-up by Ben Hornby.

The visitors weren't to be denied barely 60 seconds later when Darius Boyd locked up the scores at 12-12, sending the match into golden point extra-time.

The only other worry for Broncos coach Anthony Griffin was halfback Peter Wallace being placed on report for an 11th-minute tackle on Boyd.

Meanwhile, the Dragons' winning chances were hurt when flying winger Brett Morris suffered a suspected broken leg in the 66th minute.

BRISBANE 13 (D Copley B Te'o tries C Parker 2 goals D Lockyer field goal) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 12 (D Boyd A Cuthbertson tries J Soward 2 goals) in golden-point extra time at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Tony Archer, Matt Cecchin. Crowd: 48,474.

- AAP