NRL: Mighty Broncos meet their match

While the Storm have set the standard in recent years, in many ways the Broncos have been the benchmark for the Warriors.

For many years they were the team they couldn't beat; in their first six seasons no Warriors tasted victory against Brisbane.

The Auckland club has also established great rivalries with the likes of the Storm, Bulldogs and Roosters, but the Broncos have similarities as a development and expansion club.

"When you come here, you soon see why they have achieved so much success," says Broncos assistant coach Stephen Kearney. "There is a huge expectation that comes with the Broncos jumper and brand."

The Broncos consistently draw large crowds to Suncorp Stadium and sell plenty of merchandise. With players such as Willie Carne and Michael Hancock through to modern local products such as Sam Thaiday and Darren Lockyer, the club has always had a preference of developing from within.

"When a kid comes through the Broncos system, you know he is going to be strong, fit and skilful," says Warriors coach Matt Elliott. "Most of their players come through that system and that is what we are trying to emulate here."

There were other similarities in the franchises; both were the only clubs in their city and launched under an avalanche of expectation hard to fulfil at the start. The Broncos joined the NRL (then known as the ARL Premiership) in 1988, with Wayne Bennett as coach and "King" Wally Lewis as captain. It was a virtual State of Origin team, with Maroons representatives like Gene Miles, Greg Dowling and Allan Langer among many other stars. They missed the play-offs in their first two seasons, but glory finally arrived in 1992 and 1993, when they defeated the Dragons in consecutive grand finals. The latter was most memorable for Langer urging thousands of supporters to sing "St George can't play" at a team homecoming. The Broncos added titles in 1998, 2000 and 2006 - they have never lost a grand final - and have missed the play-offs only once since 1992. Through the late 1990s, the Broncos became the team the Warriors couldn't beat; six seasons for no result.

The breakthrough came in a brutal round-six clash in 2001, won 13-12 thanks to a Stacey Jones drop goal. Coach Daniel Anderson had urged his team to get physical and new recruit Kevin Campion - a grand final winner with the Broncos - had given the Warriors crucial insights into his old team.

"Campo helped to change our mindset," says former Warriors captain Awen Guttenbeil. "That result took the edge off them; from then on, we knew they were beatable." The Warriors then won six of the next nine encounters.

"The two styles made for good games," adds Guttenbeil. "There were always two confrontational forward packs and both backlines had plenty of flair. We always seemed to match them, regardless of the positions on the table. It's a bit like the Storm these days."

Five defining moments

The first bow
1995: Almost 30,000 people packed Mt Smart for the much-hyped debut of the Warriors, who unfortunately looked like DB Bitter cans in their blue, green, red and white uniforms. It was a thrilling match, won 25-22 by Brisbane. The home side scored four tries, including the franchise's first to Phil Blake, but lost to a late Allan Langer try. Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was impressed with the new team, suggesting they could be in the top three at the end of the season. They weren't.

The breakthrough
2001: In their seventh season, the Warriors finally recorded their first win over the Queensland side, containing hard heads like Gorden Tallis and Carl Webb. Henry Fa'afili and Logan Swann scored tries and Stacey Jones snapped a one pointer to ensure a 13-12 win. Monty Betham claimed in his book Baring My Soul that the success of the next few years could be traced back to that night.

Campion vs Webcke
2002: Still a YouTube favourite, the sight of Campion and Webcke exchanging uppercuts in front of the goalposts lives long in the memory. It sent a signal that the Warriors wouldn't back down to anyone and topped off a convincing 18-4 win. It also embellished the hard man legend of Campion, though Awen Guttenbeil remembers a humorous side: ``The next day, there were photos around showing PJ Marsh holding Webcke's arms back [as they fought],'' says Guttenbeil. ``We gave Campo some stick for that.''

Faumuina's pass
2003: A play that epitomised the Warriors of the early 2000s. At the end of a long break, maverick back rower Sione Faumuina attempted an audacious pass back over his head while facing the sideline and in mid-air. It landed perfectly in Evarn Tuimavave's grasp and he strolled over by the posts. The Channel 9 commentators were speechless while Faumuina later rated it the perfect pass. ``I'd have to give it 10 out of 10,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. ``It had everything ... it was an NBA pass.''

Johnson's try
2011: Rated by many as the try of the season, it gets more freakish every time you watch it. The halfback beat six Broncos defenders in a 70m slalom run to the line. A huge left-foot step took him through the defensive line, before a goose step at full pace left Josh Hoffman for dead. Another step wrong-footed the two wingers coming across in cover.