After the promising performance of 1990, the Broncos were again installed as premiership favourites in the early months of 1991. With the Wally Lewis saga slowly fading from people's immediate memories, the Broncos presented a relaxed front as they hoped to go one better than last year's disappointing exit in the Preliminary Final.

Trevor Gillmeister joined the club in the offseason through the NSWRL's controversial draft system, which would be ruled invalid by the Federal Court later that year. Gillmeister was an Origin star and a tough as nails forward who would boost the Broncos' widely criticised soft underbelly.

The preseason Lotto Challenge was the first chance for the Broncos to show their wares for the season, and they started in fine style with convincing wins over North Sydney and Newcastle, before coming back from 12-2 down against Illawarra to win the semi-final 16-14. The final, at Broken Hill against Penrith, was a mesmerising contest. The Panthers led 16-2 just before half time and the Broncos looked dead in the water. But stand-in captain Allan Langer stood up in the second half to send the Broncos on the comeback trail, winning the final. Langer held aloft the trophy, the second won by a first grade side, and the Alfie the league world had grown to love (or hate) was back.

Brisbane opened the premiership season at Lang Park against Manly. A similar scenario to 1988, and likewise this was a new beginning in what was regarded as the Post-Wally era. The match was also the first premiership match to use the unlimited interchange rule. The crowd were not impressed with the constant changing of players and after 5 rounds the rule was kicked out. The Broncos used it to their advantage however, beating Manly 12-2.

St George rolled the Broncos 20-12 the next week, but solid wins against Canberra and Parramatta had the Broncos back on the front foot. A media circus was brewing around Allan Langer, whose wife Janine was expecting their first child. The publicity was unheard of and speculation about whether or not Langer would play on the day the baby was due was astonishing. Courtney was born and eventually the media circus dissipated and let Langer get back to the job at hand.

Losses to Norths, Wests, Easts and Balmain in the next five weeks had the Broncos sitting in a precarious position with just four wins from the first nine games. Kerrod Walters saw his Origin and Test career take a near-fatal blow in the game against Wests after he was sent off for punching and subsequently suspended. The 12-man Broncos side couldn't contain the Magpies who escaped with a 17-16 victory.

A channel 10 phone poll asked viewers if Wayne Bennett should be kept as coach and it was an overwhelming no. Bennett's job was under threat, and he had to depend on the faith of the board and his players to keep him in the job. As history has it, he did and that faith was repaid just 12 months later.

Wally Lewis led Queensland to a remarkable 6-4 victory in the opening Origin game of 1991. A man of the match performance opened the door for a return to Test football for one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. Game 2 saw the infamous Lewis-Geyer battle, where the two stood toe-to-toe at half time, almost erupting into a brawl. New South Wales won the game 14-12 with a sideline conversion on full time, while Geyer was suspended for 5 weeks for his thuggery during the game.

Queensland won the decider 14-12 at Lang Park and Lewis bid Origin football farewell. A true champion, he had led his state to a final triumph, what would become the only unified Queensland team to win a series until 1998.

Lewis and Langer were chosen in the halves for the Test against New Zealand at Olympic Park in Melbourne. Canberra's Ricky Stuart was very disappointed at being dropped after he wrested Langer's Test spot during the 1990 Kangaroo Tour. Australia were beaten 24-8 and Lewis was dropped. He had finally played his last Test, leaving the Test arena in disappointing circumstances.

Langer and Peter Jackson lined up in the halves for the second Test and Langer received the man of the match award in the 44-0 stomping of the Kiwis. Coach Bob Fulton described Langer's performance as 'simply sensational'. Langer and captain Mal Meninga led from the front as Australia sealed the series 2-1 with a 40-12 win in the final game. Langer's most confident Test series had stabilised his Test career and made him even more attractive to club football, and also gave him much more negotiating power, and he used it.

Langer was proving difficult in contract negotiations with John Ribot, with a rumoured two NSW clubs keen to sign the star halfback. Ribot and Wayne Bennett joined forces to keep Langer in Brisbane, eventually agreeing to a 2-year contract. Coach Bennett too announced he had re-signed with the club until the end of 1995, providing yet more security for the club.

With that off field drama out of the way, Brisbane looked to resurrect their season. A 40-2 thrashing of Cronulla gave some hope that the Broncos were back on track but a 20-18 loss to Canterbury at Lang Park had them on the back foot again.

Brisbane won 8 of their last 11 games, but the start they'd given the rest of the competition was far too much, and they missed the finals. Many were asking questions if the promised golden age of Brisbane domination in the NSWRL competition would ever eventuate. Certainly, 13 wins and 9 losses didn't instill confidence.

The offseason post-mortem saw the end of captain Gene Miles. Miles had been a foundation club member and a solid performer in the centres and secondrow. Unfortunately, injuries had limited his impact in 1991, but he still claimed that chairman Paul Morgan and trainer Kelvin Giles had teamed up to have him sacked. Miles went to Wigan in England and in the 1991-92 season won the Championship and Challenge Cup.

Wayne Bennett had the tough decision to decide the club's third captain. He had made his mind up that it would be Kevin Walters. Wanting to make the right decision, Bennett approached the players, and ex-player Gene Miles. Miles put his neck out for Langer, saying he was the man for the job. In the end, Bennett went with Langer. Walters, although privately disappointed, accepted the decision and was happy to be vice-captain to his mate.

Arguably the most important signing outside the debut year came that offseason. Canberra, NSW and Australian prop forward Glenn Lazarus joined the Broncos after a bitter split from the Raiders, who were ravaged by the salary cap. With a forward pack made up of Lazarus, Mark Hohn, Gavin Allen, Alan Cann, Kerrod Walters and Gillmeister, the Broncos were going to be anything but soft in 1992.

They promised much, but would they deliver?