Broncos overcome first post-Origin hurdle
by
Friday May 28, 2004

The Brisbane Broncos successfully backed up from the extra-time State of Origin thriller just 48 hours later, defeating St George-Illawarra 24-22 at Suncorp Stadium.  After trailing 16-12 at half time, tries to boom youngster Karmichael Hunt and winger Stu Kelly were enough to hold out a committed but error prone Dragons outfit.

St George-Illawarra's contrite centre, Mark Gasnier, put the controversies of the past week and a half and the jeers of a hostile crowd behind him to score the first and last tries of the match. His first came in just the third minute of play, collecting a neat bat back from winger David Howell to score unopposed.

Broncos halfback, Casey McGuire, continued to make the position his own in the absence of first choice Brett Seymour with injury, slicing through between two forwards before finding veteran five-eighth Ben Ikin in support to score the equaliser in just the 7th minute.

Michael De Vere's conversion from out wide gave the Broncos a 6-4 lead.

However, that lead didn't remain for long, Dragons halfback Mathew Head catching Brisbane's marker defence lacking 10 metres out, popping a pass to fullback Ben Hornby who scored under the posts to snatch a 10-6 lead.

De Vere missed a difficult penalty goal attempt midway through the first half, but there was no mistake from the Raging Bull, captain Gorden Tallis, who backed up another Casey McGuire break to score in the 29th minute. De Vere's conversion put the Broncos back in front 12-10.

But the Dragons again managed to hit back, capitalising on some cheap possession in their own half for skipper Shaun Timmins to force his way over out wide.  Head's magnificent sideline conversion gave his team a 16-12 lead at the break.

Fullback Karmichael Hunt wowed the crowd in the first half with two incredible sidesteps, and he was in the action again early in the second half. Interchange prop Darren Mapp sliced through after two Dragons' defenders were called offside, lock Tonie Carroll supporting before popping an amazing around-the-corner pass to Hunt who sprinted away to score under the posts.

Hunt was penalised shortly after for a double movement, but the Broncos weren't to be denied again just 11 minutes short of full time when winger Stu Kelly plunged over in the right corner. De Vere's sideline conversion gave the Broncos an important 8-point buffer at 24-16.

St George-Illawarra threw caution to the wind in the dying minutes, but Brisbane scrambled magnificently to hold them out until the final minute, when Gasnier stepped through some tired defence out wide after a great bust by New South Wales prop Brent Kite.

Broncos prop Petero Civoniceva was outstanding for the home side, making 29 tackles and 19 hit ups just 48 hours after a strong performance for Queensland. Parker, Carlaw and Mapp were also solid up front while Meyers and Tallis battled on bravely with niggling neck injuries. Hooker Michael Ryan showed courage making almost 40 tackles with a hand injury that requires surgery.  The nuggety rake goes into hospital first thing Saturday morning and will miss next Sunday's clash with the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.

All the talk after the game centred around the 17-year-old fullback, Hunt, who is fast becoming a crowd favourite. "I've just got to stop telling him what to do," coach Wayne Bennett said with a wry smile, after giving the youngster a serve at half time.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown was also impressed.  Just a year earlier, a Dragons talent scout told him to sign him up on the spot. "He said give this kid $80000 and get him down here," Brown said.  Brown asked what position he played, and his scout replied "Fullback, wing, centre, five-eighth, lock...it doesn't matter, he'll play anywhere and he'll play there for Australia for the next 12 years." 

However, while Bennett acknowledged Hunt has a "football brain", he was still adamant the interstate arena is out of Hunt's league at this stage. "He's 17. (State of Origin) wouldn't do him any good down the track."  Bennett pointed out that several players have been chosen for State of Origin too early and have disappeared for several seasons before getting back to form, such is the emotional and psychological drain of that level of football. "We can't put old heads on 17-year-old bodies."

The Broncos will welcome back five-eighth Darren Lockyer from injury next week, while centre Shaun Berrigan is also expected to return from a hamstring strain suffered three weeks ago.  Bennett said the club was also hopeful Queensland prop Shane Webcke will have recovered from a chest injury suffered early in Queensland's 9-8 Origin defeat on Wednesday.

The Dragons also have a few injury problems. Gasnier suffered a minor ankle injury but Brown expected he would be fit next week. Centre John Carlaw is in more doubt with a suspected fractured eye socket.