The premiership hopes of the Brisbane Broncos are in tatters after the club slumped to its third successive loss, an embarassing 40-10 thrashing at the hands of the Newcastle Knights. After trailing 18-4 at half time the Broncos capitulated in the second half with yet another abysmal display of ball control and execution in attack. For the first time this season the Broncos also opened up in defence which does not augur well with the finals less than three weeks away. Once again, only Darren Lockyer stood tall in the face of an onslaught led by the Knights' underrated but far hungrier forward pack, led by the irrepressible Matt Parsons. Captain Andrew Johns took a personal haul of 20 points without really breaking out of second gear.

Newcastle 40 defeated Brisbane 10 at Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle