1994 was one year the Broncos did their reputation in Sydney absolutely no favours. It wasn't on the field either. The management seemed intent on maintaining their position as the game's best whingers.

The ARL announced at the end of 1993 that they were expanding the competition to 20 teams in 1995. A team from Perth (Western Reds), Auckland (Auckland Warriors), Townsville (North Queensland Cowboys) and a second team in Brisbane (South Queensland Crushers) were added, which immediately generated excitement among the media and fans of the game. But to many observers, it raised questions of whether the competition could provide enough quality first graders. Many felt the standard would inevitably drop.

The 1994 Tooheys Challenge started as normal, and the Broncos were in hot form. Wins against Canterbury, North Sydney and Illawarra put them into the final against South Sydney. It seemed a huge mismatch, but the Rabbitohs played arguably their best game in years as they went toe to toe with the Broncos in a thriller at Alice Springs. In the end the difference was a field goal, Souths winning 27-26, their first Rugby League trophy in some 15 years.

Despite the loss, the good early form of the Broncos bode well for a solid premiership defence. However, a fortuitous 16-all draw with Parramatta in the first round, where an apparent fair Eels try was disallowed, showed alarming signs of tiredness, flatness and lack of enthusiasm. Steve Renouf's suspension for a spear tackle on Brett Plowman didn't help things any. The next week, a full house at Carrara saw the Gold Coast thrash their more illustrious neighbours 25-12. The "St George Can't Play" incident came back to haunt them in round 3 as St George beat them 22-18, a scoreline that flattered the Broncos at ANZ Stadium.

With just 1 point from their first 3 matches they were running third last and looking in dire straits. A Good Friday clash with Easts put them back on track with a 44-12 stomping of the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium. Easts would have a shocking year marred by illness and injuries. The following week, Trevor Gillmeister's return to ANZ Stadium with Penrith resulted in a 37-6 win to the Broncos.

North Sydney ventured north and after Willie Carne was accidentally knocked out, the Bears escaped with an 11-10 victory thanks to a Jason Taylor field goal. Just 5 points in the first 6 matches was not a promising start.

The Broncos took on Balmain at unfamiliar surroundings in Melbourne, but it was Balmain who would regret giving up the home ground advantage. The Broncos prevailed 36-14 for their fourth straight win against the Tigers. A week later it was a stampede as the Broncos smashed Cronulla 34-2 at ANZ Stadium. There was some bad news however, with prop forward Gavin Allen suspended for 8 matches - in effect 12 weeks - for a high tackle on halfback Paul Green which left the young ex-Brisbane player with a smashed nose.

Brisbane appealed the length of the suspension but to no avail. It was the start of a suspension procession that would further damage the relationship between the Broncos and the NSWRL.

When Manly beat the Broncos 21-11 at Brookvale Oval the following week, it seemed the Broncos were falling out of contention for the finals for the first time since 1991.

The 1994 State Of Origin had a number of quirks to it. The first was Queensland's famous escape in the first game. Down 12-10 with 45 seconds left and 30 out from their own line, the Queensland machine went into action. They spread the ball right across field to Willie Carne who looped the ball outside to Steve Renouf who scooted down the left touchline. He passed inside to Michael Hancock who had Darren Smith in support. Smith picked up Langer as they went inside the 30 metre zone. Langer offloaded to Mal Meninga as he was taken by Brad Mackay. Meninga ran diagonally towards the corner, offloading to Mark Coyne who showed great strength to reach out in the tackle to score. It was a miracle try which sent Queensland coach Wally Lewis into a dance of jubilation. It was one of those moments that makes Origin football so special.

Game 2 by comparison was a fizzer. A crowd of over 87000 crammed into the MCG to watch what they hoped would be just as exciting a contest, but stifling play by the Blues meant it was arguably the most boring Origin game in history. For the record, New South Wales won 14-0 but the tragedy was that less than half the people in the stands would be back again after such a poor display of the game.

The decider, Mal Meninga's last game, should've been a fairytale at Lang Park. But instead it became a nightmare as Benny Elias, also in his last game, decided to spoil the party. He led New South Wales to a 27-12 victory as Queensland self destructed, cruelly dealing Meninga a losing farewell he did not deserve.

Back in club football, the Broncos managed to stamp Wests into the turf 40-10 at ANZ Stadium, but a week later felt the fury of Illawarra's John Simon at WIN Stadium. The Steelers thumped the Broncos 26-4 in their club's finest victory. During the game, Alan Cann was cited for a high tackle and suspended, but was allowed to play against Wigan in the World Club Challenge during that week.

Wigan and Brisbane reignited their rivalry that began in 1992 and in front of over 54000 fans at ANZ Stadium, Wigan spoiled the party, playing a far more controlled, disciplined game than their flustered opponents. They triumphed 20-14, and Cann was again cited, this time for a spear tackle on Martin Offiah. A hastily convened judiciary exonerated him - because they looked at video of the wrong incident.

A last gasp 12-10 victory over Canterbury, after a strong forward push won them a scrum against the feed which allowed them to send Peter Ryan over in the corner gave hope of a Brisbane revival. But their 29-10 loss to Canberra at Bruce Stadium the following week saw heads drop again. Kerrod Walters and Allan Langer were cited for a spear tackle on David Furner, and despite Furner arguing that he landed on his shoulder and there was nothing in it, the NSWRL suspended Walters for 2 weeks. Walters, furious after being suspended twice before, said "There is so much prejudice against the Broncos. All you want is a fair go, but the majority of players who hgo to the judiciary seem to be guilty until proven innocent." He was later fined $5000 by the NSWRL for bringing the game into disrepute.

The Broncos bounced back with a 40-10 thrashing of South Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Peter Ryan was accused of biting by Souths' utility Jason Bell, and despite inconclusive video evidence was suspended for 3 weeks by the judiciary. If that wasn't enough to steam up the Broncos, seeing Canterbury's Dean Pay get away with a much more obvious bite a few weeks later sent them into utter rage.

Langer was chosen at halfback for the Australia-France Test, despite Ricky Stuart's superior form in both the Origin and the club competition. It's hard to find a player playing badly when it's such a mismatch, the Australians thrashing France 56-0 and Steve Renouf scoring three tries.

The next week Newcastle managed something they hadn't done in their previous 6 years. They beat the Broncos. And as Langer's frustration boiled over in the second half, he was sinbinned for dissent by referee Greg McCallum. A lot of soul searching followed that loss which left them in 9th place.

It worked, because over the next four weeks, the Broncos thrashed Parramatta and Gold Coast, escaped from St George and whipped Easts to be level pegging with fifth placed Illawarra. A 22-6 loss to Penrith in the third last round had everyone holding their breath. They had to beat third-placed North Sydney in the penultimate round to have any chance. Wayne Bennett stunned the league world by sacking Glenn Lazarus and Terry Matterson to reserve grade for the clash.

Again, it worked. The players put in their most gritty display in history as they ground down the Bears 17-0 at North Sydney Oval. The win put them into fifth spot for the first time all season and with a clash against last placed Balmain to finish off, it seemed they had escaped the jaws of oblivion. A 41-6 trouncing of the Tigers in front of a huge crowd of almost 50000 catapulted them into the finals, much to the relief of the players and supporters.

The following week, they took on Manly in an elimination final. It was a case of deja vu from 1993. Could it be a repeat? Manly were far sterner opposition in 1994 to their 36-10 loss in 1993, but the Broncos still prevailed 16-4 with Steve Renouf starring. Renouf was cited for kneeing Jack Elsegood late in the game and it would be a nervous wait for the Broncos.

Renouf was fortunately cleared on Wednesday and rejoined the team, but it was a disjointed preparation they didn't need going into the minor semi-final with North Sydney. The Broncos didn't appear to have turned up. Norths darted to a 14-0 lead, with two tries to Wendell Sailor keeping them in touch at 14-8 at half time. Kevin Walters levelled the scores in the second half, but Jason Taylor for the second time this season secured victory with a field goal at 15-14. Langer and Walters each had feeble attempts to level the scores but to no avail, the Broncos eliminated, their dream of a hat-trick of premierships shattered.

Norths went on to be thrashed by Canberra in the preliminary final, with the Raiders thumping Canterbury in the Grand Final, giving Meninga a fitting send off.

The Kangaroo Tour followed, and there was much toing and froing between Langer and Stuart. Each played outstanding football in the opening matches of the tour and Langer retained his Test spot for the first Test, with Wendell Sailor making his Test debut. Australia went down to a 12-man Great Britain side with Steve Renouf scoring the only Australian points with a try. As expected, Langer and Sailor were the scapegoats. The Kangaroos went on to win the series 2-1 with Stuart at halfback.

Back home, the first major controversy surrounded Julian O'Neill. O'Neill had been charged with cheating at blackjack at Jupiter's Casino on the Gold Coast.

Also beginning to brew was a concept known as Super League. John Ribot had talked with friend and News Ltd executive Ken Cowley about the prospect of a 12-team elite competition that would compete on a global scale with any other sport and present the new Pay TV carrier Foxtel with the ultimate flagship. Cowley and Ribot presented the plan to the ARL but were rejected outright, with the ARL saying they had already agreed to terms with Kerry Packer and Optus Vision for the Pay TV rights. The issue seemed dead and buried, but it was far, far from it.