Season 2001 shaped as yet another close-run and entertaining premiership season. After the demise of the Auckland Warriors and their resurrection as the New Zealand Warriors, at the same time as South Sydney were told, once more, that they could not come back to the competition, league was anything but stable. But one thing could be depended on, if you believed the bookies that is. The Broncos would win the title.

Despite losing a lot of high profile and valuable players, the Broncos also gained the services of Scott Prince, Stuart Kelly, Mark Corvo, Ken McGuinness, Paul Carige and Darren Burns. McGuinness, Carige, Burns and Corvo were journeymen at best, but their experience would prove useful, while Prince and Kelly were both prodigiously gifted players capable of filling in at five-eighth, halfback or centre if need be. Kelly was Parramatta co-captain in 2000, and after a disappointing split with the club he came to Brisbane realising he had to fight to even get a start.

The longer offseason proved crucial for prop Petero Civoniceva, lock Phil Lee and five-eighth Ben Ikin, who each had surgery the previous season. Civoniceva and Lee were fit for the preseason but Ikin's shoulder injury was taking longer than expected to heal, leaving him unavailable until the opening round of the premiership.

Controversy reigned supreme early in the year after high profile winger, Wendell Sailor, announced he was quitting Rugby League to join the Australian Rugby Union at the end of the season. Sailor's decision brought uproar and confusion from League circles. Many, to this day, can't understand why such a skillful and talented player would join such a stifling, boring sport.

For the fit players a trip to England faced them, with the prospect of meeting British champions St Helens for the World Club Championship. The Broncos have won the title twice before, in 1992 and 1997, and St Helens were thrashed by Melbourne in the 2000 championship. Nobody gave the Britons a chance, and as the Broncos drew first blood through Lee, they seemed justified. But the Saints hit back. After Brad Meyers gave the Broncos an 18-6 lead, St Helens scored two quick tries to level the scores. Then halfback Sean Long slotted two field goals for St Helens to score a famous 20-18 victory.

Brisbane regrouped immediately for a trial against Grand Final opponents Sydney Roosters. It was a bizarre occasion, the normally steamy mid-February South-East Queensland weather was replaced with an eerie cold, foggy and drizzly evening. So bad was the fog that driving to the mountain town of Toowoomba was at a standstill and officials considered cancelling the match altogether. But giving the 4000 or so diehard fans who braved the conditions the players went ahead, and for the Broncos fans it was welcome. Brisbane put the cleaners through the Roosters 40-8, with new recruit Scott Prince playing strongly after an uncertain debut against St Helens.

The opening round of season 2001 employed a local derby system. For some reason, that put the Broncos up against North Queensland, based in Townsville some 1600km away. Nobody wanted to tell the NRL that Newcastle, Sydney, even Canberra were closer. Again the weather was sour, but the Cowboys gave their fans something to cheer about, seemingly destined to score their first win against their more fancied rivals from the south. However, a speculating pass from Ben Ikin found Chris Walker, who earnt a spot ahead of Kelly, who had far too much pace for anyone to catch him, racing away to score beside the posts. Michael De Vere landed his only conversion of the night to give the Broncos an 18-17 win.

Back home to Brisbane and a date with 2000 semi-finalists Penrith. The Panthers were smashed 40-4 by Parramatta during the double header the week before and were keen to get back on track. They didn't. The Broncos, after a mid-match scare, powered home 38-22.

Off to Parramatta and a duel between the two premiership favourites. The Broncos started badly, trailing 12-6 at half time, only staying in the game through the boot of De Vere. However, after half time Ikin and Civoniceva scored quick tries to put Brisbane in front 18-14. However, with 10 minutes to go Nathan Hindmarsh "did a Thorn", busting through and sprinting 40 metres to score. A late try to Brad Drew sealed proceedings, Parramatta winning 26-18 and inflicting the first defeat on the Broncos for the season.

Tragedy struck Phil Lee after the match, with news he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. In a cruel twist of fate it was the opposite knee to the one he did the same injury on a year earlier, ironically against the Eels. A knee reconstruction and yet another year of painful rehabilitation and frustration. Although his year did improve with wife Renee giving birth to the couple's first child.

Wests Tigers' life as a merged entity had been anything but smooth sailing. Their dramas went from bad to worse with news that senior players Craig Field and Kevin McGuinness had returned positive drug tests for cocaine and ecstacy. Both were suspended for six months. The Broncos had little trouble dealing with them on the field, leading 18-2 at half time and despite a lacklustre second half prevailed 24-6. Shaun Berrigan replaced Prince at halfback and his impact was immediate, scoring a try and having a major impact on the rest of the match.

Newcastle came to town next, and again there was talk that the Knights were due to end their 100% losing record in Brisbane, particularly with Darren Lockyer out with concussion. They didn't. After the Broncos gave up an early lead, they fought back with tries to Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri to hold a narrow 14-8 lead at the break before Chris Walker broke the game open with a scintillating try early in the second. The floodgates opened with Justin Hodges twice scoring for a 42-8 thrashing. However, the Knights made the big play after the match, citing Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis for a hit that left Steve Simpson with a gaping wound above his eye. Tallis was duly suspended for three weeks.

The lead-up to the Round 6 clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland was disjointed to say the least. Lockyer was still suffering headaches, Tallis was out suspended and Scott Prince had rushed home to Townsville after his father Les was tragically killed in a car accident. The Broncos, heavily undermanned, relied on departing winger Wendell Sailor as captain. The Warriors were fired up and started the stronger, leading 12-0. The Broncos began to fight back with a try to Corey Parker but after half time Ikin was carried off the field after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. A cruel blow for the talented utility who had gained a stranglehold on the five-eighth jumper and was showing signs of the potential everyone knew he had. Brisbane fought back to draw level, but the Warriors remained cool, halfback and captain Stacey Jones landing a field goal to win 13-12.

Meanwhile, Prince made a brave return to the side for the away clash with the Bulldogs at Sydney Showgrounds. The 'Dogs were on top of the ladder and needed to win to stay there. They started strongly, Braith Anasta scoring a good try to lead 6-2. But the Broncos fought back. A try to Dane Carlaw put them in front and then Walker scored a scintillating try down the right touchline for a 12-6 half time lead. After the break the Broncos ran rampant, Carl Webb bursting through from 20 metres out to score a runaway try, and then some beautiful work sent Wendell Sailor over for two and Walker for a second to finish off a 34-6 thrashing and put the Broncos back on top of the premiership.

Back home a battle was brewing between the Broncos and Melbourne. The Storm had offered Kevin Walters, who made an aborted comeback to playing with Warrington earlier in the year, the job of coaching the Norths Devils after Melbourne Storm coach Chris Anderson quit. Brisbane, desperate not to let Walters leave the camp, gave him a job, although nobody knew what it was. Toowoomba Clydesdales captain, Terry Matterson, resigned and joined the Storm to take over coaching the Devils, which then let Walters take over as coach of Toowoomba. It was clear he was being groomed as Wayne Bennett's eventual replacement as head coach, though nobody knew when Bennett would retire.

The Storm came to Brisbane that weekend under the tutelage of Mark Murray, and many feared a side with a new coach. The Storm fought hard, staying in touch with the Broncos for much of the match. In the end the difference was Shaun Berrigan, who put in an inspired performance. However, with just minutes left the Storm could have drawn level when Matt Orford missed with a sideline conversion. Brisbane holding on 18-16.

The Grand Final rematch with the Roosters was next on the agenda and Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis returned from suspension itching to get into it. He was inspirational, lifting an otherwise flat team to stay in touch with an on-fire Roosters outfit. Tragically a late penalty cost the Broncos the match 20-18, but Tallis was still man of the match.

St George-Illawarra came to town next, once again ravaged by controversy over suspensions. Jason Ryles got them off to a good start with a bizarre try in the opening minutes before the Broncos ran over them like high powered steam trains. Tallis scored twice as Brisbane won 40-16. The Sharks came to town the next week, on the eve of Origin selection. Berrigan was certain to get the Maroons' halfback spot, all he needed to do was get through the match unscathed and play reasonably well.

As if that was a cruel jinx, he left the field in agony in the first half after breaking his left shoulder. That didn't stop the Broncos who, led by the resurgence of Lockyer who snapped out of his 10-week long form slump, ran over the top of the Sharks to lead 25-6 at half time. The match hung in the balance after 29 minutes, with the Broncos up 12-6 and the Sharks hitting back. A try to Lockyer, a field goal to the same man and then a Walker try ended debate by half time. The rout continued after the break with Lockyer and Walker scoring doubles, the Broncos relaxing to win 35-16.

With Berrigan gone, the Maroons chose Sydney Roosters halfback Paul Green to wear the number 7. Green had been listed in a "black list" of players, labelled by new Maroons coach Wayne Bennett as not to be considered. However, injuries forced his hand. A host of debutants made their Origin debuts and the Broncos provided 9 players. Two more Broncos also made the New South Wales side, Luke Priddis and Michael De Vere.

The critics laughed, nobody gave Queensland a chance, particularly after the debacle of 2000. After two minutes the critics were silenced. Lockyer sliced through, finding Lote Tuqiri before backing him up to score and put Queensland 6-0 in front. After Tuqiri denied Matt Gidley a try, Darren Smith crossed for a 12-0 lead. Gidley finally did cross shortly after but just before half time big Carl Webb, who critics said should never have been chosen, broke through five tackles on the way to scoring one of the great all time individual tries. At 16-4, the Maroons were confident. That confidence went sky high after the break. Blues second rower Bryan Fletcher lost the ball over the line and then Cowboys hooker John Doyle broke through to score. Teammate John Buttigieg crossed minutes later, and when Gorden Tallis steamed through to find a speeding Chris Walker in support for a try, the Maroons led 34-4! Two consolation tries gave the Blues some respectability but Queensland had revived Origin football with a 34-16 triumph.

As is often the case after such an emotional high, the Broncos came down with a thud against Canberra at Bruce Stadium. The Raiders had struggled all season but 10 minutes after half time led 26-10 and seemingly on track for a big win. Enter Darren Lockyer to inspire a comeback. Lockyer's two tries levelled the scores and despite a frenetic final few minutes, the score remained 26-all.

The following week the Broncos again started slowly, trailing the Northern Eagles 6-0 at half time. Worse, captain Gorden Tallis had to be helped from the field after being hit in a high tackle and feeling unsteady on his feet. The Broncos came out firing in the second half, running in three quick tries to lead 16-6, a Chris Walker special finishing proceedings with a comfortable 22-6 victory.

No Brisbane fan has felt more concern than the following few days. Tallis was taken to specialists, and they confirmed the worst fears of many. He had a congenital narrowing of the spinal column - the same defect that forced Dragons captain Nathan Brown into early retirement just four months earlier. The impact of the hit forced the nerves to press against the vertebrae, causing him unsteadiness and loss of feeling. He underwent corrective surgery which removed the defective disc and fused two vertebrae in an attempt to prolong his career. However, it meant he would miss the rest of the season.

His teammates were devastated, hearing the news just minutes after completing a 50-6 thrashing of North Queensland in which Wendell Sailor ended his tryscoring drought with a double that brought up his 100 tries for the club. Tallis's injury put him alongside Ben Ikin, Phillip Lee and Shaun Berrigan who would be missing for most of if not all of the season. For Tallis though there was still doubt that he would ever return to the field, despite a gung-ho confidence in himself. 6 weeks later, appearing on Channel 7's Sportscene programme, Tallis claimed he would be back on the field for the finals. 48 hours later he squashed that suggestion, saying he was merely having fun with the presenters. However, his little joke created nation-wide headlines!

The Broncos ventured to bottom-placed Penrith that weekend, the place they were ambushed 12 months earlier. Two length of the field tries to Sailor and Tuqiri suggested the same would not be repeated. However, Penrith hit back, scoring four unanswered tries to level at 16-all, only the poor kicking of Ryan Girdler keeping the Broncos in it. Lockyer landed a field goal with 10 minutes left then setup tries to Tuqiri and Scott Prince to bring up an undeservedly convincing 29-16 scoreline.

The second Origin game followed, and this time New South Wales rang the changes. With Tallis gone, Lockyer assumed the captaincy and after a tough, tightly contested first half the Blues led narrowly 6-2. But after half time the Brad Fittler-inspired Blues went on a rampage. Before Queensland knew what hit them they were down 22-2 and without hope. A Chris Walker try gave the scoreline some respectability but the Blues had levelled the series - and the series aggregates - with a 26-8 win. It would all come down to a decider at ANZ Stadium.

Worse for the Broncos, they surrendered their 23-match unbeaten run at home and top spot on the ladder with a 28-12 defeat at the hands of Parramatta at ANZ Stadium. The Eels started on fire, leading 16-6 at half time before the Broncos fought back to dominate the first 30 minutes of the second half. However, a try to Ashley Harrison was all they had to show for it. The once famed Bronco attacking strikepower was seemingly gone, with only Lockyer really proving any trouble to the Eels' well drilled defensive line. Late tries to Daniel Wagon and Nathan Cayless ended proceedings.

The Broncos had to regroup against Wests Tigers, and they did. 26-0 at half time, the Broncos went on to win 44-10 to regain some much needed confidence going into the final Origin game.

Darren Lockyer was feeling the pressure. After Tallis' injury, he had assumed all leadership responsibility for both the Broncos and Queensland. Worse, Queensland coach Wayne Bennett was lost for ideas to solve the halfback dilemma. Paul Green had not succeeded, Shaun Berrigan was injured. He needed a saviour.

Enter a little 5'6 blonde bloke named Allan Langer. Rumours abounded that he had been seen boarding a plane bound for Australia at Heathrow Airport in London on the Friday night. Commentators and fans sat glued to their radios as the teams were announced. Sure enough, number 7 for Queensland was A. Langer. Alf was back.

The Alf-show hit Brisbane, and it was all the media could think about. Could he cope with the pace? At 35 and two years out of the game in Australia that was a fair question. Some wondered if he would even start the game? Would he see it out? Suddenly the pressure was off Lockyer, and even the on-field leadership could fall to the man who steered Brisbane to four of its five premierships and was part of Queensland's invincibility in the 1980s.

One impact was immediate. The final remaining 10000 seats were sold out immediately, and a packed, 50000 strong crowd greeted both teams as they ran out onto ANZ Stadium. But Alf's fairytale began as his worst nightmare. John Buttigieg knocked on from the kickoff and Ryan Girdler scored in the corner for a 6-0 lead. But that was as far as their joy went. Queensland went on a rampage. Chris Walker scored first, bamboozling Blues fullback Mark Hughes. Paul Bowman scored soon after to take the lead 8-6 before Girdler and Lockyer traded goals for 10-8.

Then Langer struck. On the last, Langer ran to the line, finding Wagon in support who offloaded to a charging Dane Carlaw to score. Chris Walker scored off the next set. The Blues pressured Lockyer who stepped them pointless, then kicked ahead for Walker to score. When Alf put Lockyer over before half time, Queensland had the series wrapped up leading 28-8.

However, they weren't finished. Langer scored, darting from close range, ducking under a high tackle and planting the ball over the back of his head. Then Bowman scored his second to lead 36-8. Girdler scored a consolation before, fittingly, the winning captain and player of the series, Darren Lockyer, scored a second try. 40-14, Queensland had won the series against the odds, and they had given a hero, Allan Langer, the send off from State of Origin he deserved. Had Lockyer's kicking boots been on the scoreline would have reached 50.

Back to the grind of club football and a forgotten man was returning for Newcastle: Andrew Johns. The halfback had been out for 10 weeks with a knee injury and was back to meet the Broncos, with his club in tatters having lost their past four matches. Who would've thought the Knights would lead 22-0 at half time? Worse, who would've thought they'd do the same in the second half to inflict the Broncos' worst ever defeat? The lethargy, particularly from Origin heroes Carlaw, Meyers and Webb was alarming to say the least. And it would only get worse.

Another comeback shocked the league world. Kevin Walters, who retired, came back, then retired again reignited his playing career with a bold comeback to help the club's injury crisis in the halves.

But first, Carlaw, Meyers, Civoniceva and Tuqiri made their Test debuts for Australia, alongside experienced internationals Shane Webcke, Lockyer and Sailor. Meyers' debut was cut short after a sickening elbow from Wairangi Koopu was ignored by all and sundry. It didn't stop the Australians however, running out winners comfortably 28-10.

Two days later the Broncos backed up against the Warriors at Carrara, with ANZ Stadium unavailable due to Davis Cup commitments. The Gold Coast crowd got a good display from the Broncos, but the Warriors didn't backup from the Test at all well, going down 48-12. Walters pleased the crowd with an early try, but there was little contest. Justin Hodges scored the final try, which proved to be his final one for the club.

The exceptionally gifted winger and fullback announced on the Monday that he was quitting the club to join Sydney Roosters. A deepseated desire to play at fullback in first grade, an opportunity he would not receive at the Broncos, was his claim for his reasoning for leaving. The Broncos reacted angrily, immediately ceasing all further negotiations with Hodges' manager, Jim Banaghan and sacking Hodges from the first grade squad. The dispute was bitter, with Hodges taking his case to the public via channel 7's Today Tonight, while the Broncos shut up shop, simply claiming internal reasons for their apparently harsh treatment.

Brisbane's logic was sound. Coach Bennett didn't want to deprive one of the other talented youngsters a first grade opportunity for the sake of someone leaving the club. The difference was Luke Priddis and Wendell Sailor, who were also going elsewhere, were not given the same treatment. Their experience was given as an excuse, saying that time was being invested into Hodges as an emerging player, whereas Priddis and Sailor were established stars.

The Banaghan dispute put pressure on rising youngsters Brent Tate and Corey Parker also. Both under the Banaghan banner, their contracts were up for renewal and the Broncos put pressure on them to make a quick decision. Both re-signed with the club, despite heavy interest from Canterbury.

The demise of Priddis was another bitter pill in the Broncos' season. After having his contract negotiations put off all season, Priddis was eventually told that he would not be needed in 2002. Priddis and his wife Holly had just bought a home in Brisbane in which they wanted to raise their children, and were keen to live in Brisbane the rest of their lives. Those plans were thrown into turmoil, and eventually he came to terms with Penrith.

Darren Lockyer had a much more pleasant time at the negotiating table. After being bandied about as a possible Rugby Union recruit, Lockyer earnt himself a 4-year contract with the Broncos, ensuring Brisbane's best club-developed talent would remain a Bronco for the prime of his career.

Back on the park and the Broncos returned to ANZ Stadium to meet the Bulldogs. All was going to plan as they led 12-0 after as many minutes, but the Bulldogs fought back on the back of a Steve Price chargedown. They led 24-12 at half time, and the Broncos had lost yet another halves member. Scott Prince, who had fought back to establish himself in the 17, suffered a sickening broken leg 10 minutes before half time after a mistimed chargedown from Jamie Feeney saw the replacement forward clash head first with Prince's lower leg. It shattered, flopping around in the breeze as an horrific snapping sound reverberated around the vast - and sadly empty - expanses of ANZ Stadium.

The Bulldogs went on with the job to lead 34-12 before Lote Tuqiri inspired a fightback with a sensational length of the field try to get back to 34-24. But a field goal and penalty put the issue beyond doubt, and a late Chris Walker try saw the Broncos go down 37-30.

The news for Prince was tragic. A multiple fracture in his right leg requiring emergency surgery and ruling him out until at least April of the following year.

Ashley Harrison had the unenviable position of shifting from lock to five-eighth outside Walters for the club's clash with the Storm in Melbourne. Again, the Broncos led 12-0 before capitulating to trail 14-12. Another Bronco burst had them in control leading 28-14, but inexplicably they surrendered again, the Storm eventually winning 32-28.

An embarassing defeat against an injury and suspension ravaged Sydney Roosters followed, and then the Broncos ventured to WIN Stadium only to be beaten by the Dragons. The Broncos did well to get within two points and if there had been an extra five minutes there's little doubt they would have won. However, as if the injury crisis could not get any worse, Walters suffered a broken cheekbone in an incident with Craig Smith, an incident that ended Walters' playing days and cost Smith a 6-week suspension.

Berrigan returned against the Sharks the following week, but he could do little to prevent the Broncos equalling their worst ever losing run of 5-games. Again, the Broncos led in the second half only to be run down 24-16, leaving them sitting precariously in fifth spot. A home match against Canberra was expected to get them on the right track and after yet another good start leading 8-0 it looked promising. 50 minutes later Canberra led 40-8 and Broncos fans were leaving ANZ Stadium in droves - those that turned up at all anyway. Late tries to Sailor and Tuqiri gave the scoreline some respectability at 40-18, but it completed Brisbane's worst ever losing run of 6 games. For Sailor it was a sad end to his career at ANZ, but he gave the crowd one last thrill with his first and only conversion in first grade after full time.

With the media refusing to let the Justin Hodges debacle lie, Bennett began a personal war against them. He refused to attend post-match press conferences and the only contact the media had with him was via his column in the Courier Mail. After the Broncos ended their losing run with a confidence building 42-14 win over the Northern Eagles at NorthPower Stadium, many expected Bennett would break his silence. He didn't.

The finals began and the Broncos took on the Sharks at Toyota Park. It was the third year in succession the two clubs met in the first week of the finals and the Sharks took a 2-1 advantage with a lacklustre 20-6 win. The Broncos were the more lacklustre obviously, with only a scrappy try to Shaun Berrigan to show for it. Did Bennett speak? No.

The NRL rushed through a regulation forcing coaches to attend post-match press conferences in the lead-up to the elimination semi-final against St George-Illawarra. However, the match became insignificant with events that happened during the week.

None of us will ever forget where we were or what we were doing the day two jetliners plowed into New York's World Trade Center, killing an estimated 6000 people, and a further two crashed into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. It was the worst act of terrorism witnessed and sent shockwaves through every country in the world and began a war against terror that has done little but promote more.

The Broncos continued their preparation and were watched that weekend by two men who had just days earlier fought on the tennis court in New York - Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter. The Broncos promised something special, and they delivered. Try, try, try. After 20 minutes it was 20-0 to the Broncos. Civoniceva scored two in the opening 5 minutes and Wendell Sailor, possibly playing his last Rugby League game, scored one. Sailor scored another before half time for a 26-12 lead.

Chris Walker cleaned up a Lockyer kick shortly after the break for a 32-12 lead before Nathan Blacklock scored one of the most ridiculous tries of all time. Well and truly tackled, Blacklock leapt forward to "score". The video referee, insanely, awarded the try. The Broncos weren't fazed, instead launching a mesmerising length of the field attack through Kelly and Sailor, who combined for the winger to score his third try. The Dragons scored back to back tries to remain in the hunt trailing 36-28.

Wendell Sailor had never scored 4 tries before, but tonight was his night. He crossed with minutes on the clock for a 40-28 lead, and then Walker finished the rout with his second. The Broncos to meet Parramatta in the preliminary final - as they did 12 months earlier - with a 46-28 win.

The Eels had a reputation for choking the week before the Grand Final, having done so every year since 1998. In 2001, it looked no different. A host of errors, fumbles and brain explosions gave the Broncos every opportunity to go into their sixth Grand Final. However, Brisbane couldn't make the most of their chances and trailed 14-12 at half time. The Broncos came out firing in the second half, but tragically Walker lost the ball twice in tryscoring situations, Jamie Lyon scoring a runaway try to all but seal victory at 20-12. Lote Tuqiri gave the Broncos hope with a try to get within four points, but the Eels were more determined if not in better form, holding on 24-12 to progress to their first Grand Final in 15 years.

It was a tearful end for the Broncos, with Priddis and Sailor bidding farewell to a club they had grown to love. For Priddis it was especially bitter given that he never wanted to leave. But the Broncos felt they could take solace if the Eels went on to win the premiership.

Sadly - but at the same time sweetly - that wasn't to be. The Eels choked as only they know how in the decider, trailing 24-0 by half time. Newcastle eventually won 30-24 to win their first full premiership after winning the ARL side of the split competitions in 1997. Tears flowed for the Eels, and for a lot of people in Brisbane they flowed again - although they were a combination of joy and sadness, knowing their team could have been much more competitive had they made it.

Nevertheless the season was gone, and all that was left was a Kangaroo tour of England. But the tour itself was thrown into turmoil when the United States began its retaliation for the September 11 terrorist attacks by bombing Afghanistan. With fears about the extent of British involvement, the ARL, forced by tour members Brad Fittler, Lockyer, Webcke, Johns and Robbie Kearns, cancelled the tour. The uproar was immediate. Afghanistan being almost 10000 kilometres away fro Britain seemed, to many, to be no risk at all.

After much constenation, the ARL decided to tour afterall, but dropped all club matches and instead decided on a three-week three-test tour. All but Webcke decided to tour, with the Broncos prop standing by his principles and original decision, albeit based on incorrect advice.

The Kangaroos started badly, going down to Britain 20-12 in the first test, leaving them at risk of being the first Australian side to be beaten by the British in nearly 30 years. They fought back with a 44-12 win in the second Test, with Darren Lockyer, Brad Meyers, Dane Carlaw and Lote Tuqiri contributing. The decider was a much tougher affair, but the Australians still had too much firepower, winning 28-8. Sadly Tuqiri missed the decider after injuring his knee during the second.

Season 2001 was a tumultuous one for the Broncos. Injuries, disputes, and family tragedies provided a plethora of lows, but the development of so much young talent ensured many highlights. 2002 promised to be no different. With no major offseason signings much would depend on the returns of injured players. But for one injured player the pain would continue. Ben Ikin, returning to preseason training after recuperating from his knee reconstruction, reinjured the same knee. After surgery there were grave doubts about his availability for the following season.

Scott Prince had a year he would rather forget. Indifferent form, the death of his father and a horrendous injury that would encourage most people to quit. But thanks to the advice of Brisbane Lions AFL premiership winning captain Michael Voss, who suffered a similar injury in 1996, he fought back and expected to be on the field in April.

For Danny Bampton the news wasn't as good. After missing most of the year with a knee injury, Bampton ruptured his knee cap during a semi-final for Toowoomba. The injury so severe it forced the 22-year-old to retire.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the Broncos. The Clydesdales went one better from 2000, beating Redcliffe 28-26 in the Grand Final. A thrilling final ended with a try to Broncos young gun Casey McGuire scoring the matchwinning try just seconds before full time. It gave Kevin Walters a premiership winning debut to coaching, and encouraged great things to come for McGuire, Tate and Parker, who all contributed to the victory.

And, once again, that man Allan Langer was on the horizon. After ending his career with Warrington, Langer returned to Australia and the rumours surfaced that he would once again wear the maroon and gold. He began preseason training and vowed to make a decision early in 2002.

Off the field it was high drama for the club. Shareholders were getting restless with an underperforming stock. John Singleton and David Kingston called for an extraordinary general meeting, which immediately brought about the resignation of chairman Peter Chegwyn. He was replaced by former XXXX boss Don Nissen. Unsatisfied with the change, Singleton mounted a takeover bid to gain control from News Limited, who controlled 45% of the company. News counteroffered, forcing Singleton to withdraw his initial offer. However, as News' offer had a caveat that Singleton had to press on with his bid, they attempted to force Singleton to go through with his bid.

In the end, News decided to continue with their bid to gain 100% ownership of the club, a bid that had not yet been decided by New Year 2002. For many fans of both the Broncos and Rugby League in general, a fully News owned and operated Brisbane Broncos was a frightening prospect.

But time would tell.