2009 Brisbane Broncos season

The 2009 Brisbane Broncos season was the 22nd in the club's history and their first without foundation coach Wayne Bennett. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership and by the 12th round were leading the competition, but then suffered one of their worst post-State of Origin form slumps ever and spent rounds 16 to 22 outside the top eight. The team managed to finish the regular season 6th (out of 16), qualifying for the finals for the 18th consecutive year. The Broncos then came within one match of the grand final but were knocked out for the 3rd season in a row by eventual premiers the Melbourne Storm (who months later were found to have been cheating the salary cap over the previous four seasons and had all honours achieved during the period nullified by the NRL).

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak at a press conference in 2009.

Results

The new post-Bennett Broncos era got off to a thrilling start when they defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 19–18 in round 1 at Suncorp Stadium in the first game under coach Ivan Henjak. Star signing Israel Folau scored his first try in Broncos colours and the first try of the season for the club in the 6th minute, followed by NRL debutantes Antonio Winterstein and Jharal Yow Yeh who also crossed. In round 2 the Broncos defeated the Melbourne Storm for the first time since the 2006 NRL Grand Final. Israel Folau was up against his old club for the first time and scored a try in the 11th minute and second for the year for the Broncos.

For the second year in a row, The Broncos won the opening three rounds of the season when they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 26–10 at Mt Smart Stadium. In the following days Shane Webcke, who had been appointed assistant coach for Brisbane at the start of the season quit his post in the wake of controversy surrounding the release of his new book in which he was critical of some Broncos personnel. Later that week Wayne Bennett returned to Brisbane with the St. George Illawarra Dragons for round 4, coaching against his old club for the first time. Brisbane conceded their first loss of the season in what was also Darius Boyd's first match against his old club and the Dragons' 8th straight win against the Broncos.

The following week, the Broncos continued their 7-year winning streak in the Good Friday match against the Roosters, surviving a strong 2nd-half comeback by the Sydneysiders. In round 7, Darren Lockyer answered his critics as he helped the Broncos to a 40–8 win over the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium. Lockyer had a hand in most of the Broncos seven tries with Karmichael Hunt scoring three of the seven tries himself. Darren Lockyer's 300th game did not go as planned when they faced the Newcastle Knights in torrential rain at EnergyAustralia Stadium and lost, the match punctuated by a 35-minute half-time break. In round 10, Israel Folau equalled the club record for most tries in a match when he scored 4 tries against the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.

The following week, the Broncos survived a strong Wests Tigers side who were playing their 10th anniversary match, hanging on to win 20–18 at Campbelltown Stadium. In round 13, the Broncos suffered one of their worst defeats in the club's history when they lost 48–4 against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park. The loss is also equalled second in the Broncos worst defeats. In round 21, the Broncos were handed their worst ever defeat by the Canberra Raiders 56–0 at Canberra Stadium.

The following week, the Broncos bounced back to keep their finals hopes alive with a 30–10 win over the Cronulla Sharks at Suncorp Stadium. In round 24, The Broncos won their first match against the St. George Illawarra Dragons since round 6, 2005, when they beat the Dragons 12–2 at WIN Stadium. In round 25, the Broncos secured their 18th straight finals appearance when they beat Queensland rivals North Queensland Cowboys 16–10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The Broncos were the first opponent for the Gold Coast Titans competing in their first ever finals series. The Broncos survived a late comeback from the Titans holding on to a 40–32 win at Skilled Stadium. The Broncos made it consecutive wins against the St. George Illawarra Dragons for the first time since 2004 and their first win against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium since 2004 with a 24–10 win against the Dragons in the semi-final at Suncorp Stadium. Source:[1] Their chances against Melbourne in the grand final qualifier suffered a major blow when in form halfback Peter Wallace broke his ankle toward the end of that win against the Dragons. The Broncos 2009 season came to an end in the Preliminary Final going down 40–10 to eventual premiers, the Melbourne Storm at Etihad Stadium.

RoundOpponentResultBris.Opp.VenueDateCrowdPosition
TrialGold Coast TitansWin2418Kougari Oval, Wynnum14 February3,500
TrialCanberra RaidersWin3016Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe21 February10,500
TrialMelbourne StormLoss620Quad Park, Kawana28 February8,178[2]
1North Queensland CowboysWin1918Suncorp Stadium13 March45,0228/16
2Melbourne StormWin1614Suncorp Stadium20 March36,6473/16
3 New Zealand WarriorsWin2610Mt Smart Stadium28 March24,3501/16
4 St. George Illawarra DragonsLoss1225Suncorp Stadium3 April42,4354/16
5Sydney RoostersWin2824Sydney Football Stadium10 April18,4643/16
6 Penrith PanthersWin3818CUA Stadium17 April14,3322/16
7Parramatta EelsWin408Suncorp Stadium24 April30,8871/16
8 Newcastle KnightsLoss1228EnergyAustralia Stadium2 May18,1543/16
9Manly Sea EaglesLoss2022Suncorp Stadium10 May27,5273/16
10Gold Coast TitansWin3218Suncorp Stadium15 May43,0794/16
11 Wests TigersWin2018Campbelltown Stadium22 May9,6753/16
12Bye2/16
13Melbourne StormLoss448Olympic Park5 June15,3162/16
14 Canterbury BulldogsLoss2244Suncorp Stadium12 June26,3535/16
15Cronulla SharksLoss1246Toyota Park22 June8,1177/16
16Parramatta EelsLoss1421Parramatta Stadium26–29 June10,0309/16
17 New Zealand WarriorsWin2814Suncorp Stadium3–6 July32,4569/16
18Bye10–13 July/16
19South Sydney RabbitohsLoss1244Suncorp Stadium17 July50,109/16
20Gold Coast TitansLoss1834Skilled Park24 July26,336/16
21Canberra RaidersLoss056Canberra Stadium1 August10,200/16
22Cronulla SharksWin3010Suncorp Stadium10 August20,11410/16
23Penrith PanthersWin5824Suncorp Stadium16 August25,3058/16
24St. George Illawarra DragonsWin122WIN Stadium21 August17,0447/16
25North Queensland CowboysWin1610Dairy Farmers Stadium28 August24,332/16
26Canberra RaidersWin2210Suncorp Stadium6 September35,1126/16
QFGold Coast TitansWin4032Skilled Park12 September27,227
SF St. George Illawarra DragonsWin2410Suncorp Stadium19 September50,225
PFMelbourne StormLoss1040Etihad Stadium26 September27,687

Scorers
PlayerTriesGoalsField GoalsPoints
Corey Parker5750170
Israel Folau170068
Antonio Winterstein140056
Karmichael Hunt110044
Jharal Yow Yeh90036
Steve Michaels80032
Alex Glenn60024
Peter Wallace26\8121
David Taylor50020
Ben Te'o40016
Darren Lockyer40016
Justin Hodges30012
Sam Thaiday30012
Lagi Setu30012
Joel Clinton2008
Josh McGuire2008
Ashton Sims2008
Andrew McCullough2008
Nick Kenny1004
TOTAL103811585

Ladder
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2417072548329+21938
2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2418062575428+14738*
3 Gold Coast Titans 2416082514467+4736
4 Melbourne Storm 2414192505348+15733
5 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24140102549439+9032
6 Brisbane Broncos 24140102511566−5532
7 Newcastle Knights 24130112508491+1730
8 Parramatta Eels 24121112476473+329
9 Wests Tigers 24120122558483+7528
10 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24111122566549+1727
11 Penrith Panthers 24111122515589−7427
12 North Queensland Cowboys 24110132558474+8426
13 Canberra Raiders 2490152489510−3122
14 New Zealand Warriors 2472152377545−18820
15 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2450192359568−20914
16 Sydney Roosters 2450192382681−29914

* Bulldogs stripped of 2 competition points after an interchange breach in round 2

Squad

Bold Players have played International or State any year

Fullbacks


Wingers


Centres


Halves


Front Rowers


Hookers


Back Rowers

Coaching staff
NameCoaching Role
Ivan HenjakHead Coach
Allan LangerAssistant Coach
Paul GreenAssistant Coach
Peter RyanAssistant Coach
Dean BentonPerformance Director
Andrew CrollAthletic Performance Coach
Dan BakerStrength Coach
Tim GabbettSports Scientist

Shane Webcke was an Assistant Coach up until 6 April 2009, when he resigned from his role due to the controversy surrounding his auto-biography "Hard Road".[3] In addition, international cricketer and long-time Broncos fan Andrew Symonds was adopted by the club in an unpaid role assisting the coaching staff following his exile from cricket.

Honours

League
  • Nil

Club

Player movements

Gains
NameClub Coming FromDetails
Israel FolauMelbourne StormUntil 2010
Ben Te'oWests TigersUntil 2009
Lagi SetuSt George Illawarra DragonsUntil 2009
Aaron GorrellCatalans DragonsUntil 2009
Michael De VereRetirementUntil 2009

Losses
NameClub Going ToDetails
Denan KempNew Zealand WarriorsUntil 2010
Ben HannantCanterbury BulldogsUntil 2011
Michael EnnisCanterbury BulldogsUntil 2011
Joel MoonNew Zealand WarriorsUntil 2011
Shane PerryCatalans Dragons – ESLUntil 2009
Darius BoydSt George Illawarra DragonsUntil 2011
Greg EastwoodCanterbury BulldogsUntil 2011
Tonie CarrollRetired
Nick EmmettSt George Illawarra DragonsUnknown
David StaggCanterbury BulldogsUntil 2010
Wayne Bennett (Coach)St George Illawarra DragonsUntil 2011

Re-signings & Signings
NameContract details
Alex GlennContract ends 2012
Nick KennyContract ends 2012
Darren LockyerContract ends 2011
Sam ThaidayContract ends 2011
Denan KempContract ends 2010
Tim NatuschContract ends 2010
Scott AndersonContract ends 2011

Off contract at end of 2009
NameContract details
Karmichael HuntSigned with the French Rugby Union
David TaylorSigned with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Lagi SetuContract ends 2009
Aaron GorrellContract ends 2009

Off contract at end of 2010
NameContract details
Joel ClintonContract ends 2010
Ashton SimsContract ends 2010
Steve MichaelsContract ends 2010
PJ MarshContract ends 2010
Josh HoffmanContract ends 2010
Josh McGuireContract ends 2010
Andrew McCulloughContract ends 2010
Gerard BealeContract ends 2010
Ben Te'oContract ends 2010
Ivan Henjak (Coach)Contract ends 2010

Off contract at end of 2011
NameContract details
Kurt BaptisteContract ends 2011
Dale CopleyContract ends 2011
Dane GagaiContract ends 2011
David HalaContract ends 2011
Justin HodgesContract ends 2011
Ben HuntContract ends 2011
Kurtis LingwoodcockContract ends 2011
Darren LockyerContract ends 2011
Dunamis LuiContract ends 2011
Corey ParkerContract ends 2011
Sam ThaidayContract ends 2011

Off contract at end of 2012
NameContract details
Israel FolauContract ends 2012
Alex GlennContract ends 2012
Nick KennyContract ends 2012
Peter WallaceContract ends 2012
Jharal Yow YehContract ends 2012
gollark: Depends what the time interval is? People go out more (→ more spread and stuff) on weekends, for instance.
gollark: You could probably do safety briefs by video call, if there's not much participation.
gollark: Oh, you mean "legally considered essential by some things".
gollark: Why?
gollark: Maybe I should try and stop hedging and actually directly say "no, you aren't".

References
  1. http://media.foxsports.com.au/images/2009_nrl_fixtures.pdf
  2. "Accessed on 1 March 2009". Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Honour Board". broncos.com.au. Brisbane Broncos. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2013.

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