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The Brisbane Broncos joined the big time in 1988 under coach Wayne Bennett and had a wonderful run of success until he left the club at the end of the 2008 season. Amongst their six premierships to date they won the inaugural NRL title in 1998 and then backed up for more success in both 2000 and 2006.
Some of the best players of all time have represented the club, including the immortal Wally Lewis, and Queensland Origin champions in Gene Miles, Dale Shearer, Allan Langer, Shane Webcke, Steve Renouf, Sam Backo and Peter Jackson.
Their greatest-ever team reads like a who’s who of Queensland Origin and Kangaroos players, and would be very hard to beat, but who makes their greatest team of the NRL era?
Here’s my team, showing the number of games they played for the Broncos in the NRL era, and the only selection criteria is that they must have played a minimum of 50 top-grade games for the club from the 1998 season onwards.
1. Darren Lockyer (c) (304)
Lockyer was one of the all-time greats of rugby league in Australia, and there’s virtually nothing he didn’t achieve. He’s arguably the greatest Bronco player of all time.
2. Wendell Sailor (103)
Sailor sits in equal second place on the Broncos’ all-time try-scorers list, and he had the lot as a winger – power, speed, footwork and more than his fair share of confidence. He won three premierships with the Broncos.
3. Justin Hodges (195)
Big, mean and very competitive, Hodges debuted as a 17-year-old with the Broncos in 2000, spent three years with the Roosters, and then really hit his straps under Wayne Bennett when he returned to the Sunshine State in 2005. He was one of the first players picked for Queensland each year, and also played 13 Tests for Australia.
4. Brent Tate (115)
Tate was a rugged and classy outside back who battled injuries to build a reputation as one of the very best, playing 23 games for Queensland in his career and 25 Test matches.
5. Lote Tuquiri (100)
Tuquiri was big, quick, knew the way to the try-line and was a Broncos’ institution before successfully making the switch to rugby and the Wallabies.
6. Kevin Walters (70)
Walters already had 11 seasons in the top grade under his belt by the time the NRL got underway but was still good enough to pick up premierships in both 1998 and 2000.
7. Ben Hunt (189)
Hunt was one of the Broncos’ most consistent players during his nine years with the club and was also a regular member of both the Queensland and Australian teams.
Ben Hunt last played for the Brisbane Broncos in 2017. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
8. Shane Webcke (220)
Arguably the best forward ever to don the Broncos’ maroon and gold jersey, Webcke set the standard for front rowers during his time with the club, winning four premierships and being the first forward picked every time he was available for Queensland and Australia.
9. Andrew McCullough (263)
A great servant of the club who never left anything on the paddock in his 13 years as a Bronco. He surely would have played more than four times for the Maroons, and possibly also for Australia, but for the existence of Cameron Smith.
10. Petero Civoniceva (214)
A man mountain who, along with Shane Webcke, formed one of the best front row combinations for his club, state and country. One of the all-time greats.
11. Gorden Tallis (150)
Hard-running, ruthless and fearsome. That just about sums Tallis up. He was a great competitor and arguably the best edge forward of his era, playing 20 Origins for Queelsand and 16 Tests for Australia and he won three premierships with the Broncos.
12. Matt Gillett (200)
Gillett was the type of hard-working, mobile and relentless back rower that every team needs. He never backed off for a minute during his ten years with Brisbane and was also a regular selection for both Queensland and Australia.
13. Corey Parker (347)
Parker was another magnificent servant of the club, putting in 16 seasons between 2001 and 2016 and finishing as the club’s top point scorer. He won a premiership with the Broncos in 2006 and was a regular selection in both the Maroons and Australian teams.
14. Shaun Berrigan (188)
No better player to have on the bench than Berrigan, a two-time premiership winner with the Broncos, Clive Churchill Medal winner, and was equally at home at hooker, halfback, five-eighth or centre not only for his club, but also for both Queensland and the Kangaroos.
15. Brad Thorn (141)
An absolute weapon on the paddock whether playing for Brisbane, Queensland, the Kangaroos or the All Blacks. Thorn won four premierships with the Broncos.
16. Sam Thaiday (308)
The big back rower debuted as an 18-year-old with the Broncos and spent his entire 16-season career with the club, winning a premiership in 2006, playing 29 games for the Maroons and 34 Tests for Australia.
17. Patrick Carrigan (105 and counting)
Carrigan is the best Broncos forward to emerge in the last decade and he can maintain his high energy game for long minutes. Already a certain selection in both the Queensland and Australian teams, Carrigan’s well on the way to becoming one of the greatest Broncos of all time.
Now that’s a strong side, with points everywhere in the backline, and a pack that will win the battle in the middle every day of the week.
Did I leave anyone out?
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