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Message: [QUOTE="Broncoman, post: 2709986, member: 7803"] [B]2011 Semi Final, Brisbane Broncos V St George Illawarra Dragons, September 17th 2011, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane [/B] In what turns out to be his last Broncos game Darren Lockyer lands a field goal in extra time sinking the Dragons in a classic finals game where the script couldn't have been written any better. [B]What was going on before the game? [/B]Ignoring the Lockyer farewell parade the Broncos rebounded after missing the finals for the first time since 1991 in 2010 with a strong 2011 season where they finished 3rd behind Melbourne and Manly and were never lower than 6th after losing in Round 1 to North Queensland. Brisbane's 40-10 demolition of the Warriors in week 1 of the finals put them against the St George Illawarra Dragons who had a topsy turvey year after the glory of 2010. The Dragons won 10 of their first 11 games then lost 8 of their next 11 games before wins against the Warriors and Penrith put them in 5th spot, they were beaten 21-12 by a form Tigers outfit sending them to Brisbane. All the hype before the game was Bennett V Lockyer. 2 QLD icons were in a battle of the lasts with Bennett attempting to end Lockyer's first grade career and Lockyer attempting to finish Bennett's Dragons coaching tenure. [B] First half [/B]The Broncos dominated the first half but could only post 1 try which came on the back of Lockyer as he timed his pass to perfection sending Ben Teo over in the 14th minute, Parker converted to add to the only points of the first half. Brisbane were getting through their sets and mounting pressure on the Dragons but the Dragons professionalism and wits in defence limited the Broncos to only the 1 try. The Broncos could of added another on the stroke of the 20th minute but Copley fumbled with only him and Boyd between the line. It was a quality battle as both sides were playing clean footy and getting to the end of their sets making for a good flow. [B]Second half [/B]Probably lifted by a Bennett speech the Dragons turned up the intensity after the break and started to mount some attacking raids after being completely on the back foot defending in the first half. A penalty against Cuthbertson enabled Parker to land a goal from long range extending the lead to 8 points. Ben Hornby almost scored but Yow Yeh pushed the ball dead forcing a drop out which the Dragons took advantage off with Cuthbertson getting them on the board, Soward converted to bring the score to 8-6. This lifted the Dragons as they mounted another raid but couldn't come up with anything. Brisbane got some breathing space as Copley went over with 14 to go after good lead up work from Beale and Reed, Parker missed the goal leaving the score 12-6. Lockyer copped a knock from Beale as the fullback went for a kick but Lockyer got up and continued on. With 5 minutes to go the Dragons though they had the levelling score but the video ref correctly ruled that Hornby knocked the ball on in the process before Prior grounded the ball. With 3 minutes to go Cuthbertson stripped the ball on halfway giving the Dragons a last ditch chance which they took as Soward and Hornby sent Boyd steaming over to score and Soward's conversion sent the game into extra time. It only took 90 seconds into extra time for the game to be decided as Lockyer put over a wobbly drop kick that scratched over from 27 meters out to send the crowd into raptures and the Broncos into the 3rd week of the finals. [B]Match Summary [/B] Classic finals game. I remembered the game as one where the Broncos were in control for the majority of the contest but failed to put them away and it needed Lockyer to do it in extra time. I was only going of a 4 year old memory before watching the game. The game was a quality contest that was very keenly fought with very few mistakes, big defense, great tries and a big play to decide it. Anyone apart from a few disgruntled Dragons fans would've enjoyed it immensely. [B]Broncoman man of the match; Darren Lockyer [/B]Bit cliched but I feel the Broncos wouldn't have won without Lockyer. He was always causing the Dragons problems with his running and passing and he showed some guts playing through pain in the end after coming of some friendly fire, his composure and leadership kept the Broncos well composed and his field goal decided a superb game. [B]Brisbane Broncos 13: [/B]Tries by Ben Teo and Dale Copley, 2 goals by Corey Parker and a field goal by Darren Lockyer [B]St George Illawarra Dragons 12: [/B]Tries by Adam Cuthbertson and Darius Boyd, 2 goals by Jamie Soward [B]Notes [/B]- Brett Morris showed some guts just like Lockyer playing on with a knee injury, he continued to be a thorn in our side and he relieved pressure for them before going of and going to the bench on crutches. Hodges unnecessarily flopped on him when he got the injury which I thought was ordinary from Hodges. - Adam Cuthbertson played a big role in the Dragons comeback which was surprising as I thought Soward was the one who did it. He scored the try to get them on the board and stripped the ball which gave them their last chance. - Hornby got away with blocking so many times it ins't funny but he was penalised a few times for it at least - Beale cops hate because of the Lockyer injury but he wasn't a villian at all, he was going for the ball and was one of our best players on the night actually. The hit to Lockyer is just one of those things that happens in Rugby League and is part of the game. - Beau Scott was playing an enforcer roll on Peter Wallace - The Nightingale pants around the ankles brought the crowd to life and is actually one of my favourite bizarre incidents watching sport - It was great at the time to see Lockyer create another piece of magic, his field goal at the end is going to be remembered as one of the biggest moments of this decade in Rugby League but Lockyer did it without all sorts of praise behind him. I personally found his last season so irritating to sit through. The amount of farewells and praise he got everytime he touched the ball was just embarrassing and got annoying very quickly. [B]Brisbane Broncos [/B]1: Gerard Beale 2: Dale Copley 3: Jack Reed 4: Justin Hodges 5: Jharal Yow Yeh 6: Darren Lockyer (Captain) 7: Peter Wallace 8: Josh McGuire 9: Andrew McCullogh 10: Ben Hannant 11: Alex Glenn 12: Ben Teo 13: Corey Parker 14: Matt Gillett 15: Ben Hunt 16: Scott Anderson 17: David Hala Coach: Anthony Griffin [B] St George Illawarra Dragons [/B] 1: Darius Boyd 2: Brett Morris 3: Mark Gasnier 4: Matt Cooper 5: Jason Nightingale 6: Jamie Soward 7: Ben Hornby 8: Dan Hunt 18: Mitch Rein 10: Michael Weyman 11: Beau Scott 17: Trent Merrin 12: Ben Creagh 13: Dean Young 14: Jon Green 15: Matt Prior 16: Adam Cuthbertson Coach: Wayne Bennett [media=youtube]IDNacxVG8-k[/media] [/QUOTE]

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