2003 Brisbane Broncos season

The 2003 Brisbane Broncos season was the sixteenth in the history of the Brisbane Broncos. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Gorden Tallis, they competed in the NRL's 2003 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 8th (out of 15) and making the finals for the 12th consecutive year. The Broncos were then knocked out in the first match against eventual premiers, the Penrith Panthers.

Season summary

In the pre-season Bruno Cullen replaced Shane Edwards as Broncos Chief Executive Officer. The Brisbane Broncos had a strong start to the 2003 season, winning 11 of their first 14 games, but later breaking the club's longest losing streak record by losing their last 8 games straight. Brisbane still made it to the finals, finishing the regular season in 8th position, but lost the Qualifying Final to the Penrith Panthers 28-18. The 2003 season was the first in the Broncos' history in which they lost more games than they won. In the first half of the 2003 season, whilst still at ANZ Stadium, the Broncos were only beaten once (by the New Zealand Warriors in round five). However, upon returning to Suncorp Stadium in round 12, the Broncos only won a home match once (defeating the Sydney Roosters in round 16).

A total of twelve Broncos players were selected to play in the mid-season 2003 State of Origin series, making them the most heavily represented club. Also in 2003 the Rugby Union World Cup was played in Australia. As a testament to the quality of the athletes produced at the Broncos, three of the club's former players would feature in two of the top three finishing teams of the rugby union world's peak competition, all of them having played together in the Broncos' 2000 premiership-winning side: Lote Tuquri with Wendell Sailor for The Wallabies and Brad Thorn for The All Blacks.

The Broncos were once again in the upper echelons of the ladder before losing their last eight games and falling to eighth place, nearly missing the finals for the first time since 1991.

Fullback Darren Lockyer was named the Broncos' player of the season.

Match results
RoundOpponentResultBro.Opp.DateVenueCrowdPosition
1Penrith PanthersWin242016 MarPenrith Football Stadium6/15
2South Sydney RabbitohsWin222023 MarAussie Stadium4/15
3Cronulla SharksWin30430 MarANZ Stadium2/15
4North Queensland CowboysWin32245 AprDairy Farmers Stadium2/15
5New Zealand WarriorsLoss123213 AprANZ Stadium4/15
6Sydney RoostersLoss202718 AprAussie Stadium6/15
7Parramatta EelsWin201425 AprParramatta Stadium5/15
8Wests TigersWin3864 MayLeichhardt Oval3/15
9North Queensland CowboysWin381211 MayANZ Stadium2/15
10Melbourne StormWin361618 MayANZ Stadium1/15
11Canterbury BulldogsWin24023 MayTelstra Stadium1/15
12Newcastle KnightsLoss22321 JunSuncorp Stadium3/15
13Bye2/15
14*Canberra RaidersWin242015 JunCanberra Stadium1/15
15Bye1/15
16*Sydney RoostersWin10827 JunSuncorp Stadium1/15
17St George Illawarra DragonsLoss16324 JulWIN Stadium1/15
18Canterbury BulldogsLoss44011 JulSuncorp Stadium3/15
19*Melbourne StormWin262220 JulOlympic Park3/15
20Manly Sea EaglesLoss202626 JulSuncorp Stadium4/15
21Cronulla SharksLoss10202 AugToyota Park5/15
22Penrith PanthersLoss6138 AugSuncorp Stadium5/15
23Wests TigersLoss101216 AugSuncorp Stadium5/15
24New Zealand WarriorsLoss142224 AugEricsson Stadium7/15
25Parramatta EelsLoss141630 AugSuncorp Stadium8/15
26St George Illawarra DragonsLoss25265 SepSuncorp Stadium8/15
Qualif. FinalPenrith PanthersLoss182814 SepPenrith Football Stadium
*Game following a State of Origin match

Ladder
Team Pld W D L B F A P/D Pts
1Penrith Panthers241806265952713240
2Sydney Roosters241707268044523538
3Canterbury Bulldogs241608270241928336
4Canberra Raiders241608262046315736
5Melbourne Storm24150925644867834
6New Zealand Warriors24150925455103534
7Newcastle Knights24140102632635-332
8Brisbane Broncos241201224974643328
9Parramatta Eels24110132570582-1226
10St George Illawarra Dragons24110132548593-4526
11North Queensland Cowboys24100142606629-2324
12Cronulla Sharks2480162497704-20720
13Wests Tigers2470172470598-12818
14Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles2470172470791-23418
15South Sydney Rabbitohs2430212457758-30110

Scorers
PlayerTriesGoalsFGPoints
Michael De Vere1269/970186
Darren Lockyer92/3141
Shaun Berrigan100040
Brent Tate90036
Stuart Kelly80032
Casey McGuire80032
Tonie Carroll60024
Dane Carlaw50020
Scott Minto50020
Ben Ikin40016
Gorden Tallis40016
Petero Civoniceva30012
Craig Frawley30012
Corey Parker30012
Richard Swain02/304
Neale Wyatt1004
Shane Webcke1004
Carl Webb1004
Scott Prince*00/100

(*Did not technically score any points.)

Honours

League
  • Nil

Club

References
  1. "Honour Board". broncos.com.au. Brisbane Broncos. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2013.

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