2008 Brisbane Broncos season

The Broncos started the season winning their first three games. 48–12 against the Penrith Panthers in round 1, 20–14 against the Sydney Roosters in round 2 and 36–2 against the North Queensland Cowboys in round 3. Round 3 gave way to an attendance of 50,612 people, biggest crowd at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos suffered their first loss of the 2008 season with a 28–8 loss to reigning premiers the Melbourne Storm in round 4.

Round 5 saw the Broncos have a 34–22 win over the Newcastle Knights at Energy Australia Stadium. Justin Hodges starred with a two try effort with Michael Ennis also scoring two tries, while always looking dangerous. Round 6 was a disappointing 26–24 loss for the Broncos to the red hot Gold Coast Titans. The Titans burst out of the blocks with a 16–0 lead after 20 mins. However the Broncos fought back strongly, with a missed goal from the sideline from Michael Ennis late in the second half the difference. In round 9, the Broncos lost their first match of the season while leading at halftime when they led 12–6 at halftime to lose 30–12 against the Manly Sea Eagles, it was also Broncos first loss for the season at Suncorp Stadium. In round 10, the Broncos lost their first back-to-back losses for the season when they lost to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13–6 at Toyota Park. The Broncos returned to the winners list with a very thrilling 30–26 win against the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium in round 12. Also Denan Kemp equalled the record for the most tries in a match for the Broncos with 4 tries against the Eels in round 12. Karmichael Hunt kicked his first ever field goal when he won the game for the Broncos 19–18 against the Wests Tigers in round 15. Also Nick Kenny scored his first ever try in first grade against the Tigers. The Broncos played out their first draw since round 25, 2004 and the first draw of the season with a hard-fought 12–12 draw with the Penrith Panthers at CUA Stadium in round 16. In round 20, the Broncos won their first back to back wins since round 8 with a hard fort 18–12 win over the Cronulla Sharks at Suncorp Stadium. Joel Clinton has scored his first try for the Broncos in the Broncos 25–21 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium in round 24. In round 25, the Broncos secured another finals campaign with a 36–22 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos will compete in their 17th straight finals series. The Broncos took on the Sydney Roosters in the Qualifying Final and the Broncos turned an 8-point halftime deficit into an 8-point win coming from 16–8 down to win 24–16 at the SFS. The Broncos season came to an end when Greg Inglis crossed the line with 1 minute to play as the Broncos led the Melbourne Storm 14–12 in the semi-final at Suncorp Stadium. They lost 16–14.

After the NRL season, Brisbane's Darius Boyd was selected to make his international debut for Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

As of 20 September 2008

More information Cap., Nat. ...

Cap.	Nat.	Player	Position	First Broncos game	Previous First Grade RL club
76		Darren Lockyer (c)	Five-eighth	1995	—N/a
79		Tonie Carroll	Lock	1996	—N/a
100		Justin Hodges	Centre	2000	—N/a
106		Corey Parker	Second-row	2001	—N/a
124		Craig Frawley	Wing	2003	Canberra Raiders
127		David Stagg	Second-row	2003	—N/a
128		Sam Thaiday	Second-row	2003	—N/a
130		Karmichael Hunt	Fullback	2004	—N/a
138		Steve Michaels	Wing	2005	—N/a
139		Nick Kenny	Prop	2005	—N/a
140		Greg Eastwood	Lock	2005	—N/a
141		Darius Boyd	Centre	2006	—N/a
142		Shane Perry	Halfback	2006	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
143		Michael Ennis	Hooker	2006	St. George Illawarra Dragons
144		Ben Hannant	Prop	2006	Sydney Roosters
147		Joel Moon	Centre	2006	—N/a
148		Dave Taylor	Prop	2006	—N/a
149		Nick Emmett	Centre	2006	—N/a
153		Denan Kemp	Wing	2007	—N/a
154		Mick Roberts	Hooker	2007	—N/a
157		Reece Robinson	Wing	2008	—N/a
158		Peter Wallace	Halfback	2008	Penrith Panthers
159		Joel Clinton	Prop	2008	Penrith Panthers
160		Ashton Sims	Second-row	2008	St. George Illawarra Dragons
161		PJ Marsh	Hooker	2008	Parramatta Eels
162		Derrick Watkins	Second-row	2008	North Queensland Cowboys
163		Andrew McCullough	Hooker	2008	—N/a
164		Isaak Ah Mau	Prop	2008	—N/a
165		Josh Hoffman	Fullback	2008	—N/a
166		Kaine Manihera	Wing	2008	—N/a
—		Ryan Barton	Second-row	Yet to debut	—N/a
—		Gerard Beale	Centre	Yet to debut	—N/a
—		Rodney Davies	Wing	Yet to debut	—N/a
—		Tom Hewitt	Wing	Yet to debut	St. George Illawarra Dragons
—		Jason Moon	Centre	Yet to debut	—N/a
—		Palmer Wapau	Second-row	Yet to debut	—N/a

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For the first time since the formation of the NRL in 1998, every team fielded a team in the same second-tier competition the NRL Under-20s, guaranteeing fans a high standard curtain raiser before every NRL game. The National Youth Competition (known commercially as the Toyota Cup due to sponsorship from Toyota Australia) ran parallel to the NRL.^[13] Similar to the NRL, the NYC enforces a salary cap and puts a heavy focus on life outside football for the players.^[14][15]

In the competition's inaugural season, Brisbane were coached by Anthony Griffin and captained by Alex Glenn.^[16] The Broncos finished the regular season in 2nd position, with 15 wins and 8 losses. The Broncos reached the Grand Final against the minor premiers the Canberra Raiders, but lost in Golden Point 28-24, the first Golden Point match in the competition's history.

Halfback Ben Hunt was crowned the competition's Player of The Year, having scored 17 tries, kicked 49 goals and set up 41 tries throughout the season.^[17] Winger Jharal Yow Yeh was named on the Wing in the Team of The Year, scoring 27 tries in 26 games. Both re-signed in July for a further two seasons.^[11]

Fullback Josh Hoffman and hooker Andrew McCullough both made their NRL debuts throughout the 2008 NRL season, and have also re-signed with the club for another two seasons.^[11]

Notable achievements

More information Achievement, Player ...

Achievement	Player	Total
Most Tries	Jharal Yow Yeh	27 Tries (26 Games)
Most Goals	Jared Kahu[18]	52/70 @74.29%
Most Points	Ben Hunt	166 Points (17 Tries, 49 Goals)
Most Games	Alex Glenn (c), Matt Handcock	27 Games[16]

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More information Round, Opponent ...

Round	Opponent	Result	Bris.	Opp.	Date	Venue
1	Penrith Panthers	Loss	24	28	16 March	Suncorp Stadium
2	Sydney Roosters	Loss	16	40	21 March	Sydney Football Stadium
3	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	32	10	28 March	Suncorp Stadium
4	Melbourne Storm	Win	28	24	4 April	Olympic Park
5	Newcastle Knights	Win	26	20	13 April	EnergyAustralia Stadium
6	Gold Coast Titans	Loss	20	30	18 April	Skilled Park
7	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Loss	16	28	25 April	Suncorp Stadium
8	Wests Tigers	Loss	18	31	3 May	ANZ Stadium
9	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Win	42	12	11 May	Suncorp Stadium
10	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Win	40	8	17 May	Toyota Park
11	Bye
12	Parramatta Eels	Win	32	6	30 May	Suncorp Stadium
13	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Draw	22	22	6 June	WIN Stadium
14	Canberra Raiders	Loss	8	48	15 June	Canberra Stadium
15	Wests Tigers	Win	48	0	20 June	Suncorp Stadium
16	Penrith Panthers	Win	38	24	27 June	CUA Stadium
17	Bye
18	Canterbury Bulldogs	Loss	16	33	13 July	Suncorp Stadium
19	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	34	16	18 July	Dairy Farmers Stadium
20	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Win	40	4	25 July	Suncorp Stadium
21	Canberra Raiders	Loss	24	28	3 August	Suncorp Stadium
22	New Zealand Warriors	Win	32	12	9 August	Mt. Smart
23	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Win	30	22	15 August	Suncorp Stadium
24	Gold Coast Titans	Win	40	12	22 August	Suncorp Stadium
25	Canterbury Bulldogs	Win	40	12	31 August	Stadium Australia
26	Newcastle Knights	Win	18	6	5 September	Suncorp Stadium
QF	Canterbury Bulldogs	Win	28	22	12 September	Aussie Stadium
PF	New Zealand Warriors	Win	28	26	20 September	Aussie Stadium
GF	Canberra Raiders	Loss	24	28	28 September	ANZ Stadium

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Ladder

More information Pos, Team ...

2008 Toyota Cup season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Canberra Raiders (P)	24	18	0	6	2	744	581	+163	40
2	Brisbane Broncos	24	15	1	8	2	684	476	+208	35
3	New Zealand Warriors	24	14	3	7	2	721	533	+188	35
4	Penrith Panthers	24	15	1	8	2	692	583	+109	35
5	Parramatta Eels	24	14	3	7	2	578	564	+14	35
6	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	13	2	9	2	561	520	+41	32
7	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	12	3	9	2	711	587	+124	31
8	Gold Coast Titans	24	13	1	10	2	686	567	+119	31
9	Wests Tigers	24	13	0	11	2	620	623	-3	30
10	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	11	2	11	2	618	584	+34	28
11	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	24	11	0	13	2	519	532	-13	26
12	Newcastle Knights	24	8	1	15	2	526	630	-104	21
13	Melbourne Storm	24	8	1	15	2	512	638	-126	21
14	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	6	1	17	2	394	666	-272	17
15	Sydney Roosters	24	6	0	18	2	480	721	-241	16
16	North Queensland Cowboys	24	4	3	17	2	455	696	-241	15

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In 2008, the Broncos feeder clubs were: Burleigh Bears, Easts Tigers, Central Comets, Norths Devils, Redcliffe Dolphins and Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

• NRL season 2008
• History of the Brisbane Broncos