Lockyer's class sees the Broncos
home

The Brisbane Broncos have held off a determined Parramatta Eels side 34-24 at Parramatta Stadium this evening. The match was played in cold conditions but the game itself was fast and open with some end to end action with plenty of points to keep the fans happy.

If not for the class of Darren Lockyer, Brisbane may well have lost the game. Lockyer was involved in everything that happened and his silky skills were amazing to watch. His passing and kicking were of the highest quality and the win gives the Broncos an excellent chance of finishing the regular season in the top four and more importantly a home semi final in front of their legion of fans.

Broncos rookie Karmichael Hunt also had an outstanding game and his ability belies his youth, such is his talent.

Parramatta were down by 12 points at various stages throughout the match but to their credit they never gave up but with their main playmaker Adam Dykes sidelined early in teh match with a chest injury, the Eels direction and kicking game suffered at vital stages throughout the match. Nathan Hindmarsh had a strong game, running with plenty of gusto for the entire match and he was again the Eels best by a fair margin.

The loss puts the Eels in a precarious position and still eaves them outside the top eight but the signs are there the Eels still have plenty of fight left in them for 2004.

Scorers: EELS 24 Tries: McKinnon, Burt, Graham, Widders. Goals: Burt 4/4

defeated by

BRONCOS 34 Tries: Mcguire, Hunt, De vere, Smith x 2, Frawley. Goals: De vere 5/6

By the clock: 1st min: Kickoff! We are underway at a very chilly Parramatta Stadium.

5th min: TRY - Broncos. Casey Mcguire scores the Broncos first try after Darren Smith made a break, passed to De vere who then passed it to Frawley who ran backwards for about ten metres before passing to Mcguire who crashed over the line. Conversion successful. Broncos 6-0.

13th min: An open match considering the dry, windy conditions. The Eels have been on the wrong end of the referee's whistle so far but they are still in their swinging.

14th min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Lockyer throws a magnificent flick pass to Karmichael Hunt who has to much class for Wade McKinnon to score. Conversion successful. Broncos 12-0.

20th min: TRY - Eels. Whatever you do I can do better say Parra as Wade McKinnon races 65 metres to score unbtouched after getting a great flick pass to send him on his way. Conversion successful. Broncos 12-6.

29th min: TRY - Eels. Parra are well and truly in the hunt now. Luke Burt scored in the corner and are asking plenty of questions of the Broncos defence which is starting to look very tired in the leadup to half time. Conversion successful. 12 all.

38th min: TRY - Broncos. Just before half time, Darren Lockyer throws a beautiful cut out pass to Michael De vere who knows only one way to the try line. Conversion successful. Broncos 18-12.

HALF TIME: Great first half of football from both sides. The Broncos lead by six but the Eels are still well in the hunt and the x factor will be the fatigue level on the Broncos players.

NEWS: Adam Dykes has been stretchered of with what looks to be a serious chest injury.

48th min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Smith at the tender age of 35 scores his first try of the season in a cameo appearance for the Broncos. Darren Lockyer was the man to set it all up. Lockyer is having an outstanding game. Conversion successful. Broncos 24-12.

57th min: TRY - Eels. Nathan Hindmarsh makes a great run down the right hand side and passed off to Ashley Graham who just got over the line. The video ref gave it as benefit of the doubt but it's on the board now and Darren Lockyer is not happy. Conversion successful. Broncos 24-18.

64th min: TRY - Eels. What a game of fottball. Dean Widders scores out wide after getting outside his man and charged relentlessly towards to white stripe. Conversion successful. 24 all.

68th min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Smith bags his second try after Lockyer put up the bomb and Burt and McKinnon collide, leaving Smith to clean up the scraps. Conversion successful. Broncos 30-24.

77th min: TRY - Broncos. Brisbane win an entertaining match with Craig Frawley crossing in the corner to secure the win for the Broncos. The Eels played well but the class of Lockyer proved to be the difference. Conversion unsuccessful. Broncos 34-24.

FULL TIME: The Broncos have won a hard fought matach against an enthusiastic Eels outfit but the Eels just didn't have the class when it mattered most whereas Brisbane have darren Lockyer and he was superb.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - Darren Lockyer (Broncos) 2 - Karmichael Hunt (Broncos) 1 - Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels) -----------------------------------------