http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2017/04/26/broncos_panthers_fir.html
First Broncos-Panthers A Nailbiter
Bryan Niebling played only three games - for three wins - against the Panthers in his short career with the Broncos, but he clearly remembers that none of the victories were ever easy.
Niebling, already a 13 Test and nine Origin veteran when the Broncos joined the NRL (then NSWRL) competition in 1988, had just two seasons with the club before finishing his career in England. But from his brief experience in the toughest rugby league competition played, he knows the Broncos will be courting danger if they underestimate the Panthers tomorrow night.
“They may not be in the greatest of form at the moment and are probably not where many thought they would be on the ladder, but I see this as a real danger game for the Broncos,” said Niebling, who is now 56 and a grandfather to two little girls.
“At the end of last season the Panthers were as hot as any team in the competition with their eight wins from their final nine premiership rounds. And teams don’t lose that skill, they just lose form.
“They will find their mojo again – the Broncos want to hope it is not this week.”
Niebling recalls the Broncos of 1988 copping a reality shock from the Panthers in just the second game of their foundation season. The Broncos had scored a 44-10 win against premiers Manly the previous weekend and were still digesting the plaudits and an immediate premiership favouritism tag.
“I’m not saying we went into the game with or heads in the clouds, but it was tough to come down from the high we were on from that win against Manly,” he recalled.
“We beat Penrith 20-18 in a really tough, physical game, and had to come from behind to do it. I think it was Smokin’ Joe (Kilroy) who scored with 10 minutes to go to get us home. We let a good halftime lead (16-2) slip, and it is never easy to come back when the opposition has gained the momentum.”
The Broncos fielded a star-studded side that afternoon. Niebling was one of 11 players who had either played for his country or would go on to represent the Kangaroos.
But, as he stressed, the Panthers were not short on talent either.
“They had a big, aggressive forward pack that included Mark Geyer, John Cartwright, Peter Kelly and a raw-boned prop named Matt Goodwin, who I think was a shearer from the bush,” he said.
“And in the backs they had rep players Greg Alexander, Brad Izzard and Chris Mortimer, as well as a big tall centre – Graeme Bradley – who preferred to run over the top of blokes rather than around them.”
Niebling said there was a lot about Penrith that reminded him of the Broncos.
“They have a huge junior area and produce a host of local talent and, like the Broncos, aren’t particularly the flavour of the month with the other Sydney fans,” he said.
“And now that Anthony Griffin is in charge, there is another link to our club.”
Bryan Niebling‘s three wins against the Panthers came in 1988 – 22-18 and 8-6 - and in 1989 - 28-8.
Round 2, 1988: Broncos 20 (Greg Conescu, Allan Langer, Keith Gee, Joe Kilroy tries; Terry Matterson 2 goals) beat Panthers 18, at Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium; Penalties: Panthers 7-6; Crowd: 13,621; Referee: Kevin Roberts.
Broncos: Colin Scott, Joe Kilroy, Chris Johns, Gene Miles, Michael Hancock, Wally Lewis (c), Allan Langer, Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Bryan Niebling, Keith Gee, Billy Noke, Terry Matterson .
Interchange: Kerrod Walters, Mark Hohn
Panthers: who f**king cares, f**k these Civoniceva-thieving merkins. Brisbane by 74
