The 1989 Brisbane Broncos season was the second in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1989 Winfield Cup premiership and in their second year improved on their first, finishing the season in sixth position after losing their first ever play-off match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The Broncos did however claim their first piece of silverware by winning the mid-week knock-out 1989 Panasonic Cup competition.
Broncos trio Allan Langer, Michael Hancock and Kerrod Walters were selected to make their international debuts for Australia in 1989.
Season summary Coach Wayne Bennett said a mid-season 1989 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand contributed to the Broncos failing to reach the finals. Brisbane contributed captain Wally Lewis, Tony Currie, Peter Jackson, Michael Hancock, Kerrod Walters and Sam Backo - more players than any other club - to the successful Australian team, losing all three of their matches while they were away.
Match results Round Opponent Result Bro. Opp. Date Venue Crowd PositionRef PC (1) Canberra RaidersWin1813 1 Mar Pioneer Oval 1 Penrith PanthersWin288 19 Mar Lang Park 14,721 1/16 2 Manly Sea EaglesWin2218 26 Mar Brookvale Oval 17,736 2/16 3 Balmain TigersLoss615 2 Apr Lang Park 12,952 5/16 4 Western Suburbs MagpiesWin108 9 Apr Campbelltown 5,755 3/16 5 Newcastle KnightsWin2412 15 Apr Lang Park 13,080 1/16 6 Parramatta EelsWin62 23 Apr Parramatta 17,006 2/16 7 North Sydney BearsWin3610 30 Apr North Sydney 8,390 2/16 8 Illawarra SteelersWin3224 7 May Lang Park 12,990 2/16 9 Eastern SuburbsWin362 14 May SFS 7,426 1/16 PC (1/4) Parramatta EelsWin426 17 May Townsville Sports Centre 1/16 10* Gold Coast-Tweed GiantsWin162 28 May Lang Park 19.992 1/16 PC (1/2) South Sydney RabbitohsWin244 31 May Bathurst 1/16 11 St George DragonsLoss1020 4 Jun Kogarah Oval 6,691 2/16 PC (F) Illawarra SteelersWin2220 7 Jun Parramatta Stadium 16,698 2/16 12* Canberra RaidersLoss627 18 Jun Seiffert Oval 18,272 3/16 13 Cronulla SharksWin4210 24 Jun Lang Park 17,895 3/16 14* Canterbury BulldogsLoss822 1 Jul Belmore 9,185 3/16 15 South Sydney RabbitohsLoss820 9 Jul Lang Park 21,388 3/16 16 Penrith PanthersLoss818 16 Jul Penrith 10,981 3/16 17 Manly Sea EaglesLoss816 21 Jul Lang Park 16,100 4/16 18 Balmain TigersLoss624 30 Jul Leichhardt Oval 16,927 7/16 19 Western Suburbs MagpiesWin208 6 Aug Lang Park 19,524 6/16 20 Newcastle KnightsWin2016 13 Aug Newcastle ISC 27,000 6/16 21 Parramatta EelsWin168 20 Aug Lang Park 33,245 5/16 22 North Sydney BearsWin300 26 Aug Lang Park 18,496 5/16 Play-off for 5th Cronulla SharksLoss1438 29 Aug Parramatta 9,047 6/16 * Game following a State of Origin match
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 South Sydney Rabbitohs221813390207+183372 Penrith Panthers221606438241+197323 Balmain Tigers221417380236+144294 Canberra Raiders221408457287+170285 Brisbane Broncos221408398290+108286 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks221408368281+87287 Newcastle Knights22110112812810228 Parramatta Eels2211011346366-20229 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2210210280337-572210 St. George Dragons2210012330356-262011 Eastern Suburbs Roosters229112348346+21912 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles229112334343-91913 Western Suburbs Magpies227114229389-1601514 Gold Coast-Tweed Giants227114223383-1601515 North Sydney Bears225116194406-2121116 Illawarra Steelers222119256503-2475
Squad
Awards League nil
Club Player of the year: Greg Dowling Rookie of the year: Michael Hancock Forward of the year: Greg Dowling Back of the year: Tony Currie Clubman of the year: Tony Currie
Scorers Player Tries Goals FG Points Terry Matterson 5 42/64 0 104 Michael Hancock 9 2/4 0 40 Chris Johns 10 0 0 40 Tony Currie 8 0 0 32 Gary French 2 10/19 0 28 Joe Kilroy 6 0 0 24 Wally Lewis 4 2/8 0 20 Allan Langer 5 0 0 20 Brett Plowman 5 0 0 20 Sam Backo 3 0 0 12 Brett Le Man 3 0 0 12 Gene Miles 3 0 0 12 James Donnelly 2 0 0 8 Grant Graving 2 0 0 8 Peter Jackson 2 0 0 8 Bryan Neibling 2 0 0 8 Rohan Teevan 2 0 0 8 Greg Conescu 1 0 0 4 Greg Dowling 1 0 0 4
References