The 1996 Brisbane Broncos season was the ninth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1996 Optus Cup premiership and finished the regular season in second place on the ladder, progressing as far as the semi-finals.
Season summary In 1996 the Broncos once again started solidly, went through a losing streak mid-season but recovered to finish strongly, conforming to the pattern of previous seasons. However again they capitulated, losing to North Sydney and Cronulla to lose their fifth straight finals match. Gorden Tallis, at the time still contracted to the St George, chose to sit out this season rather than play for the Dragons as he had also signed to play for the Broncos in 1996. At the end of the 1996 season, players Kerrod Walters, Alan Cann, Willie Carne and Michael Hancock were asked to leave the club, as they could no longer be guaranteed regular places in the Broncos' first grade team.
Match results Round Opponent Result Bro. Opp. Date Venue Crowd Position 1 Auckland Warriors Forfeited 16/20 2 Western Suburbs MagpiesWin361431 MarCampbelltown Sports Ground9,1067/20 3 Illawarra SteelersWin5446 AprANZ Stadium24,5773/20 4 South Queensland CrushersWin28812 AprSuncorp Stadium34,2632/20 5 North Queensland CowboysWin581421 AprANZ Stadium18,6092/20 6 St George DragonsWin22427 AprKogarah Oval13,0902/20 7 Canterbury BulldogsWin3084 MayBelmore Oval5,2462/20 8 Canberra RaidersWin501612 MayANZ Stadium37,2482/20 9* Western RedsWin221424 MayWACA Ground10,7352/20 10* North Sydney BearsLoss10167 JuneANZ Stadium25,0923/20 11 Manly Sea EaglesLoss41814 JunANZ Stadium19,8374/20 12* Illawarra SteelersLoss61423 JunWollongong6,1215/20 13 Parramatta EelsWin302430 JunANZ Stadium22,4124/20 14 Sydney City RoostersLoss10128 JulSydney Football Stadium35,0755/20 15 Newcastle KnightsWin241915 JulANZ Stadium28,6005/20 16 Cronulla SharksWin151220 JulEndeavour Field19,0784/20 17 Sydney TigersWin26626 JulANZ Stadium15,1293/20 18 Penrith PanthersWin50204 AugPenrith Park6,3183/20 19 Western Suburbs MagpiesWin36610 AugANZ Stadium19,8663/20 20 South Sydney RabbitohsWin201817 AugSydney Football Stadium3,0112/20 21 Gold Coast ChargersWin381025 AugANZ Stadium25,7492/20 22 Auckland WarriorsWin38630 AugMt Smart Stadium26,0002/20 Qualif. Final North Sydney BearsLoss16217 SepSuncorp Stadium25,983 Semi Final Cronulla SharksLoss162214 SepSydney Football Stadium 27,665 *Game following a State of Origin match
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Manly-Warringah22 1804549191+358362 Brisbane211704607263+344343 North Sydney221525598325+273324 Sydney City221516521321+200315 Cronulla-Sutherland211425399268+131306 Canberra211317538384+154277 St. George211218443360+83278 Western Suburbs221219394434−40259 Newcastle2110110416388+282310 Canterbury2111010375378−32211 Auckland2110011412427−152212 Balmain2211011319459−1402213 Parramatta219111404415−112114 Illawarra228014403444−411615 Penrith217113363464−1011516 Western Reds216114313420−1071317 North Queensland216015288643−3551218 Gold Coast225116359521−1621119 South Sydney225116314634−3201120 South Queensland213018220496−2768
Scorers Player Tries Goals FG Points Willie Carne 7 59/94 0 146 Steve Renouf 19 0 0 76 Darren Smith 14 0 0 56 Darren Lockyer 7 12/21 0 54 Michael Hancock 13 0 0 52 Allan Langer 11 2/5 1 49 Kevin Walters 10 0 0 40 Wendell Sailor 9 0 0 36 Robbie Ross 8 0 0 32 Kerrod Walters 5 0 0 20 Tonie Carroll 4 0 0 16 John Plath 3 0 0 12 Peter Ryan 3 0 0 12 Ben Walker 1 3/6 0 10 Brad Thorn 2 0 0 8 Alan Cann 1 0 0 4 Brett Galea 1 0 0 4 Paul Hauff 1 0 0 4 Glenn Lazarus 1 0 0 4 Shane Webcke 1 0 0 4
Honours
League Nil
Club Player of the year: Allan Langer Rookie of the year: Tonie Carroll Back of the year: Allan Langer Forward of the year: Peter Ryan Club man of the year: Chris Johns / Gorden Tallis
References