[ We grudgingly admit that Errol may be a teeeeny bit biased. We regularly ignore footy of the Queensland variety. This is clearly unfair considering we have a huge amount of banana benders who read us (HEY KIDS!), so to rectify the situation we have enlisted the help of one of our fave Queenslanders, the fabulous Miss Bree. She has graced her with her presence previously, and here she is again. Everyone give her a warm Errol welcome. No John-John not that sort of welcome. -K]

I figure now that I am a high flying guest blogger for Errol - yes I have now contributed TWICE! That’s right, twice! – clearly I need my own intern/assistant to make things a whole lot more interesting! I held open calls for possible applicants earlier in the week.

After Joel ‘Billy’ Moon missed out on the actual office position at Errol, purely on the fact that his resume was shirtless photos of himself, I decided to give the youngster a chance to prove that he isn’t just a pretty face on a bloody good body. Welcome to the team Billy. Now I know you are off to New Zealand very shortly, but we’ll deal with that when we have to. If you show up to my office like this every day (see picture below), we will have no issues what so ever!! Also feel free to bring your brother in every now and then…

Now for the important discussions.

1. Benny’s impending departure

2. Tunza’s impending retirement

3. Karmichael Hunt’s 100^th first grade game.

I’d like to stress that there is absolutely no way I can do either of the first two justice for their contributions to the Broncos. But I’ll do my best.

As an avid Broncos follower it is a some what overwhelming feeling to try and consider the Broncos post Wayne Bennett. In 21 seasons, Benny has been at the helm since day one, he is all the club has ever known. From Lewis and Miles to Langer and Walters to Webcke and Lockyer, he’s been there and seen it all.

Six premierships from six attempts; 17 consecutive finals appearances; countless Origin representatives as well as Australian Reps. This man is a genius and created an amazing winning culture within the club. Its going to be an incredibly strange sensation to look up to the coaches box next year and not see this happy, smiling face looking back.

There is just something about the great man that makes him, in my humble opinion, the greatest coach of the modern era. So many players have commented that he is more than just a coach, that he is somewhat of a father figure. Having raised three children of his own, two of whom have disabilities, it truly reflects the amazing man Wayne Bennett is.

At the Broncos v Knights game, the final time Benny would coach the Broncos at Suncorp, the Broncos played a moving video tribute to their long serving coach, mentor and friend.

Miss Kiki asked me to pick some of my favourite memories over the last 21 seasons. Given that I was born in 1988 – the year the club came into existence - the majority of my memories are from the last 13 years or so. But how on earth do I narrow all of them down?

I guess one that sticks out in my mind would have to be the Broncos first golden point game. Scott Minto scored the try to win the game for the Broncos. It was the first time (that I can recall) that I saw Benny show any emotion what so ever. It’s also probably the last!

[I predict he will be shedding tears of joy when he leads my beloved Dragons to their 2009 Telstra Premiership. You heard it here first people. -K]

What Wayne Bennett has done for Brisbane rugby league, for the Broncos and the fans is something that I don’t think can be described in words. He has had a lasting impact and he will always be remembered as an incredible coach. While I would like to think I am a big enough person to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors at the Dragons and where ever else his career might take him, the matter of fact is I’m just not that big of a person.

Thanks Wayne!!

I also don’t think I can possibly do justice to the player that is Tonie Carroll. He is one tough bugger, with one hell of a chin. (Intern Billy told me to say that and I couldn’t say no to the gorgeous shirtless man. I’m only human).

This man has pulled off some of the hardest hits in the NRL. I mean anyone who can do this to Willie Mason has my full respect.

In 11 seasons with the Broncos (interrupted by a stint in Super League) this man has been one of the most damaging runners, hardest hitters and toughest men in league. He’s played through injury, he’s won 4 premierships, he’s represented Queensland, he’s represented Australia and he’s represented New Zealand. He will long be remembered by many for his determination and hard hits. But for me as much as I will remember the hard-hitting footballer, I will also remember Tonie Carroll the family man.

Not so long ago, I was at the local shopping center when I went into a female clothing shop to realize that Mr Carroll, his wife and youngest son were also in the shop. I went about my business looking through the racks when I realized that there was a little kid hiding in one of the racks. I was a little taken aback before I realized that it was little Bailey Carroll. I then realized that the hard hitting footballer everyone loves to watch play was in fact playing hide and seek with his son in the racks of women’s dresses. I stood there and watched this go on for quite awhile, quietly laughing to myself.

While I won’t see Tunza tearing up on the field anymore, I’m happy to know that if I’m lucky I might just manage to see him at the local shopping center. Thanks for the memories Tunza, best of luck in the future. Like you said to the crowd at your final home game, ‘hopefully we can go all the way’; it would be a fitting end for you and Wayne.

Now intern Billy is back in my ear having a go at me for not mentioning the fact that six other Broncos, including him, are also on their way at the end of season. Billy, how could you think I would forget you! I would also like to wish Denan Kemp, Ben Hannant, Greg Eatsgood, I mean Eastwood, Mick Ennis, Darius Boyd, and of course my Intern Billy, the best of luck with their careers at their new clubs. I don’t know what Brisbane night life is going to be like anymore. Denan and Darius are always out and about, its going to be strange without them. Lucky for me, I have my connections and I’ll still have access to some of the boys…

Finally a quick mention to Karmichael Hunt and the milestone he reached in the round 26 clash against the Knights. In that game, K became the youngest player, at 21 years and 293 days, in the history of the game to play 100 first grade games. Now while you may not agree with the facial hair, if you can actually call it that (we all know Kiki and Sassy don’t like it and who can blame them) you have to respect the kid.

You’d think still living at home, getting up to a cooked breakfast every morning, that his mum could have some pull on what he does. Surely no one actually thinks it’s fashionable? Anyway, the kid is a kamikaze. No regard for his own personal safety whatsoever. There is not much left for the kid to do in the game, after all he’s represented Queensland and Australia, won a premiership, won 3 State of Origin series.

But Benny leaves him with pretty much the biggest rap he can, anointing him as his choice as the Broncos next captain. Fingers crossed the salary cap doesn’t take him away from us!

(photos from Getty Images and Newspix)

[Editor's note from Sassy: Lord knows most of the Errol girls (even Lozzy) are ridiculously biased against pretty much everything football-related that comes from north of the border so we're lucky that our girl Bree agreed to write a guest recap for us this week.

Not just because we are all for ladies who know their league, but because it means that we actually get a recap involving Queensland teams that doesn't include profanities or tirades of abuse about Karmichael Hunt and his awful facial hair. So thank you darlin! Over to you pretty lady.]

Firstly a little about me; I’m 20 from the Sunshine State and I live, breathe and worship NRL. I am just learning this whole blog thing, so hopefully you guys enjoy this.

I’ll also just put it out there that my memory of the game may be slightly patchy due to an excessive intake of alcohol throughout the day. I am not a raging alcoholic, but I had just finished uni exams for the semester, so what better way to celebrate than to drink from 11am, get tanked and go to the footy?

[(Kiki: None).]

I am surprised and impressed Suncorp Stadium let me in.

The pre-match entertainment is all a blur. It’s the same week in week out and I won’t bore you with it. The hot pink vinyl wearing cheergirls (see below for the monstrosities they wear) came out and “performed”.

I am constantly amazed at how shockingly awful the thing they do is. It’s something that the six year old sister I don’t even have could easily do.

[Sassy: The outfits! Good god! THEY BURNNNNNNN.]

The game started with a minute’s silence in memory of the ‘Godfather’ of Queensland Rugby Leage, Dick ‘Tosser’ Turner. Of course some moron shouted out half way through the minute and started the whole crowd off.

The Broncos started sloppily with a Joel Moon kick that landed out on the full and wasn’t even close to being in. It could quite easily have ended up grabbing a drink from the bar 35 rows back. From the Moon error, Chris Heighington made a bust through some very sloppy Brisbane defence. In fact I think I could have done a better job on that occasion and I have absolutely NO idea how to tackle. Try to the Tigers.

From the restart Matty Head had butter fingers and dropped the ball, and the following set of six saw the Broncos get a penalty for the Tigers pushing Tonie ‘Tunza’ Carroll over as he was trying to play the ball … it didn’t look like there was much in it, but maybe Tunza fell over that chin of his? The Broncos took the kick for goal (God knows why when they’re trailing 6-0, fools) and Michael Ennis slotted it for 6-2.

Mugshot for emphasis:

Neither team really played much entertaining footy, and the next passage went by fairly uneventfully until another penalty gave the Broncos good field position. A good run and a fancy step from Joel Moon, who by the way I have always found very attractive – even more so in the last few weeks with the shaggy mop of hair he’s been spotting. He’s his hair and wasn’t looking as good yet still went through the defence and scored. Broncos went in front 8-6, until the Tigers were awarded a penalty of their very own and tied it up at 8-8.

[Sassy: Agreed. Moon is still a contender for hottest bitch in league for 2008, but that haircut cuts me deep.]

I had thought it would stay that way going into half time, but oh, no. My Broncos decided that I wasn’t nearly stressed enough and needed a little bit more heartache after the siren, so they let the Tigers in to score. At half time Tigers were up 12-8, and this Queen B needed to head to the bar to down some more alcohol.

[Sassy: Course you did darlin. That's my girl]

Half time came, half time went, and I was still ridiculously wound up. The first 10 minutes or so back were intensely boring and I was completely occupied talking to the guy next to me when Brisbane’s Dave Taylor snatched a wayward Tigers pass out of nowhere and made an impressive 60 metres before being bought down by Bryce Gibbs.

AND WHAT A SIGHT IT WAS. A 185cm, 115kg Dave Taylor train thundering down the middle of the field. It’s probably further than the poor kid (he’s only 20) has run in his whole life. From the play the ball some good hands from Joel Moon to PJ Marsh, to Karmichael Hunt, to Darius Boyd, and finally on to Denan Kemp to run in a try in the corner of the field. All the while this was unfolding, exhausted Dave Taylor was still dying slowly from his 60 metre effort so was quickly replaced.

Ennis slotted the conversion from the sideline for a 14-12 score. Benji Marshall took the restart, and continued his completely awful kicking form for the night by kicking it out on the full. From the penalty restart on half-way the Broncos attacked, and Nick Kenny ran a brilliant angle to grab his maiden first grade try. He looked just like a kid in a candy store after the video ref gave the try, and Ennis missed an even easier conversion than the last to leave the score at 18-12.

Broncos looked the better of two mediocre teams for most of the second half. A Hunt grubber got the Broncos a repeat set before Nick Emmett got held up on his back. From that the Tigers went the length of the field with some luck to score under the posts. After conversion, the score was 18-all, and your Queen B’s nerves aren’t holding out real well.

12 minutes on the clock and this is all way too close for my liking.

9 minutes to go, still 18-all.

The Broncos are in attack but not really looking like scoring until a nice backline movement and some brut strength from Emmett got him over the line but held up. Emmett dead set thought he’d scored, it was hard to tell on the video replay, refs eventually said no try.

[Sassy: Ok, now even I'm finding this overwhelming and stressful]

8 minutes to go.

From Emmett’s play the ball, Karmichael Hunt sets himself deep and the ball is fired out to him. He is provided by good, yet somewhat illegal coverage from Corey Parker, and slots the field goal to put the Broncos 1 in front. Now if you saw Origin II and Hunt’s attempt at field goal then, you would be excused for thinking it could not possibly have been Hunt who slotted it right over the black dot from 30 meters out.

7 minutes to go.

Darius Boyd knocks on at dummy half and gives the Tigers field possession about 20 meters out. Tigers can’t do anything with the ball. John Morris misses a field goal to the left with 3 minutes to go and from there the Broncos do what they do best and close out the game.

The heart is still pumping, the nerves are still shot. But my boys got home and made for a great night out to celebrate my freedom!! Thanks boys, now please get it together for the Panthers next weekend!

- Bree

Seems I watched the wrong game last night. Everyones been yammering on about the Warriors vs Bunnies and how it was Amazing Football, somehow involved a cancer survivor and was generally exhilirating and special. Well sorry people, but I was watching Law and Order. So this is the recap you get.

I love WIN Stadium. It has water views and people from the Gong tend to get quite hammered and make a shitload of noise. Instant atmosphere. Also unlike the Cavernous Shithole (aka ANZ Stadium) the turf is gloriously pristine. So green, so even. It looks like a billiard table! Nothing I enjoy more than some good grounds keeping.

The game marks the return of Wendell Sailor to rugby league after a seven year absence. Five years were spent playing the devils game (TRAITOR!!), the other two being punished for being a nose candy bandit. It seems the whole world has gone Big Dell crazy. I for one am confused as to why he went his whole career being known as Wendell Sailor and now all of a sudden he is BIIIIG DEEELLLLLL. Who started this phenomenon? Was it him? I like to think so. I do however enjoy an obvious nickname. In fact from now on I will only answer to Drunk Kiki.

First of all, what is going on with the Dragons jerseys?? The sleeves look longer. Why must we further cover up the artfully sculpted guns of our players?? Those AFL fairies already own us in the bicep flashing department, we should be making our jerseys skimpier not more modest. Poor form Dragons management!

Due to Orgin commitments the Broncos line up looks much like an under 20s game but I am okay with that as it may give my boys a fighting chance. About 4 minutes in and ex Dragon Ashton Sims zeros in on Big Dell in attempt to show him whose boss. Unfortunately for Ashton his noggin collides with Dells’s jaw of granite and he drifts off to Disneyland for a few minutes. In a decidedly inappropriate response, I laugh uproariously. Ashton skips about with Mickey Mouse and the game carries on around him.

8 minutes and Soward aims a kick at the goalpost, it rebounds and Hornbag scoops it up to score a try. Magic! I like this new trick of yours Jamie. Perhaps you could use your excellent aim to deliberately aim the ball at players heads? Loathsome players that I detest for petty and insignificant reasons. I’ll send you a hitlist ASAP. Tricksy Soward converts. It’s 6-0.

As thrilled as I am for Hornbag, I am disturbed by his distinct lack of hair. It’s all gone! Shaved off to a number one. Horrific! I thought we talked about this mister? You need definition and shaving ones hair off so your entire head looks exactly the same tone of beige is not the way to achieve it. He looks like one of those hairless cats. A hairless cat suffering a serious case of albinism.

Apparently Hornbag has also attacked Beau Scott with his clippers of doom. Together they look like uninitiated members of the Aryan Brotherhood. Its the stuff nightmares are made of and they must be stopped.

Meanwhile Big Dell seems to be on struggle street. He’s wandering around the park looking sweaty, confused and thisclose to unconciousness. Much like me whenever I attempt physical activity of any kind. 12 minutes in and the ref finds the Broncos offside, the Dragons wisely take the penalty goal and take it to 8-0.

Nothing much happens until the brick shithouse that is Dean Young powers through the Broncos defense using said brick shithouseness. It’s a bit of a schamozzle and I’m unsure if he actually got it down. In the biggest shock of the evening the ref actually blows his whistle and awards the try. Without going to the video ref!! Incredible!! I am shocked and amazed and mostly delighted. Soward converts with a brilliant kick and Dragons lead 14-0.

Gus and Rabs give us some commentary gold and have the following exchange -

Gus – “what would the Dragons do if they won the competition?!”

Rabs – “ummm….celebrate?”

A series of Dragons errors leads to Eastwood scoring for the Broncos at the 27th minute. He looks disturbingly like a Ralph Lauren wearing private school boy who has a girlfriend with a hyphenated surname. Gross. Why isn’t he playing union? Ennis converts and its 14-6.

31 minutes and we are treated to an amazing display from the telepathic Morris twins. Joshy offloads brilliantly to his brother without even looking and Brett sprints 50 metres to score a breathtaking try. It’s like he knew he was theeeere! It’s ESP! TWINTASTIC! They further cement the awesome by running towards each other and doing some sort of secret twin hand move. The cuteness is overwhelming…it’s kittens and puppies and rainbows and lollipops. LOVE!

Meanwhile Gus has decided they call each other ‘BraBra’. I love that his nicknames are a) lame and b) totally made up….just like mine!

Soward converts and the Dragons lead 20- 6. The ref infuriates both players and viewers by continually blowing penalties for the markers not being square. Ryles looks like he’s about to cut a bitch and Gus is blowing up in the commentary box. Matty Johns announces ‘it’s hip to be square’. The sort of commentary insight I feel I would offer if they ever gave me a microphone.

35 minutes and Big Dell gets an elbow to the face. It doesn’t look good. Apparently his cheek isn’t made of granite like I previously thought. Bitch looks groggy as all hell.

We go to halftime and the Dragons are leading. Comfortably. And have been playing with minimal errors and fairly good ball control. I feel weird. My heart isn’t my throat and I’m not filled with rage and frustration. My team is playing…well. I feel calm and confident. WHAT IS GOING ON? Is this how Storm supporters feel every week?? Lucky bastards.

Ben Ikin informs us that the Dragons usually play like ‘kids in a candy store’ as they tend to get over excited and drop the ball. Um…in no way does that metaphor apply. Bloody Queenslanders.

The second half begins. In the anti climax of the year, Big Dell doesn’t run back out on the field. Instead his wife drives him to hospital to get that cheek looked at. I try to care but struggle to summon a genuine emotion. 42 minutes in and Broncos newbie Hoffman gets hammered by Setu and it results in a penalty. Hoffman is far more likeable than usual fullback K.Hunt. He’s all sunshine and milk chocolatey goodness.

47 minutes and Tonie Carroll lamely pretends he scored a try. BITCH PLEASE. Also…isn’t Tonie a girls name? Just sayin. We go the video ref and we see an obvious knock on from 87 different angles. Clearly a no try right? Apparently not. The VR incomprehensibly rules a try and jaws drop across Australia. Even Tonie knows that ain’t a try.

The next phase of the game is to put it bluntly, boring as shit. Both teams are flat in attack and lethargic in defence. SNOOOORE. My slumber is awoken by Flossy (short for Florence) Nightingale going in for a try in the corner. Hooray! Something’s happening! Sowards conversion is unsuccessful, the Dragons lead 24-10.

75 minutes and Flossy twists and swivels and lunges and scores a cracker of a try. GO FLOSSY GO! I love him. He’s all dimples and determination. Gus launches into a monologue of sorts about why Flossy isn’t the greatest player to watch. Apparently he’s not graceful and lacks the traditional long strides of a winger. He goes so far to describe him as ‘an ungainly looking thing’. BLASPHEMY! I care not for strides…look at this face!

Sowards conversion is unsuccessful. The game winds up. Dragons victory 28-10. HURRAH! Ben Creagh receives man of the match. He is also the only strawberry blonde in the league. Winner on both fronts!

GO DRAGONS!