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Battle for Brisbane (rugby league)

Battle for Brisbane
Other namesBattle of Brisbane
LocationQueensland Brisbane, Queensland
Teams Brisbane Broncos
Dolphins
South Queensland Crushers (former)
First meetingBroncos 32 – 0 Crushers
(31 March 1995)
Latest meetingDolphins 40 – 6 Broncos
(31 August 2024)
Next meetingTBD
StadiumsSuncorp Stadium
The Gabba
Statistics
Meetings total4
Most winsBroncos (3)
Top scorerJamayne Isaako (30)
All-time seriesBroncos: 3 wins
Dolphins: 1 wins
Largest victoryDolphins – 34 points
(31 August 2024)

The rugby league Battle for Brisbane is the name for the series of matches between the professional rugby league clubs in Brisbane.[1]

The original series was between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Queensland Crushers during the ARL competition in the mid-1990s, with the Brisbane Broncos won both encounters.

In 2023, the new Dolphins franchise re-ignited the series,[2] with the teams striking a new Battle Medal as the player of the match award, as decided by prominent rugby league commentators.[3][4]

Results

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Broncos vs Crushers

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The Brisbane Broncos would meet the South Queensland Crushers just twice in the then ARL-controlled competition. The first meeting at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium came on the night the Super League war broke out in 1995.[5] The long-awaited clash between Brisbane's two teams ended up a bit of a non-event, with the Broncos having a glut of possession to race out to an early 12–0 lead, extending it further in the second half.[5] The Crushers lack of penetration in attack was their ultimate downfall, as they were held scoreless in just their fourth competition fixture.[6]

The second match between the teams came over a year later in the 1996 ARL season, with the Broncos again winners, in front of a then competition record crowd of 34,263 at Suncorp Stadium.[7] The Crushers would take an 8–6 lead into halftime, before the Broncos overwhelmed the Crushers in the final ten minutes with three tries.[7]

Due to the split caused by the Super League war, the two teams would not meet again before the Crushers' ultimate demise in December 1997.[8]

Game Home Score Away Date Venue Crowd
1 Brisbane Broncos 32–0 South Queensland Crushers 31 March 1995 QE II 49,607
2 South Queensland Crushers 8–28 Brisbane Broncos 12 April 1996 Lang Park 34,263

Broncos vs Dolphins

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Game Home Score Away Date Round Venue Referee Attendance Battle Medal
1 Dolphins 12–18 Brisbane Broncos 24 March 2023 Round 4 Suncorp Stadium Adam Gee 51,047 Payne Haas[9]
2 Brisbane Broncos 24–16 Dolphins 1 July 2023 Round 18 The Gabba Peter Gough 30,606 Selwyn Cobbo[10]
3 Brisbane Broncos 28–14 Dolphins 12 April 2024 Round 6 Suncorp Stadium Adam Gee 46,224 Selwyn Cobbo[11]
4 Dolphins 40–6 Brisbane Broncos 31 August 2024 Round 26 Suncorp Stadium Adam Gee 50,049 Herbie Farnworth[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Walter, Brad (24 March 2023). "'We are the Broncos': Scene set for Battle of Brisbane". NRL.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "The Battle for Brisbane". dolphinsnrl.com.au. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ Crockford, Nick (24 March 2023). "Medal battle in Dolphins-Broncos blockbuster". moretondaily.com.au. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Battle medal unveiled". dolphinsnrl.com.au. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Middleton, David, ed. (1996). Rugby League 1996. Surrey Hills: Harper Sports. pp. 87–89. ISBN 0732256720.
  6. ^ "South Queensland Crushers results". Rugby League Tables. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b Middleton, David, ed. (1997). Rugby League 1997. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0732257875.
  8. ^ Alan Whiticker; Ian Collis (2004). The History of Rugby League Clubs. New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. ISBN 1741100755.
  9. ^ Gates, Zachary (24 March 2023). "Friday night NRL AS IT HAPPENED: Kotoni Staggs wins derby thriller, hits Dolphins with screaming message; Payne Haas wins inaugural 'Battle Medal'". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Hat trick hero Cobbo ignites Broncos' win over Dolphins". espn.com.au. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  11. ^ Edwards, Colleen (13 April 2024). "Pearls of wisdom help guide Cobbo along a new path". NRL.com. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Farnworth on fire as he claims 'The Battle' Medal". dolphinsnrl.com. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.