2007 Round 6 vs Brisbane Broncos:
Brisbane 20 defeated Newcastle 16.
An emotion charged night at EnergyAustralia Stadium saw the curtain come down on Andrew Johns' stellar career, but it wasn't enough to get the Knights across the line against Brisbane. Newcastle put up a spirited fight in a high-quality match, however - the future without Johns looking bright if this is the standard that will be maintained.
Proceedings began with Andrew Johns running out between a guard of honour made up of the 1997 and 2001 premiership winning sides. He spoke to the crowd, and had the packed Eastern Stand named after him. Once his emotional lap of honour was finished, the on-field action began.
Brisbane cast aside their indifferent start to the season, and were in prime-wrecking mode. Tonie Carroll inspired an early try to the Broncos - bursting up the middle of the ruck before offloading to Petero Civoniceva who crossed under the posts. But Newcastle hit straight back - strong Clint Newton, Adam MacDougall and Kurt Gidley runs created space for Todd Polglase out wide. Newcastle hit the lead in the 23rd minute when a brilliant Gidley offload led to an equally brilliant Kirk Reynoldson offload, and this time MacDougall was the benefactor out wide.
Brisbane struck back twice before halftime though, to go to the sheds leading 16-10. Brent Tate crossed in the corner after Todd Polglase unbelievably knocked on a ball from dummy half five metres out from his own line, and then a Karmichael Hunt burst up the middle resulted in space out wide off the next tackle, and Darius Boyd made his way across the line.
Newcastle started the second stanza with a brilliant try - a Josh Perry bat on hit Cory Paterson on the chest, and the touch-bound Paterson flicked a magical ball back inside to the unmarked Polglase. The scores were tied 16 all, but it was Brisbane who landed the knock-out punch in the 61st minute, when off a repeat set Brisbane spread it wide and Darius Boyd crossed in the corner.
Newcastle had their chances to level again in the final 20, but Brisbane's defence held strong. Jarrod Mullen spent time off the field with cramp, and patience ran out as the Knights tried to force the play.
Back in the centres, Adam MacDougall played his best game of the season, Kurt Gidley was outstanding yet again, as was Danny Buderus. In the end, they probably just needed the guile of Andrew Johns to get them across the line ... which was as fitting a tribute to the great player as a win would ever have been.
What they said:
Andrew Johns:
"I love this place, the club, and I love Newcastle. They gave me the chance to chase my goals and my dreams. This place has always been special. In 2005 we lost 13 games in a row but we turned up every week to full houses. We have the most loyal supporters in the premiership."
"I'm humbled to be honoured like this. I am disappointed it's over but I don't have any regrets with anything that happened in my career."
Brian Smith:
[On Todd Polglase's knock-on] "It was a critical error for a guy who doesn't make them."
"Errors in the end was the difference. They probably made more than we did but they got some points off ours and ultimately, that was the difference on the scoreboard."
"I don't think the occasion worked against us. It certainly didn't affect me. We were all OK. I don't think we should be involved ourselves in that too much. The boys did a good job in preparing themselves."
Wayne Bennett:
"The other players took some ownership. We don't rely on one or two guys out there. That's been part of our problem. The other guys have been turning up and doing their tackles and doing their runs but not doing the other things that they have to do. Things that you don't see as journalists, or the fans don't notice. They did that tonight. It wasn't up to the Australian [representative] players. I said to the [other] guys during the week that I want them to lead today."