From www.nrl.com:
Brisbane has well and truly threw the finals monkey off its back after producing a stunning 50-6 demolition of an under strength Newcastle in Saturday night's NRL semi-final at Aussie Stadium.
Stung by a week of criticism after slumping to their seventh finals loss last week against St George Illawarra, the Broncos unleashed their anger on the Knights by running in eight tries to one to recording their first post-season win since 2002.
The Broncos, who will now play the Bulldogs in Friday night's preliminary final at Aussie Stadium, looked on pace to set a whole host of records after claiming a 50-0 lead after 58 minutes.
But the Knights avoided the ignominy of the greatest loss in finals history thanks to a Kurt Gidley try with just two minutes left on the clock.
Newcastle skipper Andrew Johns admitted his side sorely missed Test duo Danny Buderus (suspension) and Steve Simpson (shoulder injury), but said Newcastle was simply "out-gunned" by a rampant Broncos.
"We really missed Steve Simpson and Danny Buderus, but (the Broncos) just got forward and rolled forward," Johns told the Nine Network.
"They were hard to control and have just got such a big pack... I suppose we were out-gunned."
The damage was done in the first half when the Broncos set up a commanding 24-0 lead before they well and truly went on with the job after the break, scoring a stunning four tries in a nine minute stretch early in the period.
It brought an end to the Knights season and also the reign of coach Michael Hagan at Newcastle ahead of his move to Parramatta next season. Long-serving Knight Matt Gidley also farewelled the red and blue.
As the scoreboard would indicate the Knights were never in the match, with the exception of Jarrod Mullen's early dart at the line which was brought to a shuddering halt by big prop Shane Webcke.
From there the Broncos flexed their muscle.
Brent Tate and Petero Civoniceva were both denied tries thanks to desperate Newcastle defence before David Stagg, who found himself in the unfamiliar position of winger following a reshuffle which saw Karmichael Hunt restored to fullback, went over out wide after some sustained pressure.
Having coughed up the ball for the Broncos first try, Kirk Reynoldson, who started in place of injured backrower Simpson, repeated the dose three minutes later and again the Broncos made them pay with Tate running onto a clever flick pass from Hunt.
The Knights were rattled by the double blow, their cause not helped by a hip injury to prop Josh Perry which required a painkiller before the hulking forward could return to action.
He need not have bothered for it was his dismal miss of dummy half Shaun Berrigan which set up the Broncos fourth try 16 seconds before the halftime hooter.
Newcastle must have known it wasn't going to be their night when retiring veteran Craig Smith dropped cold a monstrous Darren Lockyer line drop out, the error compounded when Anthony Quinn picked up the ball in an offside position.
It instigated a scoring spree in which the Broncos scored four tries in the space of nine minutes, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett afforded the luxury of resting star playmaker Lockyer for the final 15 minutes of the match.
After announcing his retirement from representative football earlier this season, champion Knights halfback Johns was quick to put to bed any thoughts he may be considering giving football away altogether during the off-season.
"I'll be here next year," Johns promised.
Brisbane has well and truly threw the finals monkey off its back after producing a stunning 50-6 demolition of an under strength Newcastle in Saturday night's NRL semi-final at Aussie Stadium.
Stung by a week of criticism after slumping to their seventh finals loss last week against St George Illawarra, the Broncos unleashed their anger on the Knights by running in eight tries to one to recording their first post-season win since 2002.
The Broncos, who will now play the Bulldogs in Friday night's preliminary final at Aussie Stadium, looked on pace to set a whole host of records after claiming a 50-0 lead after 58 minutes.
But the Knights avoided the ignominy of the greatest loss in finals history thanks to a Kurt Gidley try with just two minutes left on the clock.
Newcastle skipper Andrew Johns admitted his side sorely missed Test duo Danny Buderus (suspension) and Steve Simpson (shoulder injury), but said Newcastle was simply "out-gunned" by a rampant Broncos.
"We really missed Steve Simpson and Danny Buderus, but (the Broncos) just got forward and rolled forward," Johns told the Nine Network.
"They were hard to control and have just got such a big pack... I suppose we were out-gunned."
The damage was done in the first half when the Broncos set up a commanding 24-0 lead before they well and truly went on with the job after the break, scoring a stunning four tries in a nine minute stretch early in the period.
It brought an end to the Knights season and also the reign of coach Michael Hagan at Newcastle ahead of his move to Parramatta next season. Long-serving Knight Matt Gidley also farewelled the red and blue.
As the scoreboard would indicate the Knights were never in the match, with the exception of Jarrod Mullen's early dart at the line which was brought to a shuddering halt by big prop Shane Webcke.
From there the Broncos flexed their muscle.
Brent Tate and Petero Civoniceva were both denied tries thanks to desperate Newcastle defence before David Stagg, who found himself in the unfamiliar position of winger following a reshuffle which saw Karmichael Hunt restored to fullback, went over out wide after some sustained pressure.
Having coughed up the ball for the Broncos first try, Kirk Reynoldson, who started in place of injured backrower Simpson, repeated the dose three minutes later and again the Broncos made them pay with Tate running onto a clever flick pass from Hunt.
The Knights were rattled by the double blow, their cause not helped by a hip injury to prop Josh Perry which required a painkiller before the hulking forward could return to action.
He need not have bothered for it was his dismal miss of dummy half Shaun Berrigan which set up the Broncos fourth try 16 seconds before the halftime hooter.
Newcastle must have known it wasn't going to be their night when retiring veteran Craig Smith dropped cold a monstrous Darren Lockyer line drop out, the error compounded when Anthony Quinn picked up the ball in an offside position.
It instigated a scoring spree in which the Broncos scored four tries in the space of nine minutes, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett afforded the luxury of resting star playmaker Lockyer for the final 15 minutes of the match.
After announcing his retirement from representative football earlier this season, champion Knights halfback Johns was quick to put to bed any thoughts he may be considering giving football away altogether during the off-season.
"I'll be here next year," Johns promised.
Oh well you cant win them all :lol:
