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The Live Sport Bible is here!Warriors vs Broncos: The history of an NRL rivalry
Sam Ackerman • May 15th, 2026 2:16 pm
Sean Hoppe | Photo: Photosport
Brace yourself for Warriors vs Broncos - the original rivalry back from day dot which will reprise itself in the marquee matchup at this weekend's NRL Magic Round.
Let's take you right back to where this one started.
The ARL, the Winfield Cup, expanding the 20 teams, and the Auckland Warriors looking to make their mark against unequivocally, undeniably, the hottest team of the 90s - and the comp favourites that year.
It was a massive turnout, as Dean Bell famously led them out through the fire.
NZ Warriors run out for their inaugural game against the Broncos in March 1995 | Photo: Photosport
After falling behind early, the crowd was quietened, but they were soon up on their feet when Whetu Taewa sent Phil Blake over for the first try in the team's history.
Then an Alfie Langer double turned the game on its head and Brisbane ended up snatching a 25-22 win that still rankles big-time for me, 32 years later. I still remember that as a missed opportunity, the devastation on that one.
The Broncos snuffed out the Warriors hopes of final footy in their maiden campaign as well, 44-6 in the final round flogging.
But the Warriors secured their first ever two points against the Queensland club the following year.
That's when all the Super League-bound clubs over the 'big battle', they forfeited the first round - except for the Warriors. How's that for smart? They get the two points.
Stacey Jones in action against the Broncos | Photo: Photosport
But that was as close as the Warriors got to a win in that particular millennium.
In 2001 though, the Warriors finally cracked the code in their 10th attempt, an historic first win thanks to a Stacey Jones drop goal, 13-12.
The following year, they backed it up with back-to-back triumphs including the start of what I like to call the 'punch on' era - Shane Webcke and Kevin Campion trading blows, before Stacey Jones sent Francis Meli over to seal victory.
2003 was another banger year for this rivalry if you're a Warriors fan, including the iconic Sione Faumuina over-the-head match winner to Evarn Tuimavave.
The return match at Mount Smart was less basketball and more UFC, starting with Monty Betham being back-slammed by Carl Webb and chaos ensued.
There began to be a bit of parity between these sides and some special contests.
That included 2011, when everyone showed up at Suncorp to see Darren Lockyer equal the record for the most Premiership games in history (349) but they left talking about a bloke playing in his eighth game, a certain Shaun Johnson, whose footwork led to one of the most dazzling tries still to this day on his career highlight reel.
The Broncos eventually prevailed 21-20 in that one, with Panthers coach-in-waiting Peter Wallace icing it with a late one-pointer.
Shaun Johnson en route to a famous try against the Broncos | Photo: Photosport
A couple of years later, the Warriors produced their biggest-ever win over the Broncos. 56-18 at Suncorp, 10 tries, it was an absolute doozy. Suffer in your jocks Broncos, on that occasion.
But there's been plenty of anguish and frustration thrown in there too over the many, many years.
That loss in Napier, that was a hard one to take. And then, of course, the memorable 2023 season ended at the hands of the Broncos, agonisingly short of a Grand Final, as former Warrior Reece Walsh went all NFL on us with an infamous and hugely costly forward pass.
Last year, the teams met in another thriller. There were twists and turns aplenty until the Broncos forced golden point, and Walsh's karmic kick-off went too long. And who should step up to seal it with a penalty? Man of the hour, Luke Metcalf.
Luke Metcalf signs with the Dragons | Scotty & Izzy
The Broncos won the return match at Suncorp later that year, the game when Metcalf tore his ACL.
Head to head, the Broncos still have the numbers after that dominant start - 28 to 22.
This weekend at Magic Round, the Warriors will be the home team and do you know what will make them the home team? Not just the fact that they get out of the top dressing room, not just the fact that there will be a good Warriors turnout.
Every single person there, fans from all over the country, all over the world coming down for it,how many of them that aren't Broncos fans will be cheering for the hosts?
A big fat zero. It is going to be all on for the Warriors.
Listen to the full rivalry breakdown below:
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