History of the Brisbane Broncos

The history of the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club stretches back from their inception in the mid-1980s to the present day. They were introduced to the NSWRL's Winfield Cup premiership in 1988, taking the competition by storm in winning their first six games. The Broncos also participated in 18 consecutive finals series, from 1992-2009, winning the premiership five times (in 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000 and 2006) and the Super League title in 1997.

Whilst Brisbane had had its own rugby league club competition since 1909, Brisbane teams had been assembled occasionally, usually referred to as Combined Brisbane for Bulimba Cup tournaments and representative matches against Sydney-based sides and touring international teams. By the 1980s, it was decided that the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership should be expanded outside its traditional Sydney base. This began in 1982 with the introduction of the Canberra Raiders and the Illawarra Steelers. In 1985, the NSWRL decided to allow a team from Brisbane to be entered into the competition. A proposal was made to the Queensland Rugby League to enter a Brisbane team in 1987, but it was voted down. However the following year, along with the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and Newcastle Knights the Brisbane team would enter the New South Wales competition.

After tough competition between various syndicates for the Brisbane NSWRL licence, the Queensland Rugby League chose the bid that belonged to former Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) players Barry Maranta and Paul "Porky" Morgan. After deliberating over such names as Bulls, Brumbies, Bombers and Kookaburras, the club eventually decided on the name Broncos. Former Australian representative Brisbane Rugby League player John Ribot was appointed the club's first chief executive officer.

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