Howard makes Broncos history

Harvey Howard became one of the select band of Englishmen to win an Australian Grand Final, as Brisbane clinched their fifth title in a decade by beating Sydney Roosters 14-6, writes Dave Hadfield.

Harvey Howard became one of the select band of Englishmen to win an Australian Grand Final, as Brisbane clinched their fifth title in a decade by beating Sydney Roosters 14-6, writes Dave Hadfield.

The former Widnes and Leeds prop was part of a Broncos side that took control in the first half, with a try for Lote Tuqiri and three goals from Michael De Vere, in front of a 95,000 crowd in Stadium Australia.

The Roosters, without a Premiership since 1975, would have been further behind but for some heroic defence from their full-back, Luke Phillips.

They hit back in the second half, after Wendell Sailor had increased Brisbane's lead, with a try from Craig Fitzgibbon, but the conversion attempt from the same player that would have brought Sydney to within one score came back off the cross-bar.

The match marked a winning farewell for five Brisbane players. Michael Hancock, Kevin Campion and Tonie Carroll are joining Salford, Warrington and Leeds, respectively, Kevin Walters is retiring and Brad Thorn is to play rugby union in New Zealand.

But the marvellous display by Darren Lockyer, who is likely to be Australia's full-back in the Lincoln World Cup this autumn, marked him as the player to lead the club into a new era.

The Wigan-bound Adrian Lam tried hard to spark the Roosters' attacks, but, with Brad Fittler hampered by an ankle injury, they lacked penetration