2023 marks the first time since 2002 that both the Brisbane Lions and the Brisbane Broncos have appeared in their respective Preliminary Finals, and this year stands as only the third time in history that this has occurred (2001-02, 2023).

However, 2023 is different, in that it will mark the first time the Lions and Broncos have hosted Prelim Finals in Brisbane, and on the same day, let alone the same weekend.

Still, we’re yet to have a year in which the two-biggest Brisbane sporting teams make their respective Grand Finals.

2001: The Brisbane Lions, who had won 14 consecutive games as of the Qualifying Final a fortnight earlier, played Richmond in a Preliminary Final at the Gabba, with the winner due to play Essendon in the Grand Final the next Saturday, and the Lions promptly made it 15 consecutive wins thanks to a 68-point demolition on the Tigers, marking the first time a Brisbane team had qualified for the AFL Grand Final, which they went on to win against the Bombers by 27 points, the first time a team north of the Murray River had won the AFL Premiership.

For the record, the Lions’ streak eventually went to 20 wins, which is the joint-longest winning run of the 21st Century, alongside the 2000 Bombers.

The next afternoon, the Broncos, who were still the defending NRL premiers, played the record-scoring Parramatta Eels at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, in what turned out to be a closer game than most saw coming, as the Broncos held an early lead before PJ Marsh put the Eels ahead just before half time, and the Broncs could never regain the lead in the 2nd Half, as a pair of penalty goals from Jason Taylor sealed a 24-16 Eels win to end the Broncos’ season, ending the Eels’ Prelim Final curse.

Thus, it was close but no cigar for a Brisbane Grand Final double…

But, another chance would come the next year.

2002: The Lions once again finished in 2nd on the ladder (After narrowly losing the minor premiership to Port Adelaide in Adelaide in Round 22), but rebounded and brutally dispatched Adelaide in the Qualifying Final at the Gabba to win through to the Preliminary Final, and as luck would have it, Port Adelaide had choked against Collingwood in Week One, sending them into the same section of the finals as Brisbane.

The Lions didn’t waste a minute getting back at Port, shutting off the Power by 56 points to win through to their second consecutive Grand Final.

Meantime, the Broncos defeated Parramatta in Week One of the NRL Finals, and thanks to 2nd-placed Newcastle losing, won the right to host the Preliminary Final in Brisbane (A week after the Lions hosted theirs)…

But as was the norm for many years, owing to contracts between the league and various New South Wales stadiums, it was instead played in Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium against the Sydney Roosters, who just happened to be the primary tenant of the SFS.

Fun fact – The game was held on the same day that the Lions won the ’02 AFL Grand Final.

After trailing 0-8 early on, the Broncos led 12-8 at half-time in a true arm-wrestle, but a converted Brett Mullins try in the 51st minute put the Roosters ahead for good, as ill-discipline in a close game would cruel the ‘home’ team (At one stage the penalty count was 8-0 Roosters), and the Roosters would shut the Broncos out in the 2nd Half to win 16-12, going on to win the Premiership.

Still, the highlight was Casey Maguire dropping one on future Bronco Justin Hodges’ chin, to which referee Bill Harrigan simply blew a penalty and told Hodges “You’re giving as much as you’re getting, so don’t go over the top!”

It would prove to be Allan Langer’s last appearance in First Grade rugby league, and it was also Craig Bellamy’s last game as a Broncos assistant, as he took the Melbourne Storm job following Mark Murray’s dismissal.

In the 21 years since, there was always one problem or another preventing a shot at Brisvegas history…. mainly both teams being bad or only one being good at one time.

2003: The Lions won their third consecutive AFL Premiership, the Broncos lost in Week One of the NRL Finals.

2004: The Lions made a fourth consecutive AFL Grand Final, the Broncos were knocked out in straight sets.

2005-08: Lions missed the Finals (The Broncos made the finals every year and won the 2006 Premiership)

2009: The Lions were knocked out in the Semi Final, the Broncos lost in a Preliminary Final

2010: Both teams missed the Finals

2011-12: The Lions missed the Finals (The Broncos made the Finals both years)

2013: Both teams missed the finals

2014-18: The Lions missed the Finals (The Broncos made the Finals every year, made the Grand Final in 2015)

2019: The Lions were knocked out in straight sets, the Broncos lost in Week One.

2020-22: The Lions made the finals all 3 years (2 Prelims + a straight sets exit), the Broncos missed the finals in all 3 years (Won the wooden spoon in 2020).

And now, we wait for Saturday…