LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In 2006, Australia was under the leadership of Prime Minister John Howard, with Queensland's Peter Beattie serving as the Australian Rugby League Commissioner. It was also the year when Australian sports saw significant events, including Anthony Mundine and Danny Green's boxing match, the Socceroos participating in their first World Cup since 1974, and Queensland's State of Origin victory in Melbourne. Additionally, Ford clinched the Bathurst title for the first time in nearly a decade.
Notably, 2006 was historic as it marked the first instance in the history of rugby league where the grand final of Australia's premier competition proceeded without a team from Sydney qualifying.
Following the Wests Tigers' surprise win in 2005, which saw them triumph over the North Queensland Cowboys, the stage was set for the Broncos and Storm to battle it out in the finals. The grand final commenced at Sydney Olympic Park, with a capacity crowd of 79,000 fans treated to performances by the Hoodoo Gurus and INXS.
Entering the match, the Storm were the clear favorites after securing the minor premiership by an impressive margin of eight points over the Canterbury Bulldogs, who were four points ahead of the Broncos. Although the Storm would later have their minor premiership stripped due to salary cap violations, they aimed to capture their second title, having previously defeated the then merged St George Illawarra Dragons in 1999 during just their second season.
Meanwhile, the Broncos were eager to reclaim the premiership after a lengthy drought, not having won since 2000, and following their successful run in the 1990s when they secured titles in 1992, 1993, 1997 (Super League), 1998, and 2000.