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Johns leads Knights past the Broncos in Rugby League play

Andrew Johns engineered an 32-22 upset Sunday as Newcastle ruined the Brisbane Broncos homecoming to Lang Park in Round 12 of the National Rugby League.

The Broncos started out in the national league at Lang Park in 1988 but spent the last seven years across town at ANZ Stadium before being enticed back to the upgraded 52,000-seat home of rugby league in Queensland.

Winger Anthony Quinn scored a minute either side of halftime as the Knights rallied from a 12-4 deficit after 39 minutes to lead 16-12.

Quinn's intercept try just after the break sparked a four-try burst from the Knights and a 20-point buffer with 13 minutes remaining as Johns' tactical and goal kicking exposed weaknesses in the Broncos defense out wide. The hosts scored two consolation tries in the last 10 minutes to reduce the final margin to 10 points.

Roosters five-eighth Brad Fittler slotted a last-minute drop goal as the defending premiers moved into a share of second place with Brisbane and Penrith on a 27-20 win over the Storm in Melbourne, while the North Queensland Cowboys moved into the Top 8 with a 36-16 win over St. George-Illawarra.

Cronulla fullback David Peachey's amateurish late blunder allowed Raiders winger Michael Robertson to toe the ball ahead and pounce on it in-goal to break a 14-14 deadlock and give league-leading Canberra its first win at Shark Park since 1993.

The Sharks led 12-4 early in the second period and 14-12 with 10 minutes remaining before Canberra equalized with a goal and the went ahead 20-14 with four minutes to play after Robertson swooped when Peachey elected not to dive on the loose ball inside his own quarter.

Clinton Schicofske landed six goals for the Canberra, while Cronulla halfback Brett Kimorley missed all three conversions and landed just one penalty goal.

At Penrith, halfback Preston Campbell scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked five goals as the Panthers collected a club record seventh consecutive win with a 34-12 defeat of New Zealand Warriors.
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