sentences:  In 1988 Bennett was the reigning Dally M Coach of the Year having jointly won the award with his Canberra Raiders co-coach Don Furner in 1987.On 6 March 1988, at Lang Park in Brisbane, the brand-new Broncos defeated the 1987 Winfield Cup Premiers Manly-Warringah 44–10 in their first premiership game.Although the Broncos won the first six games in their inaugural season, a mid-season slump cost the club a debut finals appearance, finishing the season in seventh position.