text: when is the first time broncos stared to play? they are a football team since this is in the rugby league category, i assume you want to know about the brisbane broncos. as mentioned, they first joined the nswrl (now the nrl) in 1988. their captain was wally lewis. their first game was against the defending premiers manly, whom they beat quite convincingly. from memory, it was about 44-10. and i think they won their first 6 games of the season too.  they went on to finish the year in 7th out of 16 teams, just missing the finals by one win (they had a five-team finals system in those days). incidently, manly (they beat them twice throughout the year) finished 4th and made the finals. they managed to win their first premiership in 1992, going back-to-back in 1993.