Penrith 12 Brisbane 12

BRISBANE were last night celebrating a point secured with an understrength side on the road against Penrith.

Next time they play - at home against the Bulldogs on July 13 - they anticipate being back to almost full strength, with superstar Darren Lockyer set to be among those returning after a recurring knee problem repeatedly interrupted the first half of the season for him.

The Broncos are capable of launching a run from there that could take them into a top-four spot for the finals.

Penrith, who also received a point after 10 minutes of golden-point extra time failed to split the two teams at CUA Stadium last night, have plenty of players to come back as well, but not nearly as many high-profile ones as those Brisbane are waiting on. The Panthers are still in the mix for a spot towards the bottom of the top eight, but it's going to be a battle for them.

A draw was fitting last night, because neither team established a hold on the game. It was spirited enough, but it lacked class because so many top-notch competitors were missing. It was the first occasion extra time had not produced a winner this season.

The Panthers went into the game minus injured brigade Rhys Wesser, Tony Puletua, Michael Gordon, Adam Woolnough, Frank Puletua, Geoff Daniela and Luke Priddis, as well as Petero Civoniceva, who is on State of Origin duty with Queensland. The Broncos were missing Origin players Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant and Darius Boyd, the injured Lockyer, Peter Wallace and David Stagg and the suspended Justin Hodges.

Brisbane have the bye next weekend, after which, the club's performance director Jeremy Hickmans said, "Fingers crossed, Lockyer, Wallace and Stagg will all be back for the Bulldogs game. 'Locky' starts running again next week, and we'll just have to see how he reacts to that. He's had two weeks of rest, treatment and strengthening work and his rehab has all gone according to plan. He's giving himself the best chance of coming back in good shape."

Hodges is due back the week after the Bulldogs game. Most of the injured Penrith players are expected to come back progressively over the next four weeks.

It was a game in which Brisbane, being the away team, were entitled to be happy to at least get something out of it, while the Panthers could be disappointed at dropping a point.

"I'm pleased to get a point," Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett said. "I would have been heartbroken had we got nothing. We worked really hard and deserved some return for that."

But Penrith coach Matt Elliott was determined to be a glass half-full rather than half-empty sort of guy, saying he didn't want to appear downcast after his players - including several rookies - had made a big effort.

"We probably had a couple of extra opportunities, didn't we?" Elliott said. "A couple of kicks … a couple of calls that would have been nice to get. But, as I said to the players, if I sit here and express any dissatisfaction over the effort they put in, feel free to punch me in the head. I'm really respectful of what they did out there."

Penrith led for most of the first half and Brisbane led for most of the second. It was a try by Penrith centre Michael Jennings in the 73rd minute that brought extra time into the equation as a distinct possibility. Fullback Lachlan Coote missed with the conversion attempt, leaving the game locked up at 12-all. As it turned out, no one was able to unlock it before the end of normal time.

Or in extra time, during which Coote had three chances to win the game. He missed with a shot at a penalty goal from 41 metres out and two field goal attempts. Halfback Shane Perry had the only crack for Brisbane, missing with a shot at field goal.

Coote started the game in place of selected fullback Wesser, who was ruled out with an abdominal injury. He was the third player to make his first-grade debut for the Panthers in two rounds, after five-eighth Wade Graham and replacement hooker Masada Iosefa were called up last weekend. Graham and Iosefa, who played again last night, are part of the long-term future at Penrith. But while their potential is obvious it is harder for them to help the club through its short-term predicament.

PENRITH 12 (M Jennings L Lewis tries S Rodney 2 goals) drew BRISBANE 12 (C Parker D Taylor tries M Ennis 2 goals) at CUA Stadium. Referee: G Badger. Crowd: 9963.