Brisbane extinguished North Queensland’s finals hopes and solidified their place in the NRL top eight with a 16-10 victory in Townsville on Friday night.
Broncos star Israel Folau scored a try in his comeback match from injury as Brisbane came up on top in a three-tries-to-two victory to move into fourth spot on the ladder.
In a high quality hitout with finals aspirations for both sides in the balance, the Queensland rivals didn’t disappoint the crowd of 24,332 with an enthralling local derby.
Brisbane flyer Jharal Yow Yeh scored the match winner in the 60th minute with a spectacular 65 metre run, fielding a clearing kick in his own half, to put the Broncos in front for the first time in the match.
The all-Queensland centre battle between Justin Hodges and Willie Tonga was an epic and the Cowboy took the early bragging rights after taking an intercept off Darren Lockyer to set up an early 6-0 lead.
Brisbane were quick to counter and Folau scored – only to see the home side score five minutes before the break when Luke O’Donnell cleaned up a Grant Rovelli bomb for a 10-4 lead at halftime.
Broncos centre Alex Glenn scored in the 55th minute with Corey Parker kicking the conversion.
Cowboys five-eighth Grant Rovelli twisted his ankle while prop James Tamou was placed on report for a high shot on Lagi Setu in the 55th minute.
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