A masterclass kicking display from Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds inspired a 38-12 victory over a wasteful North Queensland side.
The 33-year-old midfielder had the ball on a string with his short and long kicking game in front of a crowd of 45,793 at Lang Park.
Reynolds terrorized all three Cowboys defenders in the first half to give his team a 20-12 halftime lead.
Fullback Scott Drinkwater and wingers Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi all floated bombs by the Broncos captain that led to points.
Reynolds was returning from a medial collateral ligament strain that led to him missing last week’s loss to Penrith.
His return gave the Broncos direction and confidence in a vital second victory of the season.
The highlight of the match was a 50th-minute tackle by Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden, who ran the length of the field to bring down Broncos center Selwyn Cobbo inches from the try line .
It was an innings reminiscent of Scott Sattler’s unforgettable effort over Todd Byrne in the 2003 grand final.
Unfortunately for Dearden, his teammates were way off the pace.
Drinkwater bounced a Reynolds floater in the first half and the game improved. The Broncos made an open turn for Jesse Arthars to make it 14-0 in as many minutes after hooker Billy Walters slipped early.
A pinpoint kick from Reynolds set up center Kotoni Staggs for another try.
The Cowboys were undisciplined and stayed in the game thanks to their individual brilliance.
Taulagi flew down the left sideline and kicked the infield with the outside of his boot so the ball landed in the lap of center Valentine Holmes on his first attempt.
Drinkwater’s genius to step on Tristan Sailor and run to score in the corner earned North Queensland their second.
The Cowboys went to sleep on the scoreboard in the 54th minute and bench hooker Tyson Smoothy pounced to take a 26-12 lead.
Ezra Mam and veteran Corey Oates iced the victory with late tries.
Previously, the Broncos had won just seven of 20 games without representative prop Payne Haas since 2019.
In Haas’ absence due to a knee injury, lock Pat Carrigan had his best game of the season.
AAP