Home side sits on top of the NRL ladder early in round two.
It might not have been pretty but the scoreboard does not tell a lie as the Brisbane Broncos won their second game for the NRL season.
The Broncos came from behind to beat the North Queensland Cowboys 16-12 in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium.
A late-run by Brisbane centre Dale Copley sparked the vital final try, with hooker Andrew McCullough backing up on the inside to cap an excellent performance for him.
The win, while coming early in the second round with six other games to be played, see the Broncos on top of the NRL ladder with captain Sam Thaiday promising more.
“We’re not playing as well as we know we can at the moment, but to get another win and be 2-2 is pretty special,” Thaiday said after the game.
“There’s a really good feeling in the camp at the moment and that’s what’s helping us push through to the end of the game even if things aren’t going our way.
“But credit to the Cowboys they kept coming at us right until the siren so they pushed us all the way.”
Earlier in the second half the Cowboys hit back after a Robert Lui cross field kick was knocked on, allowing for Gavin Cooper to scoop up the loose ball and score in the 49thminute.
Johnathan Thurston pushed the conversion wide and the scores were locked up at 10 all.
Josh McGuire was deemed to take out the legs of kicker Lui and was placed on report.
Thurston added the extras for the visitors after the penalty against McGuire and the Cowboys led 12-10.
In the 59th minute Hunt strolled under the posts to score but was ruled to have run around his own player in the process.
The Broncos survived repetitive raids on their own line and Kane Linnett crossed in the corner but a try saving tackle from Copley and Lachlan Maranta ended it.
The game was end to end stuff with defence the main aspect with both teams showing fight to hold each other out.
Earlier a neat grubber kick from Jack Reed placed the Broncos on the front foot as they gained a goal line drop out.
From the following play in the seventh minute an inside pass from Ben Barba put Matt Gillett into space scoring next to the posts.
Parker converted the simple kick for goal.
McCullough and Barba displayed superb goal line defence to hold up Cowboys fullback Michael Morgan who looked like scoring.
On the next play James Tamou popped a nice ball for Thurston to run onto and score in the 15th minute.
Thurston was successful with his conversion to equal the scores.
In the 17th minute McGuire was placed on report for a careless high tackle on Cooper.
The teams shared possession for most of the half and despite playing quality football they were unable to open up the defence.
That was until with four minutes remaining in the first half, the Broncos combined for a terrific team try to Daniel Vidot.
After a flurry of offloads from Martin Kennedy and Todd Lowrie, Josh Hoffman pushed past a Cowboys defender and grubbered through for the winger to pounce.
Parker missed the difficult conversion from the sideline and the Broncos led 10-6 at halftime.
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