The Brisbane Broncos have moved to within one point of the Holden Cup top eight with a clinical 52-20 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday night.
There was no shortage of points at ANZ Stadium with the sides combining for 13 tries with four players grabbing doubles.
The tone was set early with Broncos fullback Corey Allan slicing through from a kick return to get his side on the front foot, and they were in one set later when Josh Rudolph pounced onto a Gerome Burns grubber that was fumbled at the back.
It took just four minutes for the Bunnies to hit back with right winger Josh Ellison diving over in the corner before Chad O'Donnell nailed the sideline conversion to level the scores.
The Broncos reclaimed the lead midway through the first half when Burns strolled through a huge hole close to the line but the Rabbitohs hit back through Ellison after an O'Donnell kick was charged down and regathered by the Souths halfback.
The writing was on the wall for South Sydney when Broncos winger Sam Smith latched onto a pass to score a terrific solo try, before Gehamat Shibasaki crossed on the stroke of half-time to make it 24-10 at the break.
A cheeky show-and-go from No.9 Maia Sands got the Rabbitohs back in the contest five minutes into the second stanza, but a barnstorming charge from Sam Elliot and a fortuitous offload and grubber led to Burns' second of the evening to make it 30-16.
A hit-and-spin by Broncos backrower Michael Molo pushed the lead out to 20 midway through the second half before Sands dived over for his second to give the Rabbitohs a faint hope of victory.
Late tries to Jamayne Isaako and David Fauid put the result beyond doubt, before Sam Smith capped off the night with a freakish try after the siren to hand the Broncos their eighth win of the season to stay in ninth spot.
Broncos 52 (Gerome Burns 2, Sam Smith 2, Josh Rudolph, Gehamat Shibasaki, Michael Molo, Jamayne Isaako, David Fauid tries; Jamayne Isaako 8 goals) defeated Rabbitohs 20 (Josh Ellison 2, Maia Sands 2 tries; Chad O'Donnell 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Half-time: 24-10 Broncos.
