The Brisbane Broncos have ended the New Zealand Warriors five game winning streak, beating them 27-18.
Photo: Photosport
Playing at Mount Smart stadium in Auckland, the Wayne Bennett coached visitors were leading at half time and never looked like losing.
Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako has opened his NRL try-scoring account with a double as the Broncos turned their fortunes around.
The former Junior Kiwi scored in both halves and also landed five goals for a personal haul of 18 points.
The Broncos went into the match with two losses in a row but they showed plenty of running, with Joe Ofahengaue, Matt Lodge and Josh McGuire leading the charge, while half Anthony Milford was influential with the boot.
The defeat ended the Warriors' unbeaten start to the season.
It was made worse by injuries to back-rower Leivaha Pulu and centre Solomone Kata, who both limped off, Pulu midway through the opening spell and Kata late in the contest.
Broncos winger Corey Oates, who was constant threat, gave his side the early lead, cutting in from the left to score.
His marker, David Fusitu'a, replied off a superb Shaun Johnson pass to snare his eighth try of the season.
In an absorbing encounter, with both sides completing at more than 90 percent for most of the opening half, the Broncos scored again after a huge break by James Roberts, who sent Isaako over.
But Warriors struck back through five-eighth Blake Green, who was again a key figure for the home side.
Green nudged a kick ahead, saw the ball bounce off a post pad and was on hand to score his first try for the club.
After both sides opted to kick penalties when in good field position, a Milford field goal edged the Broncos ahead 15-14 in the shadow of halftime.
They went further ahead when interchange backrower Jaydn Su'a stepped his way over for his debut try in first grade before Isaako's second touchdown pushed the visitors clear.
The Warriors produced a strong finish and Johnson touched down with nine minutes to go but that was close as they got.
- AAP
