Broncos through to Preliminary Final

The Brisbane Broncos have booked their place in the Preliminary Finals with a 16-12 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys in front of a sell out crowd at Suncorp Stadium, 50,388.

After a scrappy opening 10 minutes, Corey Parker slot a penalty goal to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead.

The arm wrestle continued until the 28th as Ben Hunt burst through the Cowboys defence with a solo charge, Brisbane 8-0.

In the shadows of half time, Johnathan Thurston opted for the penalty goal to bring up a 8-2 score after forty minutes.

The Cowboys started the second half strongly as Antonio Winterstein surged through the Broncos pack, a play crafted by JT.

Kodi Nikorima had an explosive injection into the game as his first touch saw him link with a flying Anthony Milford. The Broncos fullback bolted untouched to the try line as he took the Broncos to a 10 point lead, 16-6.

Thurston had the final say in the contest with a darting run off a short grubber kick. However it wasn't enough as his try closed the score to 16-12 after 80 minutes.

The Broncos will enjoy a week off as they advance through to Week 3 of the Finals. While for the Cowboys it's a sudden death prospect as they return to 1300SMILES to face the winner of the Elimination Final between the Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Match Details

Brisbane Broncos 16 North Queensland Cowboys 12
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 50388
Halftime Score: Brisbane Broncos 8 North Queensland Cowboys 2

BRISBANE BRONCOS (16)
Tries: Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford
Field Goals:
Conversions: Corey Parker (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (12)
Tries: Johnathan Thurston, Antonio Winterstein
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Ben Hunt
2 points - Anthony Milford
1 point - Antonio Winterstein

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

It's a packed Suncorp Stadium we welcome you to tonight for the Battle of Queensland.

We're underway! The Cowboys kick off, and the Broncos will have first use of the football.

1: Ben Hunt kicks down the middle on the last, and the Cowboys return it through Kyle Feldt.

2: The Cowboys have given away the first penalty of the game, with JT lifting from between the legs.

4: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Cowboys chance their arm down the short side but Antonio Winterstein loses the ball

6: Jonathan Thurston leads the charge on his own kick from the 40m line and the Broncos work their way up to half way on tackle 4

9: Broncos get their second penalty of the match and decide to take the two from 20m out

10: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the penalty goal and its the first points

14: Both sides playing through the middle of the field but now the Cowboys are on the attack inside the 20m

15: Repeat set for the Cowboys after Darius Boyd got a touch to the ball before it hit the ground over the deadball line

18: The Cowboys winning the field position battle then get a penalty to take them inside the 20m zone of the Broncos

19: Justin O'Neil goes over the tryline but is held up, next play Morgan kicks for Coote who knocks it on ingoal

21: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jordan Kahu makes an unforced error.
Good play from the Broncos is spoilt from Jordan Kahu who knocks on on the 10m line

24: Poor kick from Kyle Feldt on the last and they get the 20m restart and 7 tackles

27: Scrum for the Broncos on halfway and the go on the attack

28: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
Ben Hunt with a great show and go and he darts through the Cowboys big men and gets Lachlan Coote wrongfooted and scores under the posts

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the conversion from right in front

33: Corey Parker penalised for never getting back onside and the Cowboys are going to take the 2

35: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Johnathan Thurston kicks the penalty goal to take the scores within a converted try

39: Strange Video Referee referral after a forward pass was called by Brett Suttor... but then we went upstairs on a try and was checking grounding... but got an obstruction penalty

40: Second half is underway at Suncrop Stadium as the Cowboys get to 43m out from the Broncos line on the last

44: PENALTY BRONCOS: Antonio Winterstein is penalised on his own 40m line for passing off the ground... Broncos start the set 25m out

48: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Some great foresight from JT sends the Cowboys to the left and Antonio Winterstein scores out wide

49: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
JT hits the uprights with the conversion so they stay the 2 behind

54: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Gavin Cooper makes an unforced error.
Gavin Cooper goes close to the line but when he hits the ground he drops the ball

59: PENALTY BRONCOS: Gerard Sutton not happy with the ruck speed right on the line and Parker will take the shot at 2

60: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the conversion with the help of the uprights

63: Super high kick is taken well by Kyle Feldt an the momentum is starting to shift

65: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Anthony Milford. Kick to come.
MILF!!! - Kodi Nikorima keeps himself moving and him and Milford have too much speed for the big men and Milf explodes away under the sticks

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the conversion from right in front

72: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Johnathan Thurston. Kick to come.
JT scores a great try... took forever for Gerard Sutton to give his live decision and it was try, VR confirmed it

73: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
JT slots his conversion

74: Great defence from the Broncos survives the Cowboys onslaught then JT puts in a very average kick straight to Oates

76: Great calmness from Jordan Kahu to let the ball bounce and it eventually goes into touch..

79: Accidental offside called against the Cowboys and the Broncos survive and have just 90 seconds to survive

80: 2 tackles ... 15 secs

80: BRONCOS WIN IT