NRL Raiders 12 Broncos 20
With six front-line players on Origin duty and six teenagers filling their positions, the side labelled the "baby Broncos" extended its lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win against the Raiders at waterlogged Canberra Stadium.
The NRL frontrunners are now just three wins away from equalling the longest consecutive winning streak at the club - 12, in 2000 and 2001.
The Raiders, after their bye last week, were buoyed by the return of captain Simon Woolford, Clinton Schifcofske and Troy Thompson but were outclassed by the Broncos in an error-ridden display.
Early on Woolford wrought havoc and put Matt Gafa over but he spilled the ball trying to force the first chance.
Broncos' Brett Seymour utilised that reprieve, splitting the defence for David Stagg to charge over.
Schifcofske struck back immediately on a sliding run out wide. But another of Broncos' 18-year-old contingent, Leon Bott, used his blistering speed to restore the six-point lead right before the break.
Unforced errors allowed the Raiders back into the match but flawless work at the back from Kiwi-born Karmichael Hunt and Bott negated any scoring threats.
That frustrated Canberra and a couple of loose tackles allowed Brisbane to extend its lead with a Seymour penalty and then a try from former Origin star Darren Smith to lead 20-6.
Matt Adamson barged over with eight minutes remaining to give the home side faint hopes of a miracle comeback but the conditions and scrambling Broncos defence held them out.
In Brad Thorn's absence, Neville Costigan's tireless, rugged defence and youngster Sam Thaiday's impact from the bench were features of the win.
Shane Webcke, who turned down Origin football this season, laid a typically solid platform and the win was his first as captain out of six attempts.
The ninth successive win shows they have the depth of quality players to surpass the record with style.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
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