NRL: Brisbane Broncos snatch late win in local derby over Gold Coast

James Roberts of the Broncos celebrates scoring a try against Gold Coast Titans. Photo/Getty Images

Wayne Bennett says experienced heads inspired Brisbane to their first back-to-back wins of the 2017 NRL season, as they beat Gold Coast 24-22 in their Good Friday showdown.

The Broncos recorded their sixth straight win over the Titans, but had to do it the hard way.

Brisbane trailed for most of the game, but an inspiring series of runs from Darius Boyd early in the second helped them stretch their winning streak to 11 against the Titans, at Suncorp Stadium.

Bennett said Matt Gillett and Boyd gave the team a much-needed spark of life, and the impetus to get back in the game when they were trailing by 12 points after 16 minutes.

"We had a lot of inspirational players out there tonight, Matt turned the heat up at about the 20 minute mark with his defence," Bennett said. "We all bought into it and from that point on, I thought we dominated."

The Titans, who have struggled early in games this season, didn't take long to find their groove. Anthony Don put them on the board in the 10th minute, after Tyronne Roberts-Davis produced a remarkable flick pass, which gave Don enough room to complete an 80m run down the right sideline.

In the 14th minute, Titans co-captain Ryan James gave Gold Coast a 12-point buffer, as he scored his 22nd try for the club in his 100th game.

The game also marked the return from injury of hooker Nathan Peats and James felt he played a vital role in getting the Titans close.

"I thought the boys stepped it up in the middle ... Peatsy brought that bit of experience," James said. "There is definitely something to build on."

For Brisbane, James Roberts was the chief destroyer and he got the Broncos back in the game with a pair of first half tries, before snaring the match-winner in the 78th minute.

Boyd sent Roberts over for his first, before he scored off a set play to bring the Broncos within two. The Titans extended their lead at the end of the first half, Don pulling off a soccer-style kick to knock the ball back to Chris Grevsmuhl.

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Posted by NRL on Friday, April 14, 2017

Brisbane hit back again after the break, with tries in quick succession to Kodi Nikorima and then Anthony Milford, giving the Broncos the lead for the first time at 20-16.

It wouldn't last long, though, and when Kane Elgey crossed and Ash Taylor converted, the Titans again led 22-20.

Ultimately, it wasn't enough for the Titans and it was former Gold Coast star Roberts who burned them, when Gillett charged down an Elgey kick, which led to Roberts grabbing his third for the match and gifting Brisbane their fourth win of the season.