Broncos 44
Cronulla 16
BRISBANE - The Broncos blasted their way off the bottom of the NRL ladder with an emphatic victory over Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.
The Broncos produced a sparkling opening 40 minutes, piling on six tries through some poor defence to lead 32-0 at halftime.
The warning signs were out early when Brisbane centre Matt Gillett brushed off a feeble Ben Pomeroy tackle to stroll over for the first of two tries.
Further tries to Dunamis Lui, the first of his NRL career, another to Gillett, Ben Te'o and two late ones to centre Israel Folau and it was game over at the break.
"In that first half they played nearly the perfect half. They would have been up on any team in the comp, I don't care what anyone says," said Cronulla captain Paul Gallen.
The Broncos' devastating opening put a horror month for the club, on and off the field, behind them. Heading into this match, the injury-hit Broncos had gone four matches without a win, conceding 129 points to the Dragons, Roosters, Warriors and Raiders.
Off the field, the distractions have been twofold, with assistant coach Allan Langer facing a drink-driving charge, and strength-and-conditioning coach Dean Benton leaving the club.
But the opening stanza was a reminder of the club's better days.
As the six unanswered tries rolled in - with Folau and newcomer Gillett getting two apiece - Broncos halves Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace were in commanding form.
Sharks halfback Tim Smith's try four minutes into the second half gave their fans a tiny glimpse of hope, but it was short lived after Brisbane backrower Sam Thaiday galloped over under the posts in the 54th minute following a weaving run out of dummy half by Andrew McCullough.
Cronulla were more competitive in the second half, but it didn't hide the fact their defence was brittle early.
Brisbane lost halfback Peter Wallace to a knee injury in the 59th minute, and Lockyer suffered a shoulder injury late in the game.
Sharks replacement Josh Cordoba was ferried off on the medicab in the second half with a dislocated elbow and taken to hospital.
Sitting at 15th on the table before the match, the out-gunned Sharks had replaced the Broncos at the bottom of the heap by the time the final hooter sounded.
- AAP
