NRL: Broncos move closer to cementing finals spot

Matt Gillett of the Broncos takes on the defence. Photo / Getty Images

Broncos 30
Titans 10

Brisbane have moved into the NRL top four and edged closer to locking up a finals spot with an impressive 30-10 win over Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium.

The win edged the Broncos ahead of the Cowboys who need to beat Wests Tigers in Townsville on Saturday night to hang onto their place in the top four.

Victory pushed Brisbane to 28 competition points with seven rounds remaining and another two wins would guarantee they make the finals after missing out for the first time in 19 seasons last year.

After a two-try-a-piece first half had the clash locked at 10-10, Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer laid on a try for flying right winger Jharal Yow Yeh just 30 seconds into the second stanza.

A 57th minute Corey Parker penalty after centre Jack Reed was impeded chasing a Lockyer bomb edged the home side out to an 18-10 lead as the arm wrestle continued.

Some Yow Yeh magic to pluck a Darren Lockyer bomb from the grasp of Titans fullback Luke Capewell for his second try in the 63rd minute for a 24-10 lead was always going to be too much for the Gold Coast to reel in.

Fullback Josh Hoffman then beat Scott Prince to a Lockyer grubber just before fulltime to continue the Titans' pain in front of a crowd of just over 30,000.

Lockyer had a big influence in the second half, sensing the last-placed Titans could sniff a big upset.

Red-headed Reed showed why he continues to be something of a cult figure with Brisbane fans who love his aggressive running game, a feature of Brisbane's left side raids.

The only issue for Brisbane, who have their six State of Origin stars back on deck, was a first half incident which saw bench forward Josh McGuire placed on report for coming in late with a loose arm on rival Greg Bird.

There was another incident late in the game when Titans centre Bodene Thompson was penalised after he threw the football into the head of Brisbane lock Parker and then hit him with an open handed jab.

Titans lock Ashley Harrison failed to see out the local derby, leaving the field after 14 minutes with an elbow injury.

BRISBANE 30 (J Yow Yeh 2 J Hodges J Hoffman S Thaiday tries C Parker 4 P Wallace goals) bt GOLD COAST 10 (S Michaels D Moore tries S Prince goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris James. Crowd: 31,035.

- AAP