Broncos 21 Warriors 20
The finish was a sickener but in a way, this game was nothing less than Darren Lockyer deserved on his record-equalling night. It was a barnstormer, with some fantastic tries and a cliffhanger finish to boot.
The loss may ultimately prove fatal to the Warriors' hopes of a top-four finish, but it would be difficult to criticise the effort, application and execution.
With the game tied at 20-20 in the final stages, James Maloney sprayed a 30m drop goal wide, before a 40m Shaun Johnson shot drifted just under the bar with four minutes to go.
After a Lockyer attempt was charged down, Peter Wallace nailed the match winner. There was still time for a miracle - the Warriors regained the ball with 50 seconds on the clock but couldn't work another chance.
It was Lockyer's 349th NRL match, drawing him level with Terry Lamb and Steve Menzies. He should take the record outright on Friday against the Cowboys.
There were some bones of contention; the Warriors received just one penalty in the first 50 minutes of the match - either the Broncos were incredibly disciplined or the match officials were feeling the heat of the Suncorp effect.
Two of the Broncos tries came after soft penalties, but those are the hurdles you have to overcome on Australian soil.
For the Warriors, the kicking game was good, the defence mostly solid apart from moments of inattention, especially at times around the marker area.
The Auckland team are also becoming one of the best long range attacking teams in the competition - with whippets Kevin Locke and Johnson scoring beautiful tries from distance. If there is a criticism on offence, it would be the lack of structure and set plays once inside the opposition 22, compared to the other top teams.
The familiar Lockyer-Sam Thaiday combination set up the first try after six minutes, with the Origin stars putting Justin Hodges over in the corner.
The Warriors hit back against the run of play with one of the tries of the season to Johnson, the halfback beating six defenders in a dazzling 60m run to the line. On the way he pulled off probably the greatest goosestep seen in Queensland since the days of David Campese in his pomp at Ballymore, leaving Broncos fullback Josh Hoffman flailing.
A Maloney penalty increased the lead in the 22nd minute, and Brisbane made a costly error at the play the ball after turning down a penalty shot. On the next set, Maloney regathered his own exquisite chip before sending the ball on to Locke. The fullback had to stop and prop as he caught the pass, before accelerating roadrunner fashion around Lockyer and Yow Yeh and diving over in the corner.
The Warriors had further chances - not helped by some particularly timely relieving penalties for the home side - before the Broncos scored a spectacular try of their own, a one handed Jack Reed offload sending Gerald Beale scorching down the left touchline.
Their momentum continued in the second half, with Reed hauling in a pinpoint Wallace chip as two Warriors collided behind the tryline. Gillett scored in the 57th minute off an inside ball from Lockyer to further extend the lead. After they had forced a repeat set, Shaun Berrigan showed incredible strength to score in the corner on his return to Brisbane.
Broncos 21 (J. Hodges, G. Beale, J. Reed, M. Gillett tries; C. Parker 2 goals, P Wallace drop goal) Warriors 20 (S. Johnson, K. Locke, S. Berrigan tries; J. Maloney 4 goals). Halftime: 12- 8.