Korbin Sims of the Broncos celebrates scoring a try. Photo / Getty
Attack is no longer a problem but Brisbane Broncos still have plenty of worries after halfback Ben Hunt joined a growing injury list in their 32-8 NRL win over Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.
Considered "off the pace" and "in their shell" by coach Wayne Bennett, Brisbane's backline finally fired to inflict a second straight loss on the Roosters in front of 30,376 fans.
But it came at a cost.
Hunt limped off with a hamstring injury in the 49th minute, suffered when he crashed over for a controversially disallowed try moments earlier.
To make matters worse, the Broncos lost Queensland winger Corey Oates (groin) before the kickoff and prop Korbin Sims (foot) by the 60th minute.
Queensland forward Josh McGuire overcame a shoulder complaint to finish the match for the rampant Broncos.
Bennett had complained about their misfiring attack before the Roosters clash, admitting that pivot Anthony Milford had been distracted by ongoing contract talks.
Brisbane had the third worst attack in the league, averaging less than 16 points a game after five rounds.
However, Milford and the Broncos came alive on Thursday night, flexing their muscle to pile on five tries to two.
Brisbane thought they had extended their 14-8 halftime lead when Hunt crashed over in the 46th minute but it was sensationally disallowed with a Milford forward pass called forward.
Brisbane weren't to be denied, however, piling on the next three tries to blow out the scoreline.The Roosters tried to hit back trailing 20-8 in the 57th minute but Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough denied a try-bound Michael Gordon with a miracle ankle tap.
Brisbane tore apart the flat Roosters from the outset, jumping to an 8-0 lead after the visitors missed 18 tackles in the first 16 minutes.
The visitors returned fire to level at 8-8 by the 21st minute, with pivot Luke Keary setting up two tries in four minutes after exposing centre Tautau Moga on Brisbane's left edge.
The Broncos grabbed the halftime lead after Milford set up backrower Sam Thaiday in the 25th minute. Roosters forward Isaac Liu may come under scrutiny for his ninth minute hit on McGuire.
Bench utility Kodi Nikorima is expected to step up for Hunt who Bennett believed would be sidelined for up to three weeks.
"He's played good but we have some good replacements here - they know what to do," Bennett said of a potential halfback.
Bennett praised the Milford-inspired attack's turnaround.
"He felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders but he was a lot better through the week," Bennett said of Milford.
"We just knew we had to play the type of football we have always played at the Broncos.
"They got that back tonight by backing themselves and not second guessing themselves."
Ex-Gold Coast flyer David Mead impressed on Broncos debut, replacing Oates to run 152m and nab a try.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson was furious over their 46 missed tackles.
"That comes down to the Broncos playing really well and us being unacceptable the way we went about our tackling," he said.
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