Determined Brisbane Broncos beat North Queensland Cowboys 16-12 in derby thriller

A TRY to Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough sealed a 16-12 win for the Broncos against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane Broncos celebrate their win over North Queensland Cowboys. Pic Darren England.

WHO needs Cameron Smith?

On Friday Andrew McCullough demonstrated the guts that could define Brisbane’s season after the tireless rake scored the match-winner to sink the Cowboys 16-12 at Suncorp Stadium.

For the past five months, McCullough has lived on the edge.

News_Image_File: Broncos run out wearing red armbands during the NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys. Pic Darren England.

He has been forced to digest rumours of Smith’s impending arrival at Red Hill, all the while knowing if the Maroons skipper formally signed, McCullough would cop the bullet.

YOU RATE THE BRONCOS OUT OF 10

But after Smith committed to the Storm on Tuesday, McCullough took the deepest breath ... then exhaled to blow the Cowboys down in the Queensland derby.

YOU RATE THE COWBOYS OUT OF 10

With the Broncos trailing 12-10, McCullough emerged as the hero, taking the final pass from Dale Copley to give Brisbane a perfect 2-0 start to the season.

News_Image_File: Matt Gillett of Brisbane celebrates his try. Pic Darren England.

The derby was a willing affair and the toll was felt by fullback Ben Barba, who was seen limping in the second half and will undergo checks today on a possible ankle injury.

If any man personifies the Broncos this season, it may well be McCullough.

He is not the flashiest NRL star. But there is no-one who displays more guts or fronts up on a weekly basis.

There is a slogan pinned to the Broncos’ gymnasium wall at Red Hill.

It part, it says the Broncos are only as strong as its weakest.

Friday night, their team-first ethos suffocated the Cowboys’ posse of individual stars.

News_Image_File: Ben Barba of Brisbane during the NRL match between the Broncos and the North Queensland. Pic Darren England.

Structurally, the Broncos are exhibiting a distinctly different style to the class of 2013 that bumbled to the club’s worst finish in their 25-year history.

Last season, much of Brisbane’s attacking incursions stemmed from their halves, rugby league’s traditional creators of opportunities.

This year, mindful they possess an embryonic halves pairing in Josh Hoffman and Ben Hunt, the Broncos are not overloading their nerve centre.

But in asking less of their scrumbase, the team is delivering more.

If the Broncos lose this year, they will clearly go down swinging. Griffin’s class of 2014 are prepared to play football.

News_Image_File: Brent Tate of the Cowboys down injured. Pic Darren England.

They may lack an out-and-out champion like Lockyer, or Johnathan Thurston, but Brisbane are spreading attacking responsibilities and coming at sides from different angles.

From the back, Ben Barba has a commission to roam. Griffin permits him to play what he sees and, such is his gifts, Barba sees what others cannot.

Exhibit A was his silky touch in the seventh minute. Barba chimed into the frontline and held the ball up superbly for Matt Gillett to crash over.

With the seconds counting down, it seemed Brisbane’s courage would not be enough. But McCullough held his nerve ... just as he has all summer.

BRISBANE 16 (M Gillett A McCullough D Vidot tries C Parker 2 goals) beat NORTH QUEENSLAND 12 (G Cooper J Thurston tries J Thurston 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Gavin Reynolds. Crowd: 42,303.

Re-live all the action in our blog below:

News_Module: Friday Night Football