Adam Reynolds has channelled Allan Langer as Brisbane turned back the clock with a historic 38-0 thrashing of Manly.
Exactly one year ago Reynolds arrived in Brisbane for the NRL's Magic Round with South Sydney, almost miserably explaining why he had chosen the long-term security of the Broncos over a one-year extension at his childhood club.
On Friday any misery was a distant memory, the captain as delighted as the 40,267-strong Magic Round crowd as he orchestrated a romp that included a Selwyn Cobbo hat-trick.
Corey Oates also scored twice in the Broncos' fourth-straight win, something that's alluded them since 2017, and confirms Kevin Walters' improving side's position in the top eight.
Victory follows wins over top-four side Cronulla and last year's finalists Souths, with a top-four position now in their sights ahead of games against Newcastle (13th), Gold Coast (15th) and Canberra (12th).
It also came a year after the Broncos' biggest ever loss to Manly, the 50-6 drubbing a marker of how far the 2020 wooden spooners have come in 12 months.
Prized recruit Reynolds was in the middle of it, twice putting in pinpoint cross-field kicks for Cobbo, while the 19-year-old winger also reeled in an intercept and raced 95 metres for his third try.
The halfback also looked after himself, collecting his own Langer-like short chip and scooting over to cap a brilliant first half.
The writing was on the wall from the kick-off for Manly, who allowed the ball to bounce 15 metres over the dead ball line.
Brisbane collected the short re-start and Reynolds obliged when Reuben Garrick strayed off his wing, kicking for Cobbo's first.
Possession swung heavily in Brisbane's favour but their improved defence was up to task when necessary, Billy Walters somehow holding out Tom Trbojevic after he had caught a bomb and landed on the tryline.
Their attack was otherwise clunky, Trbojevic managing soreness in his well-strapped knee and brother Ben suffering a shoulder injury.
Oates' second try, cutting back through some soft defence, sealed Brisbane's biggest-ever win over the Sea Eagles.
But with two Kurt Capwell's efforts denied on review, the second a line-ball forward pass, the damage could have been worse.
Brisbane's forwards were also dominant, with Pat Carrigan (156m) one of five Brisbane forwards with 100-plus run metres.
AAP
Bulldogs vs Knights
The Newcastle Knights climbed off the bottom of the ladder, beating Canterbury 16-6 in an underwhelming opening act at Lang Park.
The Knights and Bulldogs acted their ranks (16th and 15th respectively) as they fumbled their way through 80 minutes of NRL football.
The Bulldogs, having only last week been usurped by Newcastle for 16th spot on the ladder, went straight back down there thanks to 13 errors with the ball and more than twice as many missed tackles without it, according to Stats Perform.
Despite the win, coach Adam O'Brien, who stormed out of the box after lock Leo Thompson bombed a second-half try, will be none too pleased by how close the game was.
His team had 57 per cent of the ball, dominated the offload count 9-1 and broke twice as many tackles as their opponent.
Edrick Lee scored first for the Knights off a questionable pass from centre Bradman Best, before Josh Addo-Carr answered back for the Dogs.
With the teams locked at 6-6 at half-time, it took only seven minutes for Best to break the deadlock after fullback Kalyn Ponga scooted past an over-committed Bulldogs defender.
It was a rare highlight on a down night for the out-of-form Knight custodian.
Newcastle were awarded two more tries, only for the bunker to overrule, but the video referee could not deny Adam Clune's solo game-breaker with five minutes left in the game.
