[Source: NRL]

Brisbane produced their most clinical first-half performance of the season before fending off a late Eels comeback to win 26-16 in Darwin.

The Broncos ran in four tries in the opening 40 minutes to set up a 22-6 lead with the combination of halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam running riot on the back of a strong platform set by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan up front early.

The ladder leaders then controlled the game in the second half with a further two penalty goals ruling out any chance of an Eels comeback despite two tries in five minutes giving the home side a sniff.

Adam Reynolds puts it 🆙#NRLEelsBroncos pic.twitter.com/WepKTOgpum

— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2023

Parramatta were coming off a five-day turnaround which appeared to play a part in their lackluster performance in humid conditions that soon turned torrential at TIO Stadium.

The Eels were under the pump from the opening with the visitors taking a 6-0 lead through a try via Herbie Farnworth following a Sean Russell mistake in the air.

Brad Arthur’s men bounced back with a try of their own off the boot with Clint Gutherson showing his soccer skills to pick up and collect a ball in the in-goal.

Brown 🤝 Gutherson#NRLEelsBroncos pic.twitter.com/PcD0gviUUP

— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2023

That was where the end-to-end tussle essentially ended, however, with the Broncos piling on three tries in nine minutes to set up a 16-point lead.

It all started with Reynolds finishing off a Mam flick pass for a try before Kotoni Staggs kept a Reece Walsh kick alive to hit it back to Mam for a four-pointer of his own.

Now that’s some Mam magic! 🧙‍♂️#NRLEelsBroncos pic.twitter.com/qKllBoLrCL

— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2023

Reynolds, who had the ball on a string all evening, then set up Staggs with a kick across the field that had the perfect bounce for the Broncos center to go over.

Two penalty goals after the break stretched the lead out to 20 before the Eels breathed life into the match through tries to Maika Sivo and Sean Russell.

Super Sivo! 🦸‍♂️#NRLEelsBroncos pic.twitter.com/J2Sd89HPZ4

— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2023

A no-try ruling against Russell with four minutes left denied the Eels a chance to set up a grandstand finish in a concern for the Broncos, who fell asleep with the game wrapped up.