Deine Mariner dived over in the corner off the ensuing set to extend the Broncos lead to 12-0.
Haumole Olakau’atu produced a line ball pass for a charging Reuben Garrick to barge over as the Sea Eagles cut the Broncos’ lead.
Payne Haas was helped from the field with a left ankle injury in a horror sign for Blues coach Michael Maguire.
However, Haas returned to the field in a stunning turn of events and finished the game.
Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega dived over in the corner with Garrick banging the conversion from the sideline to square the scores.
Jaxson Paulo produced a high tackle on Deine Mariner to gift the Broncos a penalty and field position.
Jock Madden slotted a field goal to give the Broncos a one-point lead with four minutes to play and the Broncos held on in a thriller.
Manly fought hard but unfortunately Jaxson Paulo tough high shot on Deine Mariner decided the match.
Paulo’s tough penalty gave the Broncos field position and Jock Madden did the rest with the match winning field goal.
Michael Ennis believes it was a tough penalty to decide the match.
“A really tough play five penalty gave Brisbane an opportunity and what a moment for Jock Madden,” Ennis said.
“He stepped up early in the tackle count and positioned himself beautifully and iced it for Brisbane.
“It was a war out there.”
Mal Meninga agreed it was a tough call with the match on the line.
“That penalty right at the end of the game was a pretty harsh one,” Meninga said.
“And that’s when Jock Madden obviously kicked the field goal off the back of that.
“I actually thought Manly should have won the game.”
Still, Madden showed ice in his veins to seal a dramatic one point victory at the death.
“They missed Jock Madden last week and after overcoming that pec injury and that’s all it took towards the back end of the game,” Greg Alexander said.
“There was only four minutes on the clock and the Broncos did a great job to get themselves in that position off the back of the penalty and Madden did the rest.”
Brendan Piakura continued his hot form with a try-scoring display to help lead the Broncos to victory.
Greg Alexander believes Piakura can blossom into one of the best second-rowers in the game over the course of the next few seasons.
“It was a very sharp opening 15 minutes form the Broncos,” Alexander said.
“Brendan Piakura missed a month of footy but has been back now for three games.
“I think he can turn himself into one of the best back-rowers in the competition.
“I think that left edge when Selwyn Cobbo comes back into the centres that left edge of Ezra Mam, Piakura and Reece Walsh and Cobbo can be the best in the competition.”
Broncos flyer Deine Mariner made it 10 tries in 10 games so far this season after crossing for Brisbane’s second of the night.
Mariner finished with 87 run metres, a tackle busts, a linebreak, six tackles and a crucial four pointer.
Greg Alexander believes Mariner has been a breakout star for the Broncos this season after cementing the wing spot.
“They scored two tries inside the opening 12 minutes the Broncos,” Alexander said.
“Deine Mariner is proving to be a real developing star for the Broncos over the last couple of weeks.
“He ran onto a beautiful pass from Ezra Mam who just held it up and caught Jaxson Paulo in no man’s land and threw a great pass to Deine Mariner.”
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The Manly Sea Eagles host the Brisbane Broncos in a blockbuster Magic Round clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Reece Walsh is out with knee soreness with Selwyn Cobbo shifting to fullback and Josiah Karapani coming in at centre.
Jock Madden returns from a pectoral injury, with Josh Rogers dropping out, while Tyson Smoothy starts at hooker for Billy Walters, who has a wrist injury.
Tolu Koula will replace Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) at fullback with Reuben Garrick remaining in the centres.
1. Tolutau Koula 2. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Matthew Lodge. 18th man: 18. Aaron Woods
4. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 21. Josiah Karapani 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Tyson Smoothy 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Blake Mozer 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Jack Gosiewski. 18th man: 18. Joshua Rogers
