PRESSURE and speculation surrounding Brisbane and their coach Michael Maguire is set to intensify after the premiers remained winless a fortnight into the new season.
The Broncos looked set to win in a canter with a dominant display in the opening exchanges against Parramatta but somehow found themselves down by two by halftime at Suncorp Stadium.
During a helter skelter final 15 minutes, Reece Walsh scored an ebullient kick-and-chase try which looked to have won the game.
But in the south-eastern corner, Parramatta winger Sean Russell picked up the ball from from the turf a metre out and grounded it despite the defence bearing down on him.
Mitchell Moses landed a booming sideline conversion to edge the Eels in front.
And finally it was Broncos-bound Jonah Pezet who put it beyond doubt in the final 90 seconds by chasing a kick into the southern in-goal area.
Midway through the first half, Parramatta trailed 20-6 and looked like being lapped. By halftime they had hit the lead, 22-20.
Broncos two-try centre Kotoni Staggs was placed on report for a spear tackle. Adam Reynolds went off injured late.
PARRAMATTA 40 (Tuilagi 2 Iongi 2 Smith Russell Pezet tries Moses 6 goals) beat BRISBANE 32 (Staggs 2 Walsh 2 Haas tries Reynolds 6 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.
Teams:
BRISBANE: Reece Walsh; Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Gehemet Shibasaki, Deine Mariner; Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds (c); Res: Ben Hunt, Xavier Willison, Ben Talty, Aublix Tawa, Grant Anderson, Jaiyden Hunt.
PARRAMATTA: Isaiah Iongi; Bailey Simonsson, Sean Russell, Jordan Samrani, Josh Addo-Carr; Jonah Pezet, Mitchell Moses (c); Jack Williams, Ryley Smith, Junior Paulo, Kelma Tuilagi, Kitioni Kautoga, Jack De Belin. Res: Dylan Walker, Sam Tuilvaiti, Matt Doorey, Tallyn De Silva, Charlie Guymer, Joash Papali’i.
Referee: Wyatt Raymond.