Karmichael Hunt bags four tries as
Broncos down Souths

Brisbane sensation Karmichael Hunt has scored four tries as the Broncos overcame the South Sydney Rabbitohs 48-28 at Suncorp Stadium today.

Missing a number of star players to Origin duties, the Broncos looked well in control against the 13th place Rabbitohs, racing away to an 18-nil lead after 15 minutes.

Both sides exchanged tries before Souths scored in the 40th minute and half time, the Broncos held a 22-10 lead.

With Gorden Tallis leading from the front, the second half saw the Broncos go further ahead and in the 50th minute, Brisbane held a 34-10 lead.

But the Rabbitohs never gave up, scoring the next two tries, and after 62 minutes found themselves within 12 points of their more fancied opponents.

The turning point came in the 66th minute when Karmichael Hunt scored his third try in controversial circumstances, with Souths appealing for a forward pass. Hunt scored again four minutes later.

But Souths never threw in the towel and with five defenders hanging off him, Garth Wood scored his second try in the 74th minute.

The match however belonged to the Broncos with Hunt bagging his fourth try just before fulltime.

Suncorp Stadium Referee: Gavin Badger Video Referee: Mick Stone Touch Judges: Matt Cecchin, David Abood

Scorers: BRONCOS 44 Tries: Hunt 4, Tallis, Frawley, Berrigan, Webb, Costigan Goals: De Vere 6/10 defeated RABBITOHS 28 Tries: Wood 2, Thompson, Sutton, Harrison Goals: Williams 4/5

By the clock: 0 min: Beaut day in Brisbane. 5th placed Broncos missing a number of Origin stars against the 13th placed Rabbitohs. Kickoff!

2 min: TRY - Broncos. Gorden Tallis runs through a hole to score. Follows error from Souths from the kickoff. Conversion Michael De Vere from the sideline is successful. Broncos 6-0

7 min: TRY - Broncos. Craig Frawley scores with Tallis making huge in-roads. Conversion De Vere misses. Broncos 10-0

11 min: TRY - Broncos. Karmichael Hunt scores a runaway try, fending and stepping his way to the line. Conversion De Vere OK. Broncos 16-0

15 min: PENALTY GOAL - Broncos. De Vere makes no mistake. NEWS - Michael De Vere's 400th premiership goal Broncos 18-0

22 min: NEWS - Possession favours Broncos 59%. The scoreline tells the tale with Brisbane winning up the middle and both sides of the ruck. Souths starting to settle now.

25 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. David Thompson scores under the sticks after the Rabbitohs finally get some go forward and field position. Conversion Joe Williams. Broncos 18-6

32 min: NO TRY - Broncos denied. Follows a raid from Brisbane with Tallis carving them up. Video ref rules Casey McGuire is held up over the line.

36 min: NO TRY - Rabbitohs denied following obstruction being ruled by video ref.

37 min: TRY - Broncos. Shaun Berrigan darts through and scores. Conversion De Vere unsuccessful. Broncos 22-6

40 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Garth Wood scores against the run of play after receiving a long cut out pass from Owen Craigie. Follows penalty against Berrigan. Conversion Williams is waved away. Broncos 22-10

HALF TIME: Its been all Broncos early on but they have slackened off while the Rabbitohs have lifted late in the half. The Broncos should get back onto an even keel in the second half.

Possession: Broncos 53% Tackles: Rabbitohs 133-118 Mistackles: Rabbitohs 28-11 Errors: Broncos 8-3 Completions: Broncos 13/20; Rabbitohs 15/19 Penalties: Rabbitohs 5-4 Score: Broncos 22-10

NEWS - Glenn Hall (Rabbitohs) has a knee injury and is unlikely to return.

Second half underway...

46 min: TRY - Broncos. Carl Webb scores after the Broncos get repeat sets of possession while the referee takes a tumble. Conversion De Vere. Broncos 28-10

49 min: TRY - Broncos. Neville Costigan scores and the Broncios are on a roll. Conversion De Vere. Broncos 34-10

56 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. John Sutton scores as the rabbitohs won't lay down. Conversion Williams is a ripper. Broncos 34-16

62 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Ashley Harrison shows his form after standing up McGuire to score. Williams kicks another wide conversion and there's 12 points in it. Broncos 34-22

66 min: TRY - Broncos. Hunt scores out wide and that should be the ball game. Rabbitohs players are blowing up after what looks like a forward pass in the lead up to the try. Broncos living on some luck. Conversion De Vere is spot on. Broncos 40-22

70 min: TRY - Broncos. Hunt scores another to bring up his hat trick. Devere Conversion attempt is waved away. Broncos 44-22

74 min: TRY - Rabbitohs. Garth Wood gets a double, showing great strength to get over the line with defenders hanging off him. Conversion Williams. Broncos 44-28

77 min: TRY - Broncos. Karmichael Hunt bags his fourth try of the match. A tremendous display of backing up, hitting the ball on the burst. Conversion De Vere unsuccessful. Broncos 48-28

FULL TIME: A high scoring match and the scoreline in favour of the Broncos. But the Rabbitohs kept coming back at them, making for an entertaining match. At the end of the day, the Broncos just showing too much class.

Full time stats: Possession: Broncos 58% Tackles: Rabbitohs 275-197 Mistackles: Rabbitohs 48-23 Errors: Broncos 10-8 Completions: Broncos 27/36; Rabbitohs 24/32 Penalties: Broncos 7-6 Score: Broncos 48-28

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - G Tallis (Broncos) 2 - K Hunt (Broncos) 1 - G Wood (Rabbitohs) -----------------------------------------