Kotoni Staggs thoroughly outpointed the in-form Siosifa Talakai as the Brisbane Broncos made a statement in a 16-7 upset win over the Cronulla Sharks.
While the match-up between Staggs and Talakai was billed as the headline act of the night, it was one-way traffic as the Broncos centre dominated on the right edge.
He finished the game with 113 metres, six tackle busts and a try while forcing a few uncharacteristic errors from Talakai with some bruising defence.
The Brisbane defence as a whole was a highlight while the fact Payne Haas only had to play 55 minutes spoke volumes to just how much of a team effort it was.
Haas went off early with a shoulder issue and was not needed to return as the Broncos held strong for a win.
For Cronulla, a lack of energy and impatience in attack proved costly.
The Sharks looked dangerous on multiple occasions in the first half but lacked their usual precision passing on the edges.
After all, Cronulla's only points of the opening half came in broken play, with five-eighth Matt Moylan kicking ahead for himself to score under the posts.
A host of errors from both sides resulted in a dour 10-minute period in the middle of the first half before some individual brilliance from Staggs brought the Suncorp faithful to their feet.
Te Maire Martin simply dished the ball off to Staggs in space and the Broncos centre then beat Talakai before surging past Ronaldo Mulitalo to dive over in the corner.
Nicho Hynes slotted a late field goal in the only other score of the half, seeing the Sharks head into the sheds up 7-6.
Brisbane received a big boost heading into the second half, with both Adam Reynolds (nose) and Haas (shoulder) returning despite carrying injury concerns into the sheds.
And the Broncos were the first to get on the board, with Jesse Ramien caught out in defence as Herbie Farnworth went over in the 43rd minute.
Suddenly Brisbane found itself on a roll as Kurt Capewell charged over after an earlier linebreak from Corey Oates had the Broncos in prime field position.
The Sharks had a few chances to hit back later in the game but failed to capitalise on their field position as the Broncos held on for what could be a season-defining win.
Adam Reynolds faces his former Rabbitohs teammates next week while the Sharks come up against ex-Cronulla halfback Shaun Johnson and the Warriors.