Kotoni Staggs has scored a length-of-the-field try to seal a stunning 18-12 win for the Broncos over the gallant Dolphins in front of a massive crowd in the first Brisbane derby between the two sides.
In Friday night's earlier match, the Melbourne Storm returned to the winners' circle with a 24-12 victory over the Wests Tigers.
At Brisbane's Lang Park, the lead switched hands in the second half before back-to-back tries to Kurt Capewell and Staggs ensured the Broncos would emerge victors.
They are undefeated through four rounds, while the loss was the Dolphins' first in their debut NRL season.
The crowd of 51,047 was the largest in history at Lang Park for a stand-alone club match.
The Dolphins suffered a huge blow when halfback Sean O'Sullivan sustained a suspected torn pectoral in the 61st minute but they refused to relent.
The Broncos led 8-0 just after half-time through tries to Jesse Arthars and Selwyn Cobbo, created by the speed and vision of fullback Reece Walsh.
The Dolphins fought back, with former Broncos prop Jarrod Wallace crashing over, before late call-up Anthony Milford conjured a sublime grubber kick for fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to give them a 12-8 lead.
Capewell sprinted 45 metres to score for the Broncos and skipper Adam Reynolds landed the sideline conversion to set up a thrilling conclusion.
The Dolphins had a late chance to win the match but Staggs snaffled a Milford grubber kick on the Broncos' line to race away and score a 77th-minute try.
It was the first Brisbane derby since the Broncos played South Queensland Crushers at the same venue in 1996.
The clash already had narratives you could not script. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett up against the Broncos where he won six titles as a coach and now helmed by Kevin Walters, who won five titles under Bennett.
Before the kick-off another storyline emerged with Milford called up by Bennett to replace injured five-eighth Isaiya Katoa.
Milford became the seventh former Bronco in the Dolphins side.
Munster makes winning Storm return
The return of Cameron Munster has helped put the Melbourne Storm's season back on track, although he was almost upstaged by his young halves partner Jonah Pezet.
Playing in Melbourne, the Storm outclassed the Tigers, who remain winless after four rounds.
The Storm had lost their previous two matches that coincided with a serious finger injury to Munster, sustained in their round-one win over Parramatta.
While he only had a pin surgically removed on Wednesday, Munster did not appear troubled as he steered his team to victory.
But he had competition for the spotlight from 20-year-old Pezet, who replaced suspended halfback Jahrome Hughes.
Playing only his second NRL match, Pezet showed his prodigious talent with a hand in two early tries.
He was also confident to use his kicking game to put the Tigers on the back foot, while he finished with 24 tackles.
The Storm took a 12-0 lead after 25 minutes, but the visitors were next to cross.
In his second match since returning to the NRL, Englishman John Bateman shrugged off three defenders and got a ball away to fellow second rower Isaiah Papali'i, who found flying centre Asu Kepaoa.
But hopes of a Tigers victory sustained a large dent with two Storm tries just before half-time.
A Munster kick into the in-goal was batted back by winger Xavier Coates, with Storm centre Justin Olam pouncing.
And in the 38th minute Munster picked up the ball at the back of an Olam charge and darted through some soft defence for a 22-6 lead.
The Tigers showed some resilience to repel repeated Storm attacks on their line and got some reward in the 54th minute through star signing Api Koroisau.
The hooker sent a grubber kick in behind the posts and Storm fullback Nick Meaney left the ball, with Koroisau pouncing.
The try seemed to spark the Tigers but the tide turned when they lost a scrum against the feed and had Papali'i put on report for tackling Bronson Garlick off the ball.
An ensuing penalty goal gave the home side a 12-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
The Tigers can take some pride in keeping the Storm tryless in the second half but apart from Koroisau's four-pointer, they also struggled to get across the line.
Ladder
AAP/ABC
