Queensland have suffered their second worst Origin defeat at Telstra Stadium as they surrendered the 2004 series with a 36-14 capitulation to New South Wales. Brad Fittler, playing his 31st and final Origin game scored the last Blues try after a chargedown on opposite number Darren Lockyer to complete the fairytale.

The Maroons led 8-6 going into half time but a terrible blunder by rookie centre Willie Tonga put the Blues on the attack and shortly after man of the match Trent Barrett sliced through to put New South Wales back in front.

Shaun Timmins then sent Mark Gasnier over for his second try with a neat cut out pass after Shane Webcke was penalised for a flop shortly after the kick off to give New South Wales an 18-8 half time lead.

The Brisbane Broncos have secured outright third spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder after a 48-28 win over South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium featuring four tries to 17-year-old fullback, Karmichael Hunt.

Hunt, in just his 15th first grade game, took his overall tryscoring tally to 12, leading the Broncos' tryscoring list by four from Craig Frawley and Michael De Vere. He joins an illustrious list with former internationals Steve Renouf and Wendell Sailor in scoring four tries in a game for the club.

The Broncos led 22-10 at half time before going on with the job in the second, passing 40 for the first time in 47 games, the last time being their 48-20 win over Melbourne in 2002.

That performance in itself is remarkable given the Broncos were without their six State of Origin representatives, and having Tonie Carroll suspended, halfback Brett Seymour and first choice hooker Barry Berrigan on the sideline for the season with injuries.

The season is well and truly heating up in the run towards the finals series, with eight teams still very much in the running to score a spot in the top 5.

The congestion at the top of the table is still evident, with Easts, Toowoomba and Burleigh still locked at twenty competition points each.

Some stellar matches await us in round 15, with none bigger or more important than the Easts Tigers vs. Burleigh Bears clash at Pizzey Park on Sunday afternoon.

On another exciting note, BroncoNet welcomes the third member of our Queensland Cup tipping panel!

"Russo", a valued member of the BroncosHQ forum who has a fountain of knowledge and expertise on the Queensland cup Competition, will join myself and Chris Cox in predicting the victors and margins in each game.