LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a stunning display of dominance, the Brisbane Broncos crushed the Melbourne Storm 26-0, ending a losing streak that had lasted for a staggering 5,285 days.
The Broncos' victory secured them a home preliminary final in two weeks' time, a remarkable achievement for a team that had struggled in recent years.
Despite the weight of history against them, Broncos coach Kevin Walters had dismissed the idea of hoodoos before the match.
His players clearly shared his belief, as they outplayed and outclassed their opponents in front of a raucous crowd of 50,197 fans.
Captain Adam Reynolds led by example, delivering a masterclass performance, while fullback Reece Walsh dazzled in the second half.
For the Storm, the loss was nothing short of a disaster.
Their already challenging situation was compounded by the injuries suffered by winger Xavier Coates and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Coates was forced off the field in the 70th minute, while Papenhuyzen had to be taken off on a medicab with a broken ankle in the 73rd minute.
The Broncos took control of the game early on, heading into halftime with an 8-0 lead.
In the second half, Walsh came to life, leaving Melbourne defenders in his dust as he sprinted to score a try.
Minutes later, he set up Jordan Riki for another try, extending the Broncos' lead to a commanding 20-0.
Winger Selwyn Cobbo put the icing on the cake with another try, as the Broncos continued to overwhelm the Storm with their physicality and precision.
The middle forwards, including Payne Haas, Thomas Flegler, and Pat Carrigan, were particularly outstanding, their dominance paving the way for the Broncos' historic victory over the Storm at home for the first time since 2009.