Adam Reynolds has showcased all his guile and prop Payne Haas all his power to inspire Brisbane to a 26-16 win over North Queensland.

The unstoppable Haas won the Carl Webb Medal for player of the match, capped by a freakish try.

Reynolds, the 34-year-old Broncos skipper, dug his side out of a hole to set up a try and score one himself in front of 45,318 fans at Suncorp Stadium after they had been stuck in their own half for the opening quarter of Friday night's first half.

He also went to third on the all-time premiership point scoring list, moving to 2378 points, two ahead of Canberra great Jarrod Croker.

Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was put on report for a shoulder charge on Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi and had a rocks and diamonds night. Two Walsh plays were crucial in the lead-up to tries but he also made five errors.

At one stage the Cowboys had 28 play-the-balls in the Broncos' half to Brisbane's one down the other end. Brisbane's defence held firm.

"It was a really good test of our character," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire said.

""To see the way they defended and their connection, it was great."

Reynolds conjured a crafty grubber for back-rower Jack Gosiewski to pounce and give the hosts a 6-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

The veteran then did it all himself to score with a show-and-go to secure an early comfortable lead in the Queensland derby

North Queensland, winless after three rounds, were much better than they had been in the opening two rounds with starting props Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean taking it to the Broncos.

Bench front-rowers Griffin Neame and Coen Hess also provided punch.

Centre Jaxon Purdue was outstanding but Cowboys coach Todd Payten lamented not making more of the opening 20 minutes.

"I felt they were on the rack, but we had some poor moments which is a sign of low confidence," Payten said.

"We feel under pressure as a club and it's justified.

"We are in a tough spot and there's no magic bullet. It's just had work and graft."

The Broncos led 12-0 at halftime but the Cowboys soon hit back when Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilled a bomb and Neame charged over.

North Queensland weren't done. Winger Murray Taulagi crashed over in the corner after superb link play by fullback Scott Drinkwater, who converted the sideline conversion to make it 12-all in the 55th minute.

The Broncos kicked clear when Walsh put Arthars over with a cut-out pass and barnstorming prop Haas stormed 30 metres untouched after ripping and tearing all night.

It was a booming 65m left-foot kick by Walsh that won his side a 40/20 in the first half and turned the momentum.

But it was the short kicking game of Reynolds that caused the Cowboys all kinds of trouble.

The Broncos skipper was the difference when his side was under the pump, and now only Cameron Smith (2786) and Hazem El Masri (2418) are ahead of him on the points-scoring list.