His ex-digger dad may not have been happy but Broncos prop Josh McGuire was all smiles as his runaway second half try helped inspire Brisbane's 28-16 NRL Anzac Day win over Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
A stellar 95m try by five-eighth Anthony Milford capped Brisbane's sixth win in seven games in front of a 34,398-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
But it was Queensland Origin hopeful McGuire who provided the early second half spark with an effort that would have almost brought a smile to the face of his father, 30-year military man Adam - almost.
McGuire's dad revealed before the kickoff that he was a mad Eels fan and life-long NSW Origin supporter.
But even he would have been tempted to cheer on his son from the stands in the 48th minute as McGuire pounced on a John Folau spilt ball and ran 30m to score and extend their 8-4 halftime lead.
It highlighted a stellar game by McGuire who may be a Kangaroos bolter when the trans-Tasman team is named on Sunday night after his 38-tackle, 127m effort.
Hat-trick hero Bureta Faraimo kept the Eels in the match, scoring his second off a classy Corey Norman pass in the 55th to limit the damage to 14-10 before a Corey Parker penalty.
Then Brisbane's Kodi Nikorima surprised everyone - including himself, no doubt - when he looked to rue a golden chance, only for his last gasp backflick pass to set up Milford's 62nd minute try.
Faraimo secured his hat-trick in the 70th minute moments after Eels skipper Tim Mannah was somehow held up by Nikorima before Milford's late heroics iced the result.
Brisbane led 8-4 at halftime thanks to a 15th minute Jack Reed try and two Parker penalties.
The only blight for McGuire was being placed on report for a 15th minute high shot on Brad Takairangi.
Eels lock Anthony Watmough was also booked for high contact on sensational Broncos fullback Lachlan Maranta in the 58th minute.
Parramatta led almost every statistical category except on the scoreboard.
Asked what was the difference, Bennett said: "We made the big plays".
Bennett dipped his hat to Nikorima who came off the bench to deliver his backflick pass that set up Milford's first try and a last gasp hand to hold up Mannah.
"At the end of the night he was the difference in the game," Bennett said.
Broncos captain Justin Hodges was pleased with how he backed up from a hamstring scare last round before the Kangaroos line-up was confirmed on Sunday night.
He reiterated that he hoped to draw the curtain on his stellar representative career at the end of the year and then concentrate on guiding the Broncos to more titles.
"I would love to play one more game for Australia," Hodges smiled.
Bennett complimented the NRL for staging five games on Anzac Day rather than just the traditional Dragons-Roosters clash.
"Anzac Day is bigger than Sydney," he said.
Meanwhile, Eels coach Brad Arthur rued key lapses by his troops.
"We've got to try harder to turn results around," he said.
Share
