Star Brisbane winger Jharal Yow Yeh's serious ankle injury put a massive sour note on the Broncos' 20-12 impressive comeback win over South Sydney at nib Stadium in Perth on Friday.
Brisbane fell behind 12-0 after Greg Inglis set up two tries in the first 18 minutes but lifted significantly in the latter stages before a pair of Gerard Beale tries in the final 10 minutes got them over the line in front of 15,599.
But the result was overshadowed by a possible broken ankle Yow Yeh suffered midway through the first half in a collision with Souths winger Dylan Farrell, which has put the 22-year-old's State of Origin campaign - as well as the rest of his NRL season - in grave doubt.
The Australian and Queensland representative had his leg put in a brace and was stretchered from the field and taken in an ambulance to hospital after a lengthy stoppage of play.
Matt Gillett and Jason Hoffman cut the deficit to two with tries either side of half-time for the Broncos, who had Jack Reed sent to the sin bin in the first half, before they took the lead with Beale's first in the 70th minute and wrapped up the win with his second soon after.
Beale and Hoffman, who had 156 of his 212 metres gained from kick returns, were both outstanding in Brisbane's third win from four games.
Earlier, Inglis twice set up winger Andrew Everingham for tries but the Rabbitohs, who lost Scott Geddes to an injury in the warm-up, were found wanting in attack over the final 60 minutes.
It took the Rabbitohs just eight minutes to take the lead when Inglis run broke the line with a devastating run and found Everingham for the try, just after Sam Thaiday was denied from upstairs after crossing the line.
Again the Bunnies broke forward just a couple of minutes later and drew the penalty which saw Reed yellow carded and they made their man advantage count as another strong Inglis run saw the fullback again find Everingham for his second try.
An already awful start became much worse for Brisbane when Yow Yeh left the field in agony in the 24th minute, but the Broncos lifted significantly after that injury, controlling the field position until Farrell spilled a high ball to allow Gillett to cross the line to make the half-time score 12-4.
And Brisbane were just two points behind when Peter Wallace offloaded to set up Hoffman's 52nd minute try which the No. 7 subsequently converted.
The Rabbitohs had their chances to extend their advantage but failed and the Queenslanders made them pay when Peter Wallace's effective grubber set up Beale's first, before the winger snuck in the corner to hand Souths their third loss from four games.
Brisbane 20
Tries: Beale 2, Gillett, Hoffman
Goals: Wallace 2
South Sydney 12
Tries: Everingham 2
Goals: Reynolds 2
Crowd: 15,599