The heavens opened and South Sydney broke its NRL drought, downing first placed Brisbane 34-14 at Telstra Stadium and handing new owners Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe a welcome present.

The Rabbitohs scored six tries to three in wet and slippery conditions to win their first match in 13 starts for season 2006 and post their biggest win ever over the Broncos.

After bombing at least three tries and having one disallowed by video referee Mick Stone in the first half, Souths went to the break up 16-10.

The Broncos got to 16-14 early in the second half when winger Leon Bott latched on to a Shane Perry chip for the corner.

But tries to Nathan Merritt and Luke MacDougall in the 48th and 61st minutes had the small crowd of 6537 starting to believe the agony was about to end as the second half became an error-ridden arm wrestle.

Merritt crossed after some clever tunnel-balling from replacement Ben Rogers while MacDougall latched on to a superb cut-out pass from five-eighth John Sutton.

If there was any doubt, centre Todd Polglase crossed in the 75th to give new co-owner Crowe, who took control of the club with Holmes a Court on Wednesday, another reason to smile.

With Souths paying little heed to the demands of wet weather football, wingers Merritt and Luke MacDougall both managed doubles.

The Rabbitohs backs had cut up the inexperienced Broncos three-quarters in the first half but busts from wingers Merritt, MacDougall and Sutton went unrewarded as the final passes in each movement went astray.

Shane Rigon was denied a 35th minute try when video referee Stone ruled a double movement after the Rabbitohs lock had dived kamikaze style into two defenders from five metres out in an attempt to use the greasy surface to his advantage.

With the defenders dropping off, his second lunge at the line was ruled illegal.

The Rabbitohs were first on the board though after just seven minutes when, on the back of two penalties, new signing David Peachey grubbered for Merritt to slide into the corner.

Two minutes later veteran Adam MacDougall burst through the Broncos' new backline before offloading for his brother Luke to score, the conversion making it 10-0 after just nine minutes.

The Broncos cut the deficit to 10-6 after 15 minutes when a bomb was batted back for late call-up debutant Fraser Anderson to crash over out wide and Corey Parker to convert before five-eighth Brett Seymour got the visitors level with a neat step that left the Rabbitohs defence clutching at air close to their line.

But with the Broncos' handling deteriorating, a clever Adam MacDougall offload had interchange forward Jaiman Lowe storming through some feeble defence in the 38th minute, the conversion making it 16-10.

Souths were boosted by the late inclusion of halfback Ben Walker but still have nine first-graders on the sidelines with injury.

Brisbane was without its seven Queensland representatives and another three regular first-graders but started with a strong pack that included former Test stars Shane Webcke, Dane Carlaw and Brad Thorn and Origin players Corey Parker and David Stagg.

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