Fullback Karmichael Hunt produced a "Lockyer-like" performance to lift Brisbane to a nailbiting 19-18 NRL win over a gallant Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium.

Earmarked to replace Darren Lockyer as Brisbane captain and possibly five-eighth in a few years, the 21-year-old calmly slotted the match-winning field goal seven minutes from fulltime.

Hunt stepped into the first-receiver role late in the second half when the game had to be won.

His experience and cool head helped steady Brisbane against a Tigers side which refused to die.

"I shanked one in Origin (last week) but I got one back tonight," said Hunt of his first field goal.

"It came off very sweetly. I think I just got good depth."

Tigers coach Tim Sheen complained that Brisbane used blockers to stop his players from putting pressure on Hunt.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett didn't dispute Sheens' claim but said that tactic happened every time a player went for a field goal.

"They haven't policed it before. Why would they start tonight?" said Bennett.

Bennett said Brisbane had to play ugly to win because they didn't have the class players like Lockyer, Justin Hodges or Peter Wallace on deck.

"I loved their guts," he said.

"They had to guts it out. They were never going to win pretty. They gutsed it out and I can't deny them that."

The Tigers led 12-8 at halftime and drew level 18-all with the try of the game to replacement Liam Fulton in the 65th minute following a break and in-field kick by centre Dean Collis.

The Tigers missed two field goal attempts and coach Tim Sheens was critical of his players for not trying to win the game instead of taking field goal shots to force the clash into golden point.

Brisbane props Dave Taylor and Nick Kenny played a big hand in turning the game Brisbane's way soon after halftime.

Taylor ran 50 metres down field after grabbing an intercept in the 50th minute which led to winger Denan Kemp scoring his 10th try.

Three minutes later, an elated Kenny scored his first NRL try after punching through three Tigers defenders and lunging out over the line.

Sheens produced a potential star when 23-year-old Daine Laurie, who had been playing premier league with Wests, caught the eye with a hectic NRL debut which even impressed Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett.

Bennett said the 198cm, 112kg Laurie revived memories of a young Wendell Sailor but the Yamba discovery looked more like Lote Tuqiri with dreadlocks flying as he threw himself into some big tackles and carted the ball up.

"I thought it was Wendell Sailor. We played him in the second-row in about 1993," joked Bennett.

"He (Laurie) didn't have the white boots on. That was the only difference."

Sheens only told Laurie he was playing at lunchtime on Friday so he wouldn't worry too much about lining up against the Broncos.

"We've discovered a good kid there, I think, although it's still a long way away from a first grade career just yet.

"I think he'll be quite a personality player by the end of his career.

"He's raw as hell and he's willing and a few guys made a detour away from him after a few tackles, I thought."

The Tigers lost winger Shannon McDonnell to a grade two hamstring which will sideline him for two to four weeks.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP