Brisbane began their finals campaign in style and ensured coach Wayne Bennett would return to Suncorp Stadium for one last hurrah with a gutsy 24-16 NRL qualifying final win over the Sydney Roosters.

The Broncos survived a first-half bashing by a fired-up Roosters side and overturned an eight-point halftime deficit with second-half tries to Denan Kemp, David Stagg and Tonie Carroll sealing the win at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The victory ensured a home final for the Broncos, most likely next week, though they could earn a week off if there are two upsets in the weekend's remaining three qualifying finals.

It will be the final send-off for Bennett, who will join St George Illawarra next season after 21 years at the helm of the Broncos.

The Roosters, whose season will remain alive providing two of Canberra, the Dragons and the Warriors don't win, were left to rue not only the loss but a season-ending broken arm to hooker Riley Brown.

Trailing 16-8 at halftime the Broncos started the second half in spectacular fashion with a contender for team try of the year just two minutes after the break.

They travelled almost 50m in one play and their determination to keep the ball alive saw them string together 12 passes before Kemp pierced the line and crossed out wide.

Hooker Michael Ennis then booted a fine 40-20 kick to put them back on the attack and they took the lead for the first time in the 49th minute when halfback Peter Wallace sent Stagg crashing over the line.

The Broncos extended their lead in the 60th minute when Darren Lockyer put fellow veteran Carroll over out wide and they managed to repel several late Roosters surges.

The first half was among the most brutal seen this season, with big hits and injuries aplenty.

Brisbane prop Joel Clinton was forced from the field and did not return after a bone-rattling hit from Mark O'Meley in the second minute while Ennis, Wallace, Karmichael Hunt and Corey Parker were also on the end of big shots.

Both sides traded penalties before Sia Soliola scored the first try in the 13th minute when he swooped to intercept a Lockyer pass.

Ten minutes later, they stretched their lead even further when Anthony Tupou scored and Craig Fitzgibbon converted to put the Roosters up by 12.

Wallace got the Broncos back in the match when he cleverly stepped his way over the line nine minutes before the break and Fitzgibbon slotted another penalty to give the tricolours their eight-point halftime lead.

Bennett praised his side for fighting back from 14-2 down midway through the first half, admitting he was angry at the break because his side was being "stood over" by the Roosters' big men.

"We had a couple knocked out and players taken off the ball left, right and centre but we just kind of grit our teeth at halftime," Bennett said.

"We absorbed their punishment, wore them down and in the end we just took the game away from them."

Bennett clearly hadn't thought too much about his return to Suncorp Stadium, admitting he did not even know the Broncos had secured a home final under the sometimes-confusing McIntyre finals system.

"We do (get a home final)? Well, you're telling me something I didn't know," Bennett said.

The coach said Clinton could have returned in the second half but was kept off as a precaution.

Roosters coach Brad Fittler was pleased with the effort of his side but admitted it had not reacted well when the momentum swung Brisbane's way.

Skipper Braith Anasta said the weekend's remaining fixtures would be hard to watch.

"It's going to be nerve wracking for us, but with the season we've had and even the game tonight I think we've earned another shot at the semis," he said.

"We finished fourth and put in a good performance tonight, I think we really deserve it so we're just going to have to wait and see and if we do get another shot we're a good chance of progressing in the competition."

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