Brisbane halfback Peter Wallace snapped a dramatic 78th-minute field goal to give his skipper Darren Lockyer a memorable 21-20 victory in his record-equalling 349th NRL game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Warriors five-eighth James Maloney (75th) and halfback Shaun Johnson (77th) both missed field goal attempts during the tense closing minutes, before Wallace potted his match winner with 90 seconds left to play.

Maloney missed with a third shot seconds before the siren sounded which would have sent the clash into golden point.

It was a magnificent contest in front of an appreciative crowd of just over 31,000.

The Warriors led 12-8 at halftime and levelled at 20-20 when Maloney slotted a simple penalty goal in the 71st minute.

Lockyer had a chance to win the game in the 78th minute, only to have his field goal attempt charged down.

Lockyer will head to Townsville next Friday night to set a new NRL record of 350 games.

Key tries to Brisbane's Bribie Brothers Matt Gillett and Jack Reed played a massive part in Lockyer getting a cherished win.

Reed's around-the-corner ball for winger Gerard Beale's try hauled Brisbane back into the contest at 12-8 just before halftime.

The red-haired centre then showed his athleticism, outjumping three Warriors players to score just after halftime before Gillett's 57th-minute try gave Brisbane a 20-12 lead.

The Warriors however refused to lay down with former Brisbane premiership-winning centre Shaun Berrigan crashing his way over in the right corner.

Maloney's sideline conversion cut the Broncos' lead back to 20-18 before he locked the scores up with the penalty from right in front.

Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday, who was rattled by some big collisions with Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei, was outstanding on the right edge with 30 tackles and 122 metres, backed up by Corey Parker (35 tackles).

The Warriors' little men, Maloney, Johnson and fullback Kevin Locke, were dangerous in broken play and from long range.

Locke made 132 metres carrying the ball back while captain Simon Mannering led the Warriors' tackle count with 36 in a fast-paced game.

Lockyer said he was happy to have celebrated such a big career milestone with a win.

"If we'd got beaten tonight, it wouldn't have been the end of the world," he said.

"If it's a close game and you win, it's a pretty big high anyway.

"For me it's a memorable night. I'm sitting here feeling pretty happy about things."

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said he had a feeling it was going to be Lockyer's night after some early plays in the game went Brisbane's way.

He said Lockyer had earned some luck and got it tonight.

"He's been doing this for 349 games," said Cleary, who felt his young players would take a lot from the game.

"He's a master at it (winning close games).

"I guess he deserves that sort of thing, he's earned it."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP