Brisbane's NRL premiership defence is temporarily back on track after the Broncos overcame an emotion-charged Newcastle side 20-16 at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle.

Coming into the game with just one win from their first five matches, the Broncos relied on the brilliance of Australian stars Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva and Karmichael Hunt to get them home after the trio backed up from Friday night's bruising Test win over New Zealand.

Holding a surprise 16-10 halftime lead, the visitors went on with the job in the second period with winger Darius Boyd, a late inclusion for Justin Hodges, scoring a double after the break including the match-winner with 18 minutes remaining.

The Broncos had four players backing up from the Test after Hodges and Kiwi lock Greg Eastwood were both late withdrawals.

They were joined on the sidelines by halfback Shane Perry, who was unable to overcome a toe injury, leaving a reshuffled Broncos line-up bearing little resemblance to the one named on Tuesday night.

It mattered little with Brisbane opening their account after just four minutes through the unlikeliest of sources with Civoniceva showing great perseverance to back up a fine bust from Tonie Carroll.

The 25,524 strong sellout crowd - which had spent much of the previous half hour on its feet cheering retired legend Andrew Johns - was suddenly deathly silent.

But a bustling run by veteran centre Adam MacDougall saw them find voice before Todd Polglase showed tremendous strength to hold off Hunt to cross out wide.

When MacDougall went over in the same corner after 24 minutes - in front of the newly named Andrew Johns Stand - it was 10-6 to the Knights and the home side looked in control.

The game soon turned on its head with Polglase, a hero only minutes earlier, committing a shocking error to allow the Broncos to come storming back.

Polglase inexplicably left the ball behind as he went to take off from dummy half 10 metres out from his own line.

Boyd, unable to believe his luck, scooped up the ball to pass for Brent Tate who scored.

It got worse for Polglase and the Knights when the Broncos went in again three minutes before halftime, Boyd the try-scorer on this occasion to give the visitors the lead.

Needing to start the second period well, the Knights weren't helped by a Adam Woolnough knock-on the second play, the fumble one of many by the home side in their own half.

The Knights held firm and locked it up at 16-all when young backrower Cory Patterson - who was being pushed into touch by three Broncos - flicked the ball back for Polglase's second.

Boyd, though, had the final say with his matchwinning try.

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