It was supposed to be a Broncos celebration - but a serious injury to Shaun Berrigan and a gutsy Manly soon put an end to any thoughts of Brisbane getting into party mode at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane's 20th year tribute match was soured by Berrigan suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone in just the fifth minute before Manly ran out 21-8 winners - their fifth-straight victory.

Berrigan - who leaves for English Super League club Hull next season - may have played his last game for the Broncos after being told he faced six weeks on the sidelines.

Another injury was hardly what the Broncos needed after already reeling without the likes of inspirational skipper Darren Lockyer (knee, season), Brent Tate (knee, season) and Karmichael Hunt (hamstring, three weeks).

Brisbane players appeared distracted by what has been a big week for the franchise.

The Brisbane club have revelled in their tribute clash which commemorates their maiden game in 1987 - a 44-10 thrashing of the then-defending champions Manly.

Brisbane went all out in the lead-up, holding a special old boys player reunion attended by the current stars and launching a Broncos-commissioned book of their 20-year history this week for the much-hyped clash.

But there was little to cheer about for the 35,784-strong Suncorp Stadium faithful as an out of sorts Broncos failed to really threaten the second-placed Sea Eagles.

Manly halfback Matt Orford was in everything, while back-rower Anthony Watmough bagged a rare hat-trick.

After marking their first win without Lockyer with a solid effort against the Sharks last round, the Broncos were disjointed in attack from the outset and trailed 6-2 at half-time.

Broncos drew first blood with a Corey Parker penalty in the 15th minute.

But the error-riddled Broncos failed to threaten the scorers again in the half as Manly hit back.

The Sea Eagles crossed through Watmough in the 27th minute following clever lead-up work from hooker Michael Monaghan and pivot Jamie Lyon.

Manly looked like they were over again eight minutes later when Steve Menzies pounced on an Orford grubber but video referee Graeme West ruled the veteran offside.

Watmough (48th minute) bagged his second after Orford and Luke Williamson turned Brisbane inside out.

West was kept busy, disallowing efforts by Manly winger Chris Hicks (55th) and Brisbane lock Greg Eastwood (58th) before Watmough notched try No.3 thanks to a clever pass from that man again, Orford.

Eastwood tried to give Brisbane a sniff when he burrowed over in the 70th minute but fittingly Orford hammered the final nail in the Broncos' coffin with a 40m field goal with four minutes left on the clock.

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