THE Broncos spent more than $1.5 million recruiting Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford but Adam Blair has proven to be their best buy.

Blair’s return to Brisbane’s pack made an enormous difference as the Broncos beat St George Illawarra 32-6 at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dragons never threatened Brisbane who bucked a two-game losing streak to become outright ladder leaders and gain revenge on their loss to St George Illawarra earlier this season.

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Berated by Broncos coaches, fans and media after a one hit-up round two performance that earned him the nickname “Teddy”, Blair has proven early assumptions wrong.

Blair’s impact was felt from the first set. He’s the hardest working Broncos forward off the ball and takes the dirty hit-ups most players hate.

He unleashed Anthony Milford with two early offloads, ran for the most meres in the first half and harassed Gareth Widdop in to making poor kicks throughout the game.

If a Dragons player was fielding a kick, Blair was often the first Broncos player to make the tackle.

Phil Gould even hailed Blair as the most improved player in the NRL, a reminder that at the Wests Tigers he was derided by their fans.

Anthony Milford evades the tackle of Nathan Green. Source: News Corp Australia

“He has been missed the past two weeks,” stand in captain Corey Parker said.

“Just his little things around the ruck that help this side.

“There’s no stat on it but he has little efforts that go a long way to helping us win the game.

“It is good to have him back.”

The Broncos are now in pole position for their first minor premiership since the year 2000.

Most of the Broncos’ six tries resembled training runs as their backline sung.

Anthony Milford had his best game in a month, carving up tired Dragons forwards with footwork.

Milford set two up and scored his own sensational try, beating four defenders in a jinking run.

“It is good to see isn’t it,” Parker said.

“He is deceptively strong.

“He’s only a small guy but he has such core strength. He’s still building nicely.”

Dragons watch on after another Broncos try. Source: Getty Images

Ben Hunt had his best game since the State of Origin period, scoring two tries in a dominant performance.

This was a Broncos backline missing two of its best players in Corey Oates and captain Justin Hodges, yet they created opportunities in most sets in the opposition’s half with replacement centre Dale Copley bagging a double in his return to first grade.

The Dragons barely fired a shot without Benji Marshall but they didn’t help themselves with strange selections.

The Dragons made a major gamble pre-game, naming 103 kilogram lock Jack de Belin at halfback in place of Marshall.

De Belin is among the heaviest halfbacks in NRL history and he was solid but unable to create much attack forcing Josh Dugan and Widdop to overplay their hand.

It appeared the Broncos may be without Andrew McCullough for their next clash, against the Roosters, when he limped off the field in the 35th minute.

McCullough was in significant pain as he hobbled up the tunnel yet he returned with 20 minutes in the game remaining although he left when the game was sealed with ten minutes left.

Coach Wayne Bennett said post match he would play and their were no other injury concerns.

Ben Hunt gets across for one of two tries. Source: News Corp Australia

It appeared the Broncos may be without Andrew McCullough for their next clash, against the Roosters, when he limped off the field in the 35th minute.

McCullough was in significant pain as he hobbled up the tunnel yet he returned with 20 minutes in the game remaining although he left when the game was sealed with ten minutes left.

Coach Wayne Bennett said post match he would play and their were no other injury concerns.

BRISBANE 32 (B Hunt 2 D Copley J Kahu L Maranta A Milford tries C Parker 3 A Milford goals) beat ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 6 (J Hunt try G Widdop goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Gavin Morris. Crowd: 33,480.

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