Broncos 30 Eels 26

NSW winger Jarryd Hayne and Queensland centre Justin Hodges and are in serious danger of being rubbed out of game two of the State of Origin series after being placed on report for dangerous throws in Brisbane's thrilling victory over Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium last night.

On a night when all eyes were on the return of Broncos five-eighth Darren Lockyer from a knee injury, the only thing that usurped the controversy was the high-voltage match - easily the best of the season.

And, of course, it was a moment of brilliance from Lockyer that sealed it for the Broncos.

They appeared to have sealed it when they edged to a 26-18 lead before Eels winger Krisnan Inu scored two tries in the dying minutes. With the match headed for golden point, Lockyer kicked behind the line for winger Denan Kemp to score - his fourth for the night - after the siren.

Still, what last night means for Origin II at the same venue on June 11 is the question. Asked if Lockyer will be ready to play, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said: "As far as I'm concerned, all he had to do was cross the white line tonight."

Hayne was reported for dumping Broncos lock Tonie Carroll in the 19th minute before Hodges received the same sanction from referee Jason Robinson just two minutes later when he violently flipped Eels hooker Mark Riddell onto his head.

Maroons and Broncos forward Sam Thaiday also faces a nervous wait for a dangerous throw, in the eighth minute on Eels forward Weller Hauraki - although he wasn't placed on report.

Parramatta had extended their 12-10 half-time lead with a spectacular 90-metre try to fullback Luke Burt just after the break when prop Fuifui Moimoi steamrolled Michael Ennis and raced downfield.

Replacement Brendan Oake was instrumental in setting up Burt on the inside, but replays suggested he had elbowed Kemp during the play. He, too, was placed on the report.

Typical of the match, Kemp responded with two tries to give Brisbane a 22-18 lead with 17 minutes left before the Eels struck back with two tries to Inu. The last came from a freaky play from five-eighth Feleti Mateo, who chipped and regathered to send Inu over in the corner.

As for Lockyer, he appeared to come through his first game since pulling out of the Centenary Test on May 9 unscathed, having played extended periods in both halves. "Since the operation, it's a different knee," he said. "I got through the game so it's a big relief … I'm just happy that Denan didn't drop the ball."

Regardless of last night's events, it was clear the decision on whether Lockyer will play in Origin II will rest with Lockyer himself. "We'll leave it to him," Maroons coach Mal Meninga said. "I know from my own personal experience: you don't need too many games under your belt to know how to play at Origin level."

Lockyer was prominent in the early stages, lining up at first receiver ahead of halfback Peter Wallace, the hero of NSW's 18-10 victory in the Origin opener.

But it was the Eels - desperate to improve on an indifferent season so far - who seized control when they raced to a 10-0 lead.

Mateo - sporting a new Once Were Warriors hairstyle and playing with the authority of Jake the Muss - waltzed through some paper-thin defence in the fourth minute. Centre Joel Reddy made the most of the penalty awarded against Thaiday and Ennis for their dangerous throw on Hauraki when he scored from the next set.

That sparked the Broncos into action. Pressing the Eels line, Lockyer sent the ball to the left before fullback Karmichael Hunt placed a deft grubber behind Eels winger Eric Grothe. His jackrabbit opposite, Kemp, gobbled it up and scored to put the home side on the board.

Then came the moment of madness from Hayne, and it must have been contagious. Hodges's wild throw two minutes later, in which he grabbed Mark Riddell by one leg and flipped him on his head, even had some sections of the crowd calling for a send-off.

The Eels hooker was the one seen marching up the tunnel, but he returned shortly afterwards after a quick assessment from club doctor Michael Johnson.

BRISBANE 30 (D Kemp 4 J Hodges D Stagg tries M Ennis 3 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 26 (K Inu 2 L Burt F Mateo J Reddy tries L Burt 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 25,564.