Adam Reynolds has weathered the storm then emphatically busted Brisbane's Melbourne hoodoo in a NRL finals masterclass the halfback was brought to the club to deliver.
The Broncos' 26-0 qualifying final defeat of the Storm on Friday night was the host's first at Suncorp Stadium since 2009, coming in the club's first finals appearance in four years.
And it was the tattooed halfback who orchestrated it, Reynolds nullifying Storm threats and unshackling his own in a game that began in driving rain, backlit by rolling thunderstorms.
The weather was no omen for Melbourne though, Reynolds setting the tone with a brilliant drop-out that caught the visitors on the hop, landing behind rival playmaker Cameron Munster and rolling into touch 50 metres out.
A towering bomb had Storm fullback Nick Meaney fumbling then the pint-sized playmaker then helped thwart Xavier Coates' try-scoring effort in the corner.
He just missed a two-point field goal attempt from 50 metres out on the stroke of halftime and then drilled another long torpedo to show there would be no relent from the restart.
The prized South Sydney recruit chipped into the corner then helped drive Meaney in-goal for a repeat set, then threw the pass that put Reece Walsh over for a 14-0 lead.
The icing on the cake was a long Reynolds pass that hit Selwyn Cobbo on the chest for a simple try, the goal kicker also a perfect five-from-five off the tee.
Proving he was human, Reynolds was inches from a runaway intercept try of his own in the final minutes, the ball spilling from his clutches as he dived to ground it in the corner.
In contrast Storm threats Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen's wheels were spinning as part of a listless offence that barely fired a shot.
Uncharacteristic errors crept into Melbourne's game - they had 31 missed tackles at halftime - and their offence always seemed half a step off the pace.
Brisbane's centres were dominant early to set a platform, Staggs breezing by Young Tonumaipea on his way to the first try with the unselected Justin Olam looking on.
When occasionally tested, Brisbane's defence was truly up to task.
The line moved as one - and with force - in perhaps the starkest reminder of how far the Broncos have come since their wooden spoon season of 2020.
And with the game lost Melbourne's night turned from forgettable to nightmarish when Coates and Papenhuyzen both went down with serious lower leg injuries.
