Broncos take down Cowboys in first edition of NRLW derby, Titans ...

Brisbane has won the first NRLW derby against North Queensland, with hulking centre Mele Hufanga charging over for four tries in a 40-12 win.

Hufanga's achievement follows in the footsteps of Taleena Simon, who achieved the four-try feat for the Sydney Roosters in 2018, and sparked Brisbane's first win of 2023 after losses to the Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast.

Brisbane scored eight tries to North Queensland's two in the first meeting between the two sides from the Sunshine State.

The Broncos already had three tries before the Cowboys got on the board through Shellie Long in the 21st minute, with Hufanga's first-half double helping Brisbane to an 18-12 lead.

She finished off her day out with two tries just after the resumption, with Lauren Dam and Ali Brigginshaw crossing late to complete the rout.

At Shark Park, Cronulla were 8-6 up and looked home and hosed with less than three minutes to play but winger Kiana Takairangi gave the Titans one last chance on the attack when she knocked on.

At the line, star fullback Evania Pelite spun out of a tackle and offloaded to Titans halfback Sienna Lofipo, who spread the ball left for Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsel's last-minute try.

"The girls definitely make it stressful for us up there in the coaching box but I'm super proud of their effort," Titans coach Karyn Murphy said.

The Titans have now pieced together the first three-game winning streak of their short NRLW history and have moved, at least temporarily, to the top of the ladder.

"It was a tough pill to swallow, to be honest," Sharks coach Tony Herman said of the last-gasp loss.

"In the second half we just couldn't seem to get to where we wanted to."