Brisbane thumps Newcastle to stay 1st in NRL

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:39 a.m. ET

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SYDNEY (AP) Brisbane's young playmaker Anthony Milford and winger Corey Oates shared six of 10 tries as the Broncos thrashed injury-weakened Newcastle 53-0 to stay atop the table in Australia's National Rugby League after the weekend's seventh round.

Milford scored two tries and set up one of two for Oates in the first half and Oates completed his hat trick inside six minutes of the second half.

Ben Hunt scored two tries and had three try assists to contribute to the one-sided result as Newcastle succumbed to a heavy injury toll. It lost captain Jeremy Smith to injury before the match then saw five eighth Jarrod Mullen, winger Nathan Ross and hooker Tyler Randell forced from the field, leaving just one fit man on the bench.

Jordan Kahu and Joe Ofahengaue also scored second hand tries for Brisbane while Milford capped an outstanding match with his third and a cheeky field goal just before fulltime.

Brisbane kept a clean sheet for the second match in a row and now has the best defensive record in the league.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett sympathized with Newcastle and its injury plight.

''You never enjoy that because you know some days it will be on your doorstep,'' Bennett said. ''We got on top and (Milford) was having fun out there.''

North Queensland's Justin O'Neill scored a double in his 100th NRL game as the defending champion Cowboys stayed within two points of Brisbane with a 44-18 win over Souths.

North Queensland fell behind Souths before Johnathan Thurston helped steady them with his first try of the season from his own chip kick.

Souths' defense wilted in the second half as Thurston and Lachlan Coote played the game at a high pace and as injuries began to bite, including one to fullback Greg Inglis.

Souhts now face the toughest task in the league when they take on the Broncos in Brisbane next Friday.

North Queensland will next take on Parramatta, who hold joint second place after a 22-10 win over Manly.