Brisbane's premiership hopes took a serious battering at the hands of South Sydney on Friday night with coach Ivan Henjak admitting the six time premiers were "struggling".

A rejuvenated Rabbits belted Brisbane 44-12, ending a 20-year drought against the Broncos with their last win in the capital being in 1989.

South Sydney, who lost five games straight before beating Penrith last weekend, ran in eight tries against a Brisbane defence that looked shot.

"We've lost our confidence and we're struggling to fight back," admitted Henjak, who has battled to prepare his side for months because of State of Origin commitments to several of his star players.

"We're at the point where we just need our best players on the paddock, we've lost our confidence.

"We've lost trust in each other in the defensive line."

Brisbane's left side defence was brittle with Souths five-eighth John Sutton cashing in on the flimsy attempted tackles.

Centre Beau Champion, dropped by Souths coach Jason Taylor a few weeks ago, helped himself to three tries, two of them in the first half as the visitor's took a 16-6 lead to the break.

Henjak was eventually forced to move opposite centre Steve Michaels onto the wing to try to close the holes.

Taylor rated the win as the best 80 minute performance from his players since round one.

"We've played good football, but not consistently like that for 80 minutes," he said.

"They could have eased off in the second half.

"These guys (Brisbane) are very hard to beat up here, we haven't won here for for 20 years."

Taylor said Sutton had found the key to playing the full game.

"He's been doing it in patches but now he's doing it consistently for 80 minutes and the team is doing it with him," he said.

"He's a leader and he's a real talent.

"If he keeps going he will take our team by the scruff of the neck and get it to where we want it to get to.

"I don't mean just now, in time he'll keep getting better for us.

"He's the one to lead this team."

Referee Tony De Las Heras was taken to St Andrews hospital after the game for observation after being knocked unconscious in the second half.

De Las Heras fell over after a collision with South Sydney winger Jamie Simpson.

As he tried to regain his feet he was struck in the head by Tonie Carroll's knee as the Brisbane forward tried to hurdle over him.

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