Adam Reynolds made history with the first two-point field goal on the NRL-era as he piled more pressure on South Sydney to find a way to keep him in their 35-6 win over Brisbane.
Reynolds was told again this week he wouldn't receive more than a guaranteed one-year deal from the Rabbitohs, further pushing him to leave his junior club.
But while it remains an off-field issue, there are still no signs it will impact either Reynolds or the red-hot Rabbitohs on the field.
Souths are among the NRL's true premiership heavyweights, with Latrell Mitchell in close to career-best form with a try-scoring double at Stadium Australia.
Reynolds easily won the battle of the off-contract halves, with Anthony Milford enduring a difficult night for Brisbane in their second straight loss.
The Souths No.7 had a role in four of his team's tries on Thursday night, including his third four-pointer of the year when backed up a Dane Gagai break.
He twice set Mitchell up with a nice short ball and a cross-field kick, while his boot played a role in a lead up to another for Benji Marshall.
"He (Reynolds) has been a pro for 10 years. He is calm, that's why I made him captain of the club," coach Wayne Bennett said.
"I love his calmness, I love what he brings. That's what you see every week.
"There is no blame game at our place about what is happening."
The night wasn't perfect for Reynolds, with an error close to the line and a miss on Jamayne Isaako for Brisbane's only try.
But regardless, his 43-metre field goal on halftime was the enduring image of the night, after the NRL offered two points for drop goals kicked beyond 40 metres this year.
The 30-year-old had been one of the main proponents of the change over the off-season, telling AAP he had been planning for tactical uses.
It marked the first two-point field goal since the drop goal was reduced to one in 1971, with Rabbitoh Eric Simms the last player to kick a two-pointer.
Meanwhile Alex Johnston was also dangerous for Souths on the left wing, busting six tackles and bagging a first-half try from a Mitchell cut-out ball.
Marshall too thrived in the No.6 jersey with an assist to Campbell Graham to go with his own first-half try, while Tom Burgess topped 200 running metres.
But the night wasn't as enjoyable for Milford, just days after coach Kevin Walters said the five-eighth wasn't playing well enough to earn a new deal.
The Broncos' last-tackle options were poor, and while Milford busted four tackles in attack he also missed three in defence.
"I thought (Milford) probably had his best game of the year tonight ... I liked what I saw," Walters said.
"Some of those kick finishes in the first half weren't great, we relieved the pressure on Souths.
"There's so many parts of our game to work on. It's just a matter of where you start."
Making matters worse, veteran Ben Te'o's future is also in doubt amid fears of a ruptured bicep.
Australian Associated Press
