Glittering display sees Josh Hoffman stake No1 claim Brisbane showed on Friday night why they don't need Ben Barba with a 22-12 win over Parramatta. Josh Hoffman of the Broncos is tackled during the match between Brisbane and Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium last night. IT wasn't pretty or overly enthralling - save for the odd moment of individual brilliance - but for Anthony Griffin and his injury-hit Broncos outfit every win is worth its weight in gold at this stage of the season. Though some fans may rightly question the size of last night's nugget. The evening's one saving grace was a five-star performance from Josh Hoffman, who responded in emphatic fashion to the talk surrounding Brisbane's impending off-season recruitment of rival fullbacks Ben Barba and Anthony Milford. Having vowed to fight "tooth and nail" to retain the No 1 jumper he wrested back from Eels-bound playmaker Corey Norman, Hoffman backed up his words with actions. It was, of course, confirmed yesterday that Barba's management had sought a release from the final two years of his contract with Canterbury on compassionate grounds, as he was reportedly desperate to be closer to his daughters and their mother, Ainslee Currie, who is on her way back to Brisbane. In dire need of a spark for their faltering attack, the Broncos have also set their sights on Milford, who is seeking a release from the final year of his deal with Canberra, citing the need to be nearer to his father, whose health has been in deterioration since a severe heart attack last year. Perhaps, however, the answer the Broncos seek has always been closer at hand than the club realised, with Hoffman turning in another display that reminded everyone present at last night's encounter why he was preferred to Warriors speedster Kevin Locke in New Zealand's Test team just two season's ago. At the end of a brilliant 80-minute effort, Hoffman had travelled 190m with the football, crossed for a try, made two clean line breaks, had a further eight tackle breaks and pulled off a wonderful try-saving effort that saw Eels talisman Jarryd Hayne forced from the field with a thigh injury. The final result was never really in doubt after Brisbane jumped to a 16-6 lead at the end of a dominant first-half display. Griffin was happy with his team's defensive effort. "It wasn't pretty ... but we are playing for each other and defensively I was very happy with what I saw out there tonight," he said. Very much a win is a win at this stage of the year and we did what we needed to do. Despite the raft of changes he has made recently and the speculation surrounding the potential recruitment of Barba, Milford and prop Martin Kennedy, Griffin suggested no one at the Broncos should feel as though their place in the squad was under threat. We are happy with the commitment and with what we are seeing out there from the boys. Within the four walls of our club there is no pressure on the players ... that is coming from you guys (the media)," he said. Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart was impressed by Hoffman and the Broncos defence. I thought (Hoffman) was outstanding for them tonight. He made a huge difference," he said. I couldn't be unhappy with the effort levels of the guys and we are creating plenty of chances. But we just can't get that last pass to stick at the moment ... It's frustrating. Brisbane 22 Parramatta 12