Gold Coast have started 2023 unbeaten, and came from two tries down to clinch a last-minute 10-8 win over Cronulla and keep that run alive.
Premiers for the first three NRLW seasons, the Broncos had been battling a four-game losing streak stretching back to last year prior to Saturday's clash in Townsville.
A fifth loss would have equalled the longest slump in competition history and left Scott Prince's side at risk of falling further behind, with more teams competing for finals spots than ever before.
But Hufanga, the second NRLW player to score four tries in a game, got the Broncos on the board for 2023 and spoiled the Cowboys' maiden game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Brisbane raced out to a three-try lead within 16 minutes on Saturday as the Cowboys struggled to gain a foothold.
The deficit seemed to shock North Queensland into gear and they dominated the remainder of the half.
Hufanga crossed to complete her first-half double off the back of a penalty but the Cowboys scored on the stroke of halftime through April Ngatunpuna to trail 18-12 at the break.
Within five minutes of the restart, though, Hufanga went bang-bang as Brisbane's lead ballooned out to 28-12.
Lauren Dam crossed 10 minutes from time before Brigginshaw - who was placed on report for a tip-tackle in the first half - chalked up Brisbane's eighth of the afternoon.
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."
Cronulla's stand-in fullback Andie Robinson inspired the Sharks to an 8-0 lead, setting Takairangi up for the opener and then bouncing away from two defenders for a try of her own.
Gold Coast had ample chances but rued poor handling at crucial moments, most notably when captain Georgia Hale grounded the ball short of the line and then lost control of it.
In the Titans' next set, second-rower Shaylee Bent pounced on a loose ball to open Gold Coast's account but the visitors saved their most brilliant try for last.
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