The striker’s late header from Tarek Elrich’s right wing cross broke Brisbane hearts at the end of a largely tedious and scrappy encounter.

It means four matches and four wins for Jets in A-League clashes at Suncorp. In contrast Roar have failed to net in any of those games.

It would have been a different story had Simon Lynch not made a horrible mess of his second half penalty, easily saved by Ante Covic. It was the Newcastle keeper’s second successful spot stop against Roar this season having saved one from Craig Moore earlier in the campaign.

The result also prevented the home team from establishing a new club record of nine matches without defeat. Jets' win ended a run of four matches without a victory.

Match-winner Griffiths, who nudged one goal clear of Alex Brosque at the top of the A-League’s scoring charts with number seven for the season, said: “It was a good cross by Tarek and I was fortunate enough to be on the end of it.

"Credit to Queensland, they’re a tough team to crack and they kept possession well. We knew this was a big game for us and it’s massive.

"That three points really gives us confidence going into the next few away games.”

Newly-sponsored Roar was without skipper Craig Moore and speedy winger Michael Zullo through injury as they attempted to banish a miserable home record against the Jets.

Josh McCloughan slotted into Moore’s central defensive role with Danny Tiatto somewhat surprisingly utilised at left-back. Brazilian Marcinho started in a wide left midfield berth.

Gary Van Egmond handed controversial forward Mario Jardel another start in attack but fellow forward Mark Bridge was missing through injury.

Regular left-back Matty Thompson could only find a place on the substitutes bench. Central defender Steve Laybutt missed out through suspension but Andrew Durante and Adam D’Apuzzo were both handed starting slots.

Queensland started brightly and were awarded a free-kick in the fifth minute following a foul on Reinaldo.

Sadly Matt McKay’s delivery into the box had a little too much weight on it and the ball drifted out for a goal kick. Jets' first real attack arrived in the 10th minute but Tarek Elrich’s cross from the right – teed up by Denni – floated straight out.

Adam Griffiths was the first player to go into the referee’s notebook as he halted Tiatto’s charge through the left channel on 14 minutes but Marcinho’s resulting free-kick was headed clear at the near post by Jardel.

Tiatto was bundled over again by Griffiths a couple of minutes later with the Jets man lucky to escape a second caution and early shower. Once again Marcinho’s delivery from the left edge of the box lacked quality though and was comfortably punched clear by goalkeeper Ante Covic.

McKay forced a corner on 20 minutes as his shot deflected wide of the right post, one of three set pieces in quick succession for the home side. Covic missed the first delivery and was forced to tip the second inswinger over his own crossbar. But neither keeper was being overly taxed in the opening quarter of the contest.

A Durante slip allowed Reinaldo a sight of goal on 25 but his shot deflected off the same player for another corner. As the ball was whipped over from the right it dropped to McCloughan inside the box but the defender’s shot sailed high and wide.

Joel Griffiths joined brother Adam in the book as the Jets waited to take a corner of their own on 26 minutes, much to the player’s disgust. Hyuk Su Seo swiftly followed as he was cautioned for not retreating quickly enough from a free-kick.

Reddy rushed from his goal to clear from Joel Griffiths on the half hour as the match finally began to spring to life.

Stuart McLaren’s late tackle on Joel Griffiths saw him enter the book on 33 but the Jets couldn’t capitalise on the resulting set piece. The Griffiths brothers combined superbly four minutes later as Joel teed a Jobe Wheelhouse cross into Adam’s path but the defender slashed his shot beyond the left post.

Denni created some space for himself on the edge of the box on 39 but his shot whistled over Reddy’s crossbar. Jardel was left in agony after being caught by Reddy as a largely forgettable first half drew to a close. Massimo Murdocca fired well wide of the right post in stoppage time before the teams trooped off to the break – not before Adam Griffiths headed over with the last effort of the half.

The Jets made an interesting change at the interval with Jardel making way for Matt Thompson, a tactical decision.

Marcinho spotted Covic off his line following a poor clearance by the Jets keeper but the Brazilian’s 49th minute effort was off target.

Reinaldo tried his luck from distance on 55 but couldn’t hit the target as the match continued to frustrate. Frank Farina decided a change was necessary with Simon Lynch replacing Reinaldo. Van Egmond also decided to shake matters up with youngster Jason Hoffman coming on for Denni in the 59th minute.

Ognenovski claimed he was hauled down in the box on 64 but referee Peter Green was not interested in claims for a spot-kick.

Roar were awarded a penalty seconds later though as McKay was brought down by Adam Griffiths but Lynch’s woeful scuffed penalty was easily saved to his left by Covic. A second plus for the Jets was that Griffiths escaped a second booking for the foul and the early shower that would have followed.

Mitch Nichols replaced the disappointing Kruse on 76 minutes as the match limped towards a tedious conclusion.

Lynch got far more power in a 12 metre effort seven minutes from time but again Covic was equal to his strike.

Nichols scooped an effort over the crossbar following McKay’s corner from the right as the match moved into the final two minutes.

Ninety seconds into stoppage time, Jets struck to snatch the points. Elrich escaped down the right and Joel Griffiths rose to power a header past Reddy into the left hand corner of the net.

Roar left-back for the night Danny Tiatto said: “A lack of concentration has cost us.

"Both sides cancelled each other out and there weren’t many shots on target. But one lapse can cost you three points. We’re disappointed.”

FourFourTwo says... Joel Griffiths struck to give the visitors three points they certainly didn't deserve as Roar paid the price for Simon Lynch's dreadful penalty. The real losers were the supporters who were forced to sit through a largely tedious encounter although some credit to Jets for a battling away display. The result showed once again how important Griffiths is to Jets' hopes of success while Frank Farina's priority for next year must also be an out and out goal-scorer.