North Queensland Cowboys 31 bt St George Illawarra Dragons 12
This was an easy night at the office for the Cowboys, who completed a routine win in Townsville, where the weather dropped below 20 degrees sparking a rush on scarves and beanies.
There was no Reuben Cotter or Jeremiah Nanai for the home side, but it mattered not. They were just far too crisp and classy against a Dragons team that is bang average or a shade below. Reece Robson, the Cowboys hooker, is a terrific player and is going so well he really should be in and around the NSW Origin team. The Dragons shot themselves in the foot with seven errors, three penalties and three six-again offences in the first half and there was no way back. Jason Taumalolo ran for 200m, no Dragons forward broke the 100m mark. And that was about that.
Phil Lutton
Gold Coast Titans 16 lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 30
On paper, This looked like a reasonably straightforward bit of business for the Rabbitohs. That turned out to be the case, with Souths completing a 14-point victory on the Gold Coast.
There was no Latrell Mitchell but Alex Johnston stole the show in any case, crossing for his 11th career hat-trick and bringing up his 150th career try. He’s a genuine club legend but still rarely comes up for discussion in Origin circles; any side could do with such a clinical finisher on one wing. The Titans are just going in reverse faster every week. But what about Maroons middle Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who scored a double and played the house down once more? They just need to find 16 more like him.
Phil Lutton
Sydney Roosters 18 lost to Melbourne Storm 26
This was an enjoyable game with plenty of quality from two of the NRL’s giants. Joseph Suaalii’s reputation continues to grow each week with his two successive tackles on Jahrome Hughes and Trent Loiero nothing short of sensational.
Angus Crichton was also excellent out on the left edge. The Roosters would have naturally been disappointed with the loss, and could have won it with seven minutes remaining had Sitili Tupouniua held on to a kick just metres from the try line with nobody in front of him. The Storm looked slick for the most part. Grant Anderson’s double and post-match scenes with family were touching, while the mercurial Ryan Papenhuyzen is a big chance to return on Friday.
Christian Nicolussi
Brisbane Broncos 24 bt Canberra Raiders 18
The Brisbane Broncos have spent days counting the cost of one of the bravest wins in the club’s history.
An X-ray on Payne Haas′ shoulder came back clear and he is a chance to face Melbourne this week, but halfback Adam Reynolds is set to spend the weekend watching from the stands after picking up a rib injury in the gritty win over the Raiders.
Broncos centre Herbie Farnworth has to go under the knife on a ruptured bicep while Corey Paix is out for up to six weeks with an MCL strain. All this combined with a late HIA meant the bench was cleared as Brisbane hung on against Canberra, who will look back at this as a massive missed opportunity despite a mammoth effort from prop Joe Tapine, who is staking a claim as one of the best in the game.
Caden Helmers
Wests Tigers 4 lost to Manly Sea Eagles 30
New coach, same old Tigers. Yes, it wasn’t pretty in the first half but caretaker boss Brett Kimmorley must have thought he was on track for a first-up win after trailing by only two points at half-time despite running into a stiff breeze.
But the little shortcuts the Tigers take under fatigue were glaringly obvious thereafter against a team missing Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic. Jacob Liddle provided some spark from dummy-half for the Tigers, but once Manly’s big guns such as Hamole Olakau’atu and Josh Aloiai came to the party, they had far too much firepower. The Tigers still haven’t won a second half this season despite the competition being 14 rounds in. In the words of their interim coach, there’s no quick fix. But at least they get a chance against the Bulldogs next week.
Adam Pengilly
Newcastle Knights 6 lost to Penrith Panthers 42
Nathan Cleary fired a reminder to his critics by stealing the show against a Newcastle side that simply had no answers for a rampant Penrith Panthers outfit.
Plenty of criticism has been levelled at the Panthers half following an off night in the State of Origin opener but he responded in the best way possible. Ivan Cleary missed the trip due to medical advice amid ongoing knee issues, putting coach-in-waiting Cameron Ciraldo in the hot seat. The defensive mastermind almost orchestrated a shutout as the 13-1 Panthers made the strongest start to a premiership defence since the 1995 Canberra Raiders. Newcastle will be sweating on fullback Kalyn Ponga’s fitness after he came off for a HIA and did not return following a collision with Viliame Kikau.
Caden Helmers
New Zealand Warriors 16 lost to Cronulla Sharks 38
Stacey Jones must be wondering what he’s got himself into. In his first game as caretaker after Nathan Brown’s sudden exit, the Warriors burst out of the blocks to a 12-point lead but were eventually thumped by a Sharks team still trying to mount a top-four assault.
Cronulla wingers Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo bagged five tries between them, but it’s the work out of the backfield which has been a huge bonus for the Sharks, while Siosifa Talakai ran for a staggering 213 metres. Where to for the Warriors? Shaun Johnson must surely be on shaky ground after another indifferent showing against his old club, and the wooden spoon might not be as far away as people think after the Bulldogs’ shock win over the Eels.
Adam Pengilly
Canterbury Bulldogs 34 bt Parramatta Eels 4
Who saw this coming? Firstly, on the Eels: the difference between their best and worst is so big they can’t be labelled genuine title contenders until they sort it out.
This is the second time this season they’ve lost to the last-placed team on a public holiday Monday. Yet they’ve also beaten Melbourne and Penrith away from home, the latter snapping a near three-year run from the Panthers. Go figure. NSW Origin forwards Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson were below their best. But that is not to take anything away from clearly the best performance the Bulldogs have had in two years. Tevita Pangai jnr set the tone with a brutal opening, while Paul Vaughan and Max King were terrific through the middle. Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr have struck up the partnership every Bulldogs fan has been yearning for, and they can do some damage against some top teams at the back end of the year in a mood like this.
Adam Pengilly
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