NRL Round Up – Round 6

An error-ridden performance from Penrith saw them fall to a 38-18 defeat against a lacklustre Brisbane.

Rookie winger Antonio Winterstein scored first for the Broncos before his Panthers counterpart Michael Gordon replied from Winterstein’s mistake.

But the 20-year-old Kiwi got back on the scoreboard almost immediatley by rising high to collect Peter Wallace‘s kick.

Justin Hodges took the Broncos out further when he cruised 55 metres for an interception score, after collecting a wayward Panthers pass.

Wallace was involved again for the Broncos’ next try, producing a neat play to put Alex Glenn in for the try to give the visitors a comfortable 24-12 lead at the break.

A determined home side came out with vigour in the second period and following a blistering break from speedster Michael Jennings, Shane Elford crossed to give the Panthers a shot at grabbing their third win of the year.

Jennings grabbed another score from a Petero Civoniceva offload, but Brisbane put the foot down and made sure of the result with two scores from Karmichael Hunt and Justin Hodges.

Panthers
Tries: Michael Gordon, Shane Elford, Michael Jennings
Goals: Michael Gordon 3
Broncos
Tries: Antonio Winterstein (2), Justin Hodges (2), Alex Glenn, Karmichael Hunt
Goals: Corey Parker 7

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Gold Coast have taken up pole position in the NRL with a workmanlike 16-10 victory over a determined Canberra side.

Jarrod Croker grabbed the Raiders’ first try from Terry Campese‘s astute kick before Ashley Harrison replied for the home side making, the score 6-4 in favour of Canberra at the break.

Former Raider William Zillman took the Titans in front following the restart but Canberra hit back when Adrian Purtell crossed to level the scores at 10-10.

But the Titans¹ halfback combination of Mat Rogers and the resigned Scott Prince was to prove the difference with Rogers grabbing the decisive try late on.

Titans
Tries: Ashley Harrison, William Zillman, Mat Rogers
Goals: Scott Prince 2

Raiders
Tries: Jarrod Croker, Adrian Purtell
Goals: Terry Campese 1

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Newcastle handed St George their first defeat of the season with a suprise 24-18 victory at Kograh.

Wendell Sailor grabbed the first of his two tries after just two minutes, the second coming just before the break after a piece of brilliance from Jamie Soward.

A try from Richard Fa’aoso in between Sailor’s efforts got the Knights on the board, although they were second best in the opening half.

But the visitors came out firing and registered three scores in 12 minutes from Junior Sau, Isaac De Gois and Adam MacDougall to take the Knights out in front.

Dragons halfback Ben Hornby set up prop Jarrod Saffy to narrow the gap but they were not able to produce any more.

Dragons
Tries: Wendell Sailor (2), Jarrod Saffy
Goals: Jamie Soward 3

Knights
Tries: Richard Fa’aoso, Junior Sau, Isaac De Gois, Adam MacDougall
Goals: Kurt Gidley 4

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Manly¹s premiership defence finally seems to have been kicked up a gear following their 24-8 win over South Sydney.

Two first half tries from Jamie Lyon and a score from Brett Stewart gave the Sea Eagles a commanding 18-0 lead at the break.

The Rabbitohs posted a score immediatley after half-time through halfback Craig Wing, but any thoughts of a Souths revival were trampled on when Stewart grabbed his second.

Nathan Merritt got a consolation try for the visitors but their attack had been seriously let down by poor handling.

Rabbitohs
Tries: Craig Wing, Nathan Merritt
Sea Eagles

Tries: Jamie Lyon (2), Brett Stewart (2)
Goals: Jamie Lyon 4

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Stacey Jones was the toast of Auckland after his golden-point field goal sealed a narrow 17-16 win for the New Zealand Warriors over the Sydney Roosters.

The Roosters followed up a try to Iosia Soliola with a score from Shane Shackleton after Braith Anasta‘s neat offload.

Mitchell Pearce scampered over shortly before half-time, meaning the Roosters were almost out of sight at 16-0 Stacey Jones got a trademark try before he set up tries for Jerome Ropati
and Manu Vatuvei after they latched on to two towering bombs.

Denan Kemp levelled the scores after more Warriors pressure before Jones calmy slotted the winning field goal in extra-time.

Warriors
Tries: Stacey Jones, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei
Field Goals: Stacey Jones 1
Goals: Denan Kemp 2

Roosters
Tries: Iosia Soliola, Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Pearce
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2

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Johnathan Thurston roared back at his critics to produce a masterful display during North Queensland¹s dominant 34-10 win over beleaguered Cronulla.

The Sharks took the lead through Matthew Wright before Thurston provided a measured kick for Shannon Hegarty to grab a try.

The Queensland Origin star landed the touchline conversion to give his side a narrow 6-4 lead at the interval.

Luke O’Donnell charged over after the break to extend the lead before Willie Tonga grabbed another to deal a damaging blow to the visitors.

Ben Pomeroy sent Anthony Tupou over but with the Cowboys firing on all cylinders, it was Ben Farrar who gave the Cowboys a 22-10 lead from Thurston’s kick.

Further tries to Matt Bowen and Shane Tronc gave the home side a commanding victory.

Sharks
Tries: Matthew Wright, Anthony Tupou
Goals: Luke Covell 1

Cowboys
Tries: Shannon Hegarty, Luke O’Donnell, Willie Tonga, Ben Farrar, Matt
Bowen, Shane Tronc
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 5

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Last year’s wooden spoon winners Canterbury continue their rise up the NRL table following their 48-18 demolition of hapless Parramatta.

Josh Morris‘ brace of tries gave home side a 12-0 lead but the Eels squared things up with scores from Jarryd Hayne and Weller Hauraki, before Luke Patten restored the Bulldogs’ lead.

Brett Kimmorley put Gary Warburton over before Ben Roberts‘ quick thinking paid off to lay on a try for veteran winger Hasem El Masri.

The Eels hit back through Hauraki but Patten’s second score dampened any chances of an Eels comeback.

More scores from Michael Hodgson, Brett Kimmorley and Bryson Goodwin gave the Bulldogs a dominant scoreline.

Eels
Tries: Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki (2)
Goals: Luke Burt 3
Bulldogs
Tries: Josh Morris (2), Luke Patten (2), Gary Warburton, Hazem El Masri,
Michael Hodgson, Brett Kimmorley, Bryson Goodwin
Goals: Hazem El Masri 6

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Wests Tigers have finally delivered on their early season promise to post an excellent 16-6 win over the 2007 Premiers Melbourne.

Ryan Hoffman burst over to give the Storm an early lead before Tim Moltzen hit back with a try from a Robbie Farah grubber kick.

Chris Lawrence raced over in the 26th minute to make sure the Tigers were ahead 10-6 at the break.

An arm wrestle enused until a piece of Benji Marshall magic put Lawrence away for his second and his team’s decisive score.

Tigers
Tries: Tim Moltzen, Chris Lawrence (2)
Goals: Benji Marshall 2

Storm
Tries: Ryan Hoffman
Goals: Cameron Smith 1