Love NRL: Round 1
Cameron Smith had a weekend to remember as the 2014 NRL season got underway with its usual drama and excitement.
The Melbourne hooker struck a dramatic golden point drop-goal to give his side victory over last year’s beaten Grand Finalists Manly, before agreeing a four-year extension to his current Storm contract.
So whilst the Queensland captain was enjoying a dream start to the campaign, it was quite the opposite for New South Wales skipper Paul Gallen.
His Cronulla outfit lost 18-12 at home to Gold Coast, and Gallen had to leave the pitch after just 30 minutes due to an ankle injury, which scans have confirmed as a ligament problem.
Gallen will miss up to six weeks of action, and there has since been further bad news for Sharks fans.
Prop Andrew Fifita has announced that he will be leaving to join Canterbury in 2015, after the Bulldogs tabled an offer believed to be in the region of $3.4 million.
2013 premiers, and current World Club Challenge champions, Sydney Roosters were brought back down to earth in the season opener on Friday, as rivals South Sydney ran away 28-8 winners at ANZ Stadium.
World Cup winner Greg Inglis scored a hatrick for the Bunnies, as did Fijian Semi Radradra for Paramatta.
The former rugby sevens international was in imperious form for the Eels, helping them defeat NZ Warriors 36-16.
There were also first round wins for Brisbane, Penrith, North Queensland and St George Illawarra.
Round 1 results:
South Sydney 28-8 Sydney Roosters (Mar 06, ANZ Stadium)
Canterbury 12-18 Brisbane (Mar 07, ANZ Stadium)
Penrith 30-8 Newcastle (Mar 08, Sportingbet Stadium)
Manly 22-23 Melbourne (Mar 08, Brookvale Oval)
North Queensland 28-22 Canberra (Mar 08, 1300SMILES Stadium)
St George Illawarra 44-24 Wests Tigers (Mar 09, ANZ Stadium)
Parramatta 36-16 NZ Warriors (Mar 09, Pirtek Stadium)
Cronulla 12-18 Gold Coast (Mar 10, Remondis Stadium)
Round 2 fixtures:
Manly v South Sydney (Mar 14, Central Coast Stadium)
Brisbane v North Queensland (Mar 14, Suncorp Stadium)
NZ Warriors v St George Illawarra (Mar 15, Eden Park)
Melbourne v Penrith (Mar 15, AAMI Park)
Sydney Roosters v Parramatta (Mar 15, Allianz Stadium)
Gold Coast v Wests Tigers (Mar 16, Cbus Super Stadium)
Newcastle v Canberra (Mar 16, Hunted Stadium)
Canterbury v Cronulla (Mar 17, ANZ Stadium)
