NRL round-up: Burgess banned, Gelling scores, Sio grabs hat-trick
There were a couple of brilliant end-to-end games in round seven of the NRL Premiership.
Sydney Roosters bounced back from defeat to rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs the previous week with a 6-0 win over Canterbury Bulldogs at the ANZ Stadium. Latrell Mitchell scored the only try and converted it, too.
New Zealand star Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored a try late on to snatch a 22-20 win for Newcastle Knights over Wests Tigers at Scully Park in Tamworth on Saturday. Former Super League star Ken Sio grabbed a hat-trick for the Knights, while Fiji captain Kevin Naiqama got on the scoresheet for the Tigers.
On his return from a two-match suspension, England star Sam Burgess led South Sydney Rabbitohs to an impressive 42-22 win over Canberra Raiders. However, he was put on report for a hit on Tonga half-back Ata Hingano with a swinging arm. Burgess has since accepted a two-match ban. Robert Jennings scored twice for the Rabbitohs, while England back-rower Elliott Whitehead scored for the Raiders.
North Queensland Cowboys won for just the second time this season. They beat Gold Coast Titans 26-14 in a tight affair in Townsville. Tonga forward Jason Taumalolo scored and Australia ace Jonathan Thurston kicked five goals for the Cowboys.
Parramatta Eels ran in seven tries to cruise past Manly Sea Eagles 44-10 and claim their first win of the season at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. Tonga back-rower Manu Ma’u scored for the Eels, while Fiji flyer Akuila Uate struck for the Sea Eagles.
Cronulla Sharks just did enough to contain a Penrith Panthers comeback. They won 26-22 thanks to tries from Australia star Valentine Holmes, Scott Sorensen and Jesse Ramien (2). New Zealand winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Fiji forward Viliame Kikau both scored for the Panthers.
Australia full-back Billy Slater and Josh Addo-Carr scored two tries each to help Melbourne Storm beat Brisbane Broncos 34-20 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday. Fiji winger Suliasi Vunivalu and Australia centre Will Chambers also scored for Storm, while Samoa star Anthony Milford got on the scoresheet for the Broncos.
Anthony Gelling scored in his first ever NRL start to help New Zealand Warriors edge past Gareth Widdop’s St George Illawarra Dragons 20-12 at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday. New Zealand hooker Isaac Luke was sensational for the Warriors.
The Warriors and the Dragons are joint top of the NRL ladder with 12 points each from seven games, while Eels sit rock bottom with two points.
NRL Premiership round seven results:
Canterbury Bulldogs 0-6 Sydney Roosters
Brisbane Broncos 20-34 Melbourne Storm
South Sydney Rabbitohs 42-22 Canberra Raiders
Wests Tigers 20-22 Newcastle Knights
North Queensland Cowboys 26-14 Gold Coast Titans
Parramatta Eels 44-10 Manly Sea Eagles
Cronulla Sharks 26-22 Penrith Panthers
New Zealand Warriors 20-12 St George Illawarra Dragons
