NRL round-up: Cherry-Evans stars for Manly, Leilua scores hat-trick, Burgess helps South Sydney
Daly Cherry-Evans snatched a vital win for Manly on the weekend.
Canterbury Bulldogs beat Brisbane Broncos 36-22 at ANZ Stadium on Thursday. Josh Jackson, Will Hopoate, Brett Morris, Matt Frawley and Josh Morris scored for Canterbury. Fiji international Korbin Sims scored twice for the Broncos.
Wests Tigers kept their play-off hopes alive with a 25-16 win against Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium. New Zealand international Russell Packer scored for the Tigers, along with Luke Brooks and Lebanon captain Robbie Farah.
A remarkable first half display from New Zealand Warriors saw them edge past St George Illawarra Dragons 18-12 at WIN Stadium. New Zealand star Solomone Kata bagged a brace for the Warriors, while Issac Luke got the other try for the side.
Parramatta Eels are determined to get off the bottom of the table with a 28-12 victory over Gold Coast Titans at ANZ Stadium. Lebanon’s Tim Mannah, Fiji’s Jarryd Hayne and Tonga’s George Jennings got on the scoresheet for Parramatta.
Sydney Roosters weathered a fightback from North Queensland Cowboys to win their fourth game on the spin and keep the pressure on South Sydney Rabbitohs at the top of the table. New South Wales star Latrell Mitchell scored a try and kicked five goals for the Roosters, while ex-Australia international Johnathan Thurston scored a try and kicked four goals for the Cowboys.
Canberra Raiders led 26-12 at one point against Penrith Panthers, but the Panthers fought back to win 40-31 in dramatic fashion at Panthers Stadium. Samoa star Joey Leilua scored a hat-trick for the Raiders, while England international Elliott Whitehead also got on the scoresheet, but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers ran in seven tries.
A drop-goal from Daly Cherry-Evans was the only thing to separate Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks, with the Sea Eagles running out 33-32 winners at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Shaun Lane scored two tries for the Sea Eagles but it was Cherry-Evans’ drop-goal in the 81stminute that sealed the two points for Manly.
South Sydney Rabbitohs remained at the top of the NRL ladder following a 30-20 win over Melbourne Storm. England ace Sam Burgess scored for the Rabbitohs, with Lebanon half-back Adam Doueihi also going over for a try.
South Sydney are currently top of the NRL table, two points above Melbourne and Sydney Roosters. Parramatta and North Queensland are joint bottom.
NRL Round 21 results:
Canterbury Bulldogs 36-22 Brisbane Broncos (6,434)
Newcastle Knights 16-25 Wests Tigers (18,561)
St George Illawarra Dragons 12-18 New Zealand Warriors (13,924)
Parramatta Eels 28-12 Gold Coast Titans (6,158)
Sydney Roosters 26-20 North Queensland Cowboys (9,721)
Cronulla Sharks 32-33 Manly Sea Eagles (13,273)
Penrith Panthers 40-31 Canberra Raiders (12,195)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-20 Melbourne Storm (15,132)
