NRL Round Up – Round 14

Stacey Jones celebrated his 250th New Zealand Warriors match with a 13-0 win over in-form Newcastle.

In difficult conditions, it was the Warriors who got the crucial first score through the elusive Lance Hohaia playing at five-eighth.

The Knights defended stoutly to keep the home side at bay but they trailed 6-0 at half-time.

Newcastle were unlucky not to have got a score when the video referee disallowed Richard Fa’aoso’s score.

But the Warriors were able to seal the win through a Hohaia penalty and try through the electric winger Kevin Locke.

Warriors 13

Tries: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke
Field Goals: Lance Hohaia (1/1)
Goals: Kevin Locke (2/2)

Knights 0
________________________________________

Canterbury charged into second place in the ladder by defeating an underprepared Brisbane 44-22.

Josh Morris fired the Bulldogs into an early lead with a brace of tries but Brisbane struck back with scores from Jaral Yow Yeh and Lagi Setu.

The momentum swung back to the Bulldogs thanks to a score from Hazem El Masri but the Broncos were able to snatch a narrow 18-16 half-time lead when Ashton Sims crossed under the posts.

A score from Bryson Goodwin helped the visitors reclaim the lead and although the Yow Yeh claimed his brace with a 50th minute score, their lack of preparation during the week told during the final half hour.

Goodwin’s second and additional scores through Michael Hodgson and El Masri made sure the Bulldogs were comfortably ahead before Ben Roberts raced through for a fantastic individual score.

Broncos 22

Tries: Jharal Yow Yeh (2), Lagi Setu, Ashton Sims
Goals: Corey Parker (3/4)

Bulldogs 44

Tries: Josh Morris (2), Hazem El Masri (2), Bryson Goodwin (2), Ben Roberts, Michael Hodgson
Goals: Hazem El Masri (6/8)
________________________________________

Gold Coast kept up the pressure on the NRL front-runners with a narrow 24-20 win over Sydney at Gosford.

An early try to Mitchell Pearce was equalled by Titans hooker Nathan Friend which allowed the Queenslanders to race away to lead at half time thanks through tries from Aaron Cannings and Eskeli Tonga.

But the Roosters stormed straight back with a brace of tries from Sisa Waga and a maiden NRL try to Tom Symonds.

With the game in the balance it was the Titans who got the crucial score through speedster Chris Walker out wide.

Prince’s conversion was good at the Titans were home and dry.

Roosters 20

Tries: Sisa Waqa (2), Mitchell Pearce, Tom Symonds
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/3), Braith Anasta (1/1)

Titans 24

Tries: Nathan Friend, Aaron Cannings, Esikeli Tonga, Chris Walker
Goals: Scott Prince (4/4)
________________________________________

Penrith’s crusade into the top eight stuttered when they were soundly beaten by improving premiers Manly 20-6 at CUA Stadium.

The imposing figure of Tony Williams crossed for Manly’s opening score which was replied to by Nathan Smith for the Panthers although it was the visitors who held the narrow 8-6 advantage at the break.

But the Sea Eagles came out firing and killed off the Panthers’ chances of a home win with two scores inside ten minutes through new signing Ben Farrar and Anthony Watmough.

Mistakes from the Panthers cost them in the end and although it was a welcome win for the premiers they still have yet to get into top gear.

Panthers 6

Tries: Nathan Smith
Goals: Luke Walsh (1/1)

Sea Eagles 20

Tries: Tony Williams, Ben Farrar, Anthony Watmough
Goals: Matt Orford (4/4)
________________________________________

Melbourne continued their good form with a credible 28-22 win over South Sydney in Perth.

The Rabbitohs started the brighter however and raced into a 10-0 lead courtesy of a double from young winger Jamie Simpson.

The Storm replied through Greg Inglis who burst through to get them on the scoreboard.

Clever play from Cameron Smith was instrumental in the Storm’s next score from Ryan Hoffman to equal the scores at 10-10 at the break.

David Fa’alogo crashed over just after half-time but Wairangi Koopu kept the Storm in the contest.

Nathan Merritt’s try from a neat grubber looked to put South Sydney out of sight but the Storm roared back with scores from Cooper Cronk and Steve Turner.

Prolific youngster Joseph Tomane crossed to give the Storm a six-point buffer.

Rabbitohs 22

Tries: Jamie Simpson (2), David Fa’alogo, Nathan Merritt
Goals: Chris Sandow (3/4)

Storm 28

Tries: Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Wairangi Koopu, Cooper Cronk, Steve Turner, Joseph Tomane
Goals: Cameron Smith (2/5), Joseph Tomane (0/1)
________________________________________

Cronulla continued their resurgence with a narrow 22-24 win over Canberra.

The Raiders scored first from Tom Learoyd-Lahrs after a jinking run from Terry Campese and they added to their tally through Joel Monaghan, who rose high to collect a bomb.

The Sharks showed their mettle however with two scores from Nathan Stapleton and Paul Gallen to bring them right back into the game.

Bronson Harrison raced through to put the Raiders back in front at half time.

Another Raiders score, this time from Jarrod Croker after David Milne’s break looked to have put the home side home and dry.

But Cronulla showed huge strength of character to register three scores in the last twenty minutes from Matthew Wright, Ben Pomeroy and Gallen to steal the win.

Raiders 22

Tries: Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joel Monaghan, Bronson Harrison, Jarrod Croker
Goals: Terry Campese (3/5)

Sharks 24

Tries: Nathan Stapleton, Paul Gallen (2), Matthew Wright, Ben Pomeroy
Goals: Luke Covell (2/5)
________________________________________

St George re-established themselves at the top of the NRL table a powerful 32-18 win over North Queensland.

A lightening quick score to Brett Morris and another to Matt Cooper gave the Dragons a 12-0 lead in as many minutes.

Ty Williams replied for the Cowboys but Ben Creagh’s score gave the home side a comfortable 18-6 lead at the break.

NSW Origin player Luke O’Donnell grabbed a score for the visitors before they were forced to lose playmaker Matt Bowen.

The Cowboys responded with an amazing individual try to Wille Tonga but the Dragons killed the game off with two scores from Cooper and Jamie Soward.

Dragons 32

Tries: Brett Morris, Matt Cooper (2), Ben Creagh, Jamie Soward
Field Goals: Ben Hornby (0/1)
Goals: Jamie Soward (6/6)

Cowboys 18

Tries: Ty Williams, Luke O’Donnell, Willie Tonga
Goals: Johnathan Thurston (3/3)
________________________________________

Wests Tigers registered a useful 23-6 win over fellow strugglers Parramatta.

The Tigers scored first through Dene Halatau before the Eels replied thanks to a great solo effort from Luke Burt to equal the scores at 6-6 going into the break.

An arm wrestle ensued after the break but the visitors scored a crucial try in the 54th minute to Willie Mataka thanks to a piece of Benji Marshall brilliance.

Taniela Tuiaki got the crucial score late on when he crashed over to secure the win for the Tigers who move into 13th place.

Eels 6

Tries: Luke Burt
Goals: Luke Burt (1/1)

Tigers 23

Tries: Dene Halatau, Willie Mataka, Robbie Farah, Taniela Tuiaki
Field Goals: Robbie Farah (1/1)
Goals: Benji Marshall (3/4)