NRL Round Up – Round 22

Penrith failed to stop a rampant St George Illawarra who had little trouble brushing them aside 25-6 at CUA Stadium.

Ben Creagh wasted no time in getting over the line for his side’s first score by running over Luke Walsh, but it took another 30 minutes before they could add to their tally; Jeremy Smith beating the Panthers defence with a simple dummy to go in untouched.

The Dragons continued to dominate but Luke Lewis managed to cut the visitors’ lead in half with a try right before the interval to make it 12-6.

Penrith enjoyed a good spell after the break but a wonderful solo try from Jamie Soward made sure the Dragons were in control going into the final half hour.

Soward kicked a field goal before a well-timed pass from Dan Hunt put Smith in for his second try and the match-winner.

Penrith Panthers 6
Tries: Luke Lewis
Goals: Michael Gordon (1/1)

St George Illawarra Dragons 25
Tries: Ben Creagh, Jeremy Smith (2), Jamie Soward
Field Goals: Jamie Soward (1/1)
Goals: Jamie Soward (4/5)
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Melbourne retained their place in the NRL’s top four courtesy of an encouraging 20-8 win over North Queensland at Olympic Park.

Steve Turner’s marvellous take from Cooper Cronk’s measured kick gave the Storm their first score but Willie Tonga barged his way over in reply for the Cowboys soon after.

Neat footwork from Brett Finch ensured the home side were 10-4 to the good at half time.

A spectacular try to Cooper Cronk in a move that involved both Billy Slater and Brett White edged the Storm further in front and after more pressure from the home side, Joe Tomane went in unopposed from a neat decoy play.

Matt Bowen laid on a second score for Willie Tonga late on but it was far too late to affect the final result.

Melbourne Storm 20
Tries: Steve Turner, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Joseph Tomane
Goals: Cameron Smith (2/4)

North Queensland Cowboys 8
Tries: Willie Tonga (2)
Goals: Johnathan Thurston (0/2)
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South Sydney did their hopes of a finals berth no harm at all by putting Manly to the sword 36-22.

Early pressure from Manly gave Matt Orford the chance to put on a try for Tony Williams before the Sea Eagles grabbed a second score through Anthony Watmough after Ben Farrar was judged not to have knocked on.

But the Rabbitohs hit back when John Sutton and Nathan Merritt combined for a try in the corner.

The Bunnies had their tails up and put on three scores in eight minutes through Fetuli Talanoa, Chris McQueen and Beau Champion to hand them a healthy 22-12 lead at the break.

Tony Williams jogged over for his second following some neat passing from the home side but back-to-back scores from Nathan Merritt and Beau Champion ensured the Rabbitohs were in control.

A late try to Jason King proved little consolation for the reigning premiers who slip to eighth position.

Manly Sea Eagles 22
Tries: Tony Williams (2), Anthony Watmough, Jason King
Goals: Matt Orford (3/4)

South Sydney Rabbitohs 36
Tries: Nathan Merritt (2), Fetuli Talanoa, Chris McQueen, Beau Champion (2)
Goals: Chris Sandow (6/7)
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Canterbury remain in the running for the NRL premiership after a narrow 23-20 win over Canberra.

A floated pass from Brett Kimmorley enabled Byson Goodwin the Bulldogs’ first, but Terry Campese hit back for the Raiders by diving on his own grubber kick soon after.

But back-to-back tries from David Stagg and Goodwin as well as a Kimmorley field goal helped the home side into a 15-6 lead.

Joel Thompson took advantage of some poor tackling to stroll through for the Raiders after the break before Kimmorley dummied his way over in reply.

Both teams had tries disallowed by the video ref before Phil Graham raced in at the corner for Canberra, and when David Vidot crossed in the opposite corner things looked shaky for the hosts.

But the ever cool Hazem El Masri landed a crucial late penalty for the Bulldogs to hand them a narrow 23-20 victory.

Canterbury Bulldogs 23
Tries: Bryson Goodwin (2), David Stagg, Brett Kimmorley
Goals: Hazem El Masri (3/5)
Field Goals: Brett Kimmorley (1/1)

Canberra Raiders 20
Tries: Terry Campese, Joel Thompson, Phil Graham, Daniel Vidot
Goals: Terry Campese (2/4)
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Veteran five-eighth Mat Rogers was the hero for Gold Coast who remain in the top four in the NRL after a determined 30-10 win over New Zealand.

Anthony Laffranchi burst his way over early on for the Titans, who extended their lead through Scott Prince when he dummied his way throught the Warriors’ defence.

An arm wrestle ensued but it was the visitors who held the advantage 14-0 at the break.

Stacey Jones and Manu Vatuvei combined for the Warriors’ first and minutes later the pair produced a carbon copy to close the gap.

But the Titans moved up a gear and after Kevin Gordon had scored in the corner, Mat Rogers weighed in with two scores to help them to a comfortable 30-10 win.

New Zealand Warriors 10
Tries: Manu Vatuvei (2)
Goals: Kevin Locke (1/2)

Gold Coast Titans 30
Tries: Anthony Laffranchi, Scott Prince, Kevin Gordon, Mat Rogers (2)
Goals: Scott Prince (5/6)
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Wests Tigers are back in the top eight following their encouraging 17-10 victory over Sydney.

Good hands from the Roosters backline ensured Setaimata Sa was able to cross for their first before Sean Kenny-Dowall raced over in the opposite corner to extend their lead.

A superb individual score to Taniela Tuaki cut the Roosters’ lead, but the hosts still held the advantage 8-4 at half time.

Tuaki was denied a try but it did not matter for the Tigers who soon took the lead thanks to a try from Beau Ryan.

Great defence from the Tigers followed and they sealed the match thanks to Ryan’s second try and a sneaky field goal from Robbie Farah.

Sydney Roosters 10
Tries: Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/3)

Wests Tigers 17
Tries: Taniela Tuiaki, Beau Ryan (2)
Goals: Benji Marshall (2/3)
Field Goals: Robbie Farah (1/1)
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Parramatta’s scintillating late-season form continued when they dispatched Newcastle 40-12.

Newcastle got on the board first thanks to a try from Steve Simpson from Jarrod Mullen‘s beautiful pass.

A howler of a mistake from Kurt Gidley allowed Krisnan Inu to dive on the ball for the Eels’ and Luke Burt was in for their second shortly after, following a neat chip-and-chase.

A similar score to Joel Reddy ensured Parra held a 20-8 lead at half time.

Jarryd Hayne‘s vision created two scores for Eric Grothe and Fuifui Moimoi before Krisnan Inu‘s overhead pass put in Luke Burt to seal the win.

Parramatta Eels 40
Tries: Krisnan Inu, Luke Burt (2), Joel Reddy, Eric Grothe, Fuifui Moimoi
Goals: Luke Burt (8/8)

Newcastle Knights 8
Tries: Steve Simpson
Goals: Kurt Gidley (2/2)
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Brisbane put last week’s horror show at Canberra behind them with a convincing 30-10 over Cronulla.

Neat hands from Paul Gallen allowed Luke Covell over in the corner for Cronulla but the teams were soon equal after Jaral YowYeh collected a pass from Justin Hodges to cross for the Broncos.

Darren Lockyer was the provider for Ben Teo, who made sure the home side held the advantage 12-4 at the break.

The Broncos effectivley killed the game off by putting on back-to-back scores from Dave Taylor and Alex Glenn.

Tonie Carroll‘s disallowed try was followed by a first Broncos score for Josh McGuire following a neat pass from Karmichael Hunt.

A late score to Grant Millington served only as a consolation for the beleagured Sharks who sit in 15th position.

Brisbane Broncos 30
Tries: Jharal Yow Yeh, Ben Te’o, Dave Taylor, Alex Glenn, Josh McGuire
Goals: Corey Parker (5/6)

Cronulla Sharks 10
Tries: Luke Covell, Grant Millington
Goals: Luke Covell (1/2)