Tag: goal

Brisbane faces Newcastle at Lang Park, while Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters enjoy their respective victories.

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Broncos vs. Knights

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Sharks outclass Tigers

Kade Dykes scored his maiden NRL try in just his second match as Cronulla retained its spot in the top-four with an uncompromising 36-12 win over Wests Tigers at Scully Park in Tamworth.

Dykes is the Sharks’ first third-generation player after his father Adam and grandfather John played for the club.

He played his part in Cronulla’s eighth win in their past nine matches with his 21st-minute try after chasing a kick back on the inside from winger Lachie Miller.

The win also ensured the Sharks leapt over the top of the Melbourne Storm into third place on the ladder as they search for a home final with just three rounds left.

The Sharks continued to show no mercy to the joint-venture club this year after belting them 30-4 in round five.

The Sharks scored four tries in the first half — three off kicks — as they got their attack humming off the back of a 61 per cent possession rate for a 26-6 lead at the break.

Their second half brought another two tries as they made it an uncomfortable night for the out-of-luck Tigers.

Both Matt Ikuvalu and Miller were playing just their third match for Cronulla this year, coming in for the injured Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy respectively.

And both wings scored in the opening 10 minutes.

The Wests Tigers disrupted the flow with hooker Fa’amanu Brown, who spent three seasons at the Sharks, barged over from dummy-half to give his team a sniff at 12-6.

But then prop Royce Hunt ran right over the top of fullback Dane Laurie and Dykes had his piece of personal history and the game was indeed getting away from Brett Kimmorley’s side.

It only took Cronulla just 13 minutes to score the first points of the second half — another prop barging over, this time Braden Hamin-Uele dragging three defenders with him for a 32-6 lead.

But it lit a small fuse in the Tigers with back rower Luke Gardner getting on the outside of Dykes for a 20-meter dash to the line.

However, Jesse Ramien crossed for his ninth try of the year just before things started to turn sour for the Sharks.

They lost two players to injuries — Toby Rudolf (knee) and Miller (head injury assessment) — and then back rower Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late tackle on Laurie.

Wests Tigers winger Brent Naden waltzed through flimsy defense to cross the line but the try was over-ruled because of obstruction.

It just was not the Tigers’ night and it does not get any easier for them as they face the Sydney Roosters next Saturday.

Roosters Down Cowboys

The race for the top eight is all but over after the Sydney Roosters ran through North Queensland 32-18 at the SCG.

Teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii starred with a big first half, while Sam Verrills scored a double just days after confirming he was leaving the Roosters.

Flags were flown at half-mast for the late Paul Green and the Cowboys were gutsy in the circumstances with 10 players still left from the former coach’s his time in charge of the club.

But ultimately the Roosters were too classy, ​​virtually ending North Queensland’s hopes of top spot on the ladder and handing the minor premiership to Penrith.

At the other end of the top eight, the finals race has also become clearer.

The Roosters looked in serious danger of missing the finals a month ago but have now won five straight since their round-17 bye.

Realistically, the only way they could now miss the top eight is if they lost their last three matches and Canberra win their last four.

And with the way the Roosters are playing ahead of their next game against Wests Tigers, that looks unlikely.

The Roosters controlled the match perfectly, quickly extinguishing any sniff the Cowboys had when they drew back to 10-4 and 20-10 deficits.

Matt Lodge and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were influential in the middle as both scored tries.

And while they each topped 150 running meters, only Luciano Leilua reached three figures in the Cowboys’ pack.

Suaalii was also in everything early.

He claimed the Roosters’ first try courtesy of an under-arm harbour-bridge pass from Victor Radley.

The winger also jammed in on Scott Drinkwater and Griffin Neame with powerful hits, the second of which forced an error and line dropout before the Roosters scored soon after.

And if that was not enough, the 19-year-old also put the Roosters on the attack later in the half with another linebreak out of his own end.

Radley also had a high involvement. After the lofted ball for Suaalii’s try, I laid on a nice short pass for Lodge to stroll over along the posts.

The Roosters’ other first-half points came via Daniel Tupou on the left wing, after Murray Taulagi had briefly given the Cowboys some hope with his own try.

There was controversy, with the Roosters stretching the lead to 20-6 after the break when the Cowboys claimed Lodge had held Griffin Neame back in a scrum as Verrills went over untouched.

Cowboys captain Chad Townsend approached referee Ashley Klein after the try was given to protest but the bunker opted not to intervene and the try was confirmed.

Ultimately, the Roosters’ strength with Verrills and Waerea-Hargreaves crossing late before a consolation try for the Cowboys came via Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

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Cameron Munster’s fullback experiment has catapulted Melbourne back into NRL premiership calculations after the Storm held out ladder leaders Penrith to win 16-0 at Panthers Stadium.

Playing at the back for a second week, Munster again starred to help the Storm make their case for an eighth straight season in the NRL’s top four.

It came as Penrith’s title defense took another hit, with Liam Martin suffering suspected ankle syndesmosis and Moses Leota hurting his calf to add to their lengthy injury list.

The Panthers are far from panicking, given they sit well clear at the top and were without Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris on Thursday night.

But the Storm are a team clearly back in their groove after losing four straight games last month.

Missing Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Felise Kaufusi themselves, they withstood more than 40 play-the-balls in their own 20-meter zone.

Time and time again they turned the Panthers away, becoming the first team to hold Penrith scoreless since way back in June 2015.

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The win moved them two points clear of fifth-placed Parramatta and well above them on for-and-against, with the chasing pack one win further back.

Melbourne have to play Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and Eels on the run home, but now look as if they are ready to match it with any of the trio.

Regular playmaker Munster was again crucial, and must now surely be an option to finish the season as the Storm’s No.1 after scoring a hat-trick there last week.

He was just as influential in defense as he was in attack, despite not playing at the back consistently since the Storm’s run to the 2016 grand final.

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With Penrith dominating the ball in the second half, he pulled off a crucial try-saver on Brian To’o early on to keep Melbourne’s lead at 16-0.

From the next set he was able to swing the momentum in the Storm’s favour, breaking down the field to put them on the attack.

The 27-year-old also had a role to play in the Storm’s first try.

Given the freedom to roam at the back, Munster went shortside after a scoreless opening 18 minutes and helped put Justin Olam onto the attack before the center kicked back for Nick Meaney to score.

Brandon Smith went over from the next set, busting through Martin and Leota from the halfway line to make it 12-0.

Late season recruit David Nofoaluma got Melbourne’s third try after a nice Jesse Bromwich offload just before the break, before the Storm held on through a scoreless second half.

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Penrith’s 26-6 triumph against Canberra has been overshadowed by the ongoing feud between the rival clubs, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart labeling Panther half Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”.

In Saturday’s other matches, Cronulla defeated St George Illawarra 24-18, while South Sydney beat the Warriors 48-10.

Stuart’s comments followed a controversial second-half incident where Salmon appeared to kick Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the groin and the face while being tackled, one of a number of reports from another fiery clash at Canberra Stadium.

Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris was sin-binned for a high-shot on Canberra’s Ryan Sutton that ended his night with a failed HIA, while Raiders winger Nick Cotric served 10 minutes in the bin for a similar hit on Dylan Edwards.

But Stuart had his sights set on Salmon, telling media he did not think the contact was accidental.

“I’ve had history with that kid (Salmon), I know that kid very well,” Stuart told reporters.

“Fisher-Harris … they’re accidents and in this collision game, I understand it.

“Where Salmon kicked Tommy, it ain’t on.”

Those comments were put to a bemused Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, who said he did not believe Salmon would have deliberately tried to kick Starling.

“I don’t think I need to respond to those comments,” Clearly said.

“I know what Jaeman is like, he’s valuable in our club and we love him and that’s all that matters to us.”

But the loss also came with a hefty price for the Raiders, losing star prop Joe Tapine, who did not return in the second half following a first-half rib injury.

His side badly missed him, conceding 26 straight points after Josh Papalii had scored the match’s opening try.

The club had no update on the severity of Tapine’s injury immediately following the match.

Penrith, playing without their star halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai along with second rower Villiame Kikau, survived an injury scare of their own with fullback Edwards, playing his 100th NRL game, pushing through pain to put in a clinical display.

Edwards, who had earlier looked ginger after being drilled by Jordan Rapana, responded perfectly with a try on 54 minutes, breaking Canberra’s spirit and capping his 155m, six-tackle bust display.

And he got plenty of help, particularly through back-up playmaker Sean O’Sullivan, covering Cleary in immaculate fashion with a stunning three-try assists and some kicking excellence.

“Seany’s had a great year for us, he’s been exactly what we needed,” Cleary said.

“It’s been good for him and good for us; it’s sort of catapulted his career, when Nathan’s been out he’s been able to do the job.

“The boys have got confidence in him and we’re gonna keep backing him to step up.”

Five-eighth Salmon scored a crafty try in the second half to complete the route, while center Stephen Crichton had earlier marked his return from his sickening ear injury to cross.

The result is a crushing blow to the Raiders’ final hopes because they now sit a game back from the eight-placed Sydney Roosters, although all four of their remaining matches are against bottom-eight teams.

“I’m not walking away from that downhearted, because there was so much effort the boys put in,” Stuart said.

“We’re in survival mode and that’s how we’re going to play and we’re not going to let that result tonight stem the way we’ve been preparing and getting around each other.”

Sharks vs. Dragons

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Rabbitohs breeze past Warriors

South Sydney’s top-four ambitions remain intact following a ruthless 48-10 victory over the Warriors.

The Rabbitohs made easy work of a hapless Warriors outfit at Sunshine Coast Stadium, effectively having the contest put to bed when they scored six tries to one in the first half.

Adding two more to the Rabbitohs’ tally in the second stanza, star fullback Latrell Mitchell was given an early rest with 18 minutes to play after a perfect game off the tee.

Mitchell kicked all eight conversions, adding two tries and two try assists to go with two line assists and two linebreaks.

Perhaps the pick of his contributions was the sliced ​​cut-out pass that found Izaac Thompson on debut to score his first NRL try and the Rabbitohs’ seventh of the afternoon.

Skipper Cameron Murray was one of nine Rabbitohs’ players to run for over 100 meters and had three try assists in the first 16 minutes before putting Lachlan Ilias over in the third minute.

He also linked up with hooker Damien Cook off a midfield linebreak to set up the hooker for the Rabbitohs’ second.

A deft offload to Tevita Tatola gave the Rabbitohs their third, before Murray put a strong shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25 meters from the Warriors’ line to win back possession.

It led to Ilias setting up Keaon Koloamatangi as Souths piled on 24 points in the first 21 minutes of the match.

Edward Kosi hit back for the away side in their first and only real opportunity of the opening half, but Jai Arrow then found an offload through three tacklers for Mitchell to crash over.

Mitchell then put Alex Johnston in for his 23rd try of the season as the Rabbitohs enjoyed a 36-6 advantage at the break.

It marked the fifth straight match South Sydney had scored 30 points or more against the Warriors.

The Rabbitohs’ dominance continued in the second half with the only blight coming through Shaun Johnson’s try in the 50th minute in a rare attacking opportunity inside South Sydney’s 20-meter line.

Victory over the Warriors saw the Rabbitohs leap-frog the Roosters and Broncos to move to sixth on the ladder, their dominant win also their biggest of 2022.

But the run into the finals is tough for last season’s grand finalists.

Four matches against top eight sides remain for the Rabbitohs, who face Parramatta, competition leaders Penrith, North Queensland and the Roosters to round out the regular season.

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The tests don’t come much bigger for Canberra, whose bid to move into the top eight will be tested by Penrith.

Earlier, South Sydney made light work of the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast and tonight Cronulla and St George Illawarra play out the latest chapter of their heated rivalry.

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Raiders vs. Panthers

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Rabbitohs breeze past Warriors

South Sydney’s top-four ambitions remain intact following a ruthless 48-10 victory over the Warriors.

The Rabbitohs made easy work of a hapless Warriors outfit at Sunshine Coast Stadium, effectively having the contest put to bed when they scored six tries to one in the first half.

Adding two more to the Rabbitohs’ tally in the second stanza, star fullback Latrell Mitchell was given an early rest with 18 minutes to play after a perfect game off the tee.

Mitchell kicked all eight conversions, adding two tries and two try assists to go with two line assists and two linebreaks.

Perhaps the pick of his contributions was the sliced ​​cut-out pass that found Izaac Thompson on debut to score his first NRL try and the Rabbitohs’ seventh of the afternoon.

Skipper Cameron Murray was one of nine Rabbitohs’ players to run for over 100 meters and had three try assists in the first 16 minutes before putting Lachlan Ilias over in the third minute.

He also linked up with hooker Damien Cook off a midfield linebreak to set up the hooker for the Rabbitohs’ second.

A deft offload to Tevita Tatola gave the Rabbitohs their third, before Murray put a strong shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25 meters from the Warriors’ line to win back possession.

It led to Ilias setting up Keaon Koloamatangi as Souths piled on 24 points in the first 21 minutes of the match.

Edward Kosi hit back for the away side in their first and only real opportunity of the opening half, but Jai Arrow then found an offload through three tacklers for Mitchell to crash over.

Mitchell then put Alex Johnston in for his 23rd try of the season as the Rabbitohs enjoyed a 36-6 advantage at the break.

It marked the fifth straight match South Sydney had scored 30 points or more against the Warriors.

The Rabbitohs’ dominance continued in the second half with the only blight coming through Shaun Johnson’s try in the 50th minute in a rare attacking opportunity inside South Sydney’s 20-meter line.

Victory over the Warriors saw the Rabbitohs leap-frog the Roosters and Broncos to move to sixth on the ladder, their dominant win also their biggest of 2022.

But the run into the finals is tough for last season’s grand finalists.

Four matches against top eight sides remain for the Rabbitohs, who face Parramatta, competition leaders Penrith, North Queensland and the Roosters to round out the regular season.

Sharks vs. Dragons

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The Bulldogs downed the Knights before the Cowboys shored up their top-two spot with a win over a Dragons side who are rapidly losing touch with the top eight.

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Canterbury Bulldogs 24 def Newcastle Knights 10

Coach Adam O’Brien has defended Newcastle’s decision to cut Jacob Kiraz, who played the best game of his young career in Canterbury’s NRL 24-10 win over the Knights on Sunday.

Kiraz joined the Knights on a development contract last year but was stuck behind Starford To’a, Enari Tuala, Hymel Hunt and Dominic Young in the wing stakes.

The Knights let Kiraz go ahead of the 2022 season to leave room for one-time Queensland State of Origin winger Edrick Lee, who had recovered from a long-term foot injury.

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Kiraz subsequently made the move to the Bulldogs, where he has played 10 games and signed as one of the most promising rookies of the season.

He scored three tries against the Knights in a game-defining performance but O’Brien stood by the club’s decision to part ways with Kiraz, insisting it was the right move at the time.

“He had a really good day. You’re going to have ones who come back and hurt you,” O’Brien said.

“At the time, Edrick (Lee) was coming good with that foot. We’d invested a fair sum in him and he didn’t have a spot in the team.

“Anyone put in that situation back then would probably have wanted to fit Edrick in the team.”

O’Brien admitted Kiraz’s sudden development into a bona fide first-grader had surprised him.

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“If I’m really honest, I didn’t foresee him jumping to the levels he has this quickly. I didn’t spot that,” he said.

“But good luck to Kiraz. There’s no sour grapes on that.”

Kiraz is a favorite of interim coach Mick Potter, who has played the 20-year-old on the wing in each of his nine games in charge since taking over from Trent Barrett mid-season.

Potter was familiar Kiraz before replacing Barrett, having coached against Kiraz in reserve grade.

“When I was with Mounties, when Canterbury played us, I had to ask someone who that player was, because he was so elusive,” Potter said.

“It was good to see him get three tries today.”

Potter said Kiraz was now reaping the rewards for persevering with his NRL dream despite failing to make first grade at North Queensland and Newcastle.

“It’s a fantastic story that he’s going so well,” he said.

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North Queensland Cowboys 34 def St George Illawarra 8

North Queensland have given their hopes of hosting their first home final in six years a massive boost, staying second with a 34-8 win over St George Illawarra.

In a crucial result for each team’s season, the Cowboys barely looked threatened at Kogarah before running away with the match late in the second half.

With five rounds to play, the Dragons’ season looks shot while North Queensland are now all but guaranteed to be finals-bound for the first time since 2017.

But much more beckons than just a return to the playoffs.

A crucial home game in the first week of the finals remains firmly in the Cowboys’ grasp, with the win keeping them two points clear of the chasing Cronulla with a far superior for-and-against.

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A top-two finish would also guarantee a second home final beyond the opening week, meaning North Queensland can dare to dream of playing all of September in Townsville until the grand finale.

Among the favorites for the wooden spoon at the start of the season, the Cowboys are firming as a genuine title contender.

And for all the talk of their electrifying back five and impressive attack, it has been their forwards who have represented the biggest change.

Jeremiah Nanai scored two tries and Griffin Neame also crossed in Sunday’s win, while Jason Taumalolo had an influential second half, tempered only by being put on report for a shoulder charge.

The Cowboys’ first try was also from the work of Coen Hess, who earned a fast play-the-ball before Scott Drinkwater put Kyle Feldt over on the next play.

Moments later it was Nanai who produced the decisive play, bursting through the Dragons’ defense before sending Drinkwater over under the posts.

After the Cowboys led 10-8 at the break, their forwards helped ensure they would spend most of the second half on the Dragons’ line.

Taumalolo twice turned into provider as North Queensland pulled away, once going to the line and putting Neame through the middle of two defenders to score.

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Nanai’s first four-pointer was also off the back of some Taumalolo brilliance, as the Cowboys star burst downfield and the second-rower scored from the next play.

His second came when he ran onto a deft Chad Townsend pass, taking the edge forward’s try tally for the year to 16.

In comparison, the Dragons were limited in their opportunities after not making the most of their chances in the first half.

Jack de Belin scored the Saints’ only try when he toed ahead a Ben Hunt offload that went to ground, but they only completed at 64 per cent after the break.

The result leaves them struggling to hold onto any hope of playing football finals this year, sitting two points out of the top eight with a horror for-and-against.

AAP

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