NRL Round Up – Round 1
Friday night saw a measured performance from St George to defeat last season’s surprise package Parramatta 18-12.
Jamie Soward’s goal-kicking proved the difference between the two teams although the win was not without cost for the Dragons who lost hooker Nathan Fien to a serious ankle injury.
The Eels grabbed scores through Luke Burt and Eric Grothe while Ben Hornby and former Storm player Jeremy Smith weighed in for the Dragons.
Tries: Luke Burt, Eric Grothe
Conversions: Luke Burt 2
St George Illawarra Dragons 18
Tries: Ben Hornby, Jeremy Smith
Conversions: Jamie Soward 2
Penalty Goals: Jamie Soward 3
In the other Friday night match Brisbane were victorious over North Queensland 30-24 in a thriller at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos scored five tries to the Cowboys’ four for whom Jonathan Thurston was masterful.
Denan Kemp marked his return to Broncos colours with the match-winning score.
Brisbane Broncos (30)
Tries: Darren Lockyer, Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Denan Kemp
Conversions: Corey Parker 4
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker 1
North Queensland Cowboys (24)
Tries: Johnathan Thurston, Ty Williams, Ashley Graham, Willie Tonga Conversions: Johnathan Thurston 4
Newcastle held off a spirited fightback from Canterbury to claim an opening round victory 20-16.
The Knights raced into a 16-0 lead at half time but a second half fightback from the Bulldogs saw them come within four points.
The Bulldogs clearly have to do something to replace record points scorer Hazen El Masri.
Michael Ennis took over kicking duties and missed all of his four conversion attempts.
Canterbury Bulldogs (16)
Tries: Steve Turner (2), Josh Morris (2)
Newcastle Knights (20)
Tries: Mark Taufua, Cooper Vuna, Junior Sau, Akuila Uate
Conversions: Wes Naiqama 2
Penrith’s new recruits announced their arrival at CUA Stadium with a 34-16 demolition of Canberra.
New recruits Adrian Purtell and Kevin Kingston weighed in with scores for the Panthers for whom fullback Lachlan Coote and Michael Jennings were outstanding.
A fightback from the Raiders saw tries to Scott Logan, Joel Thompson and Daniel Vidot but the Panthers were just too good.
Penrith Panthers (34)
Tries: Luke Lewis, Adrian Purtell, Lachlan Coote (2), Shane Elford, Kevin Kingston
Conversions: Michael Gordon 5
Canberra Raiders (16)
Tries: Scott Logan, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot
Conversions: Terry Campese 2
Melbourne did just enough to overcome Cronulla 14-10 in a dour encounter at Toyota Stadium.
The Storm’s tries came from Greg Inglis and Luke MacDougall while the Sharks could only manage a Luke Douglas score in reply.
Cameron Smith’s virtuoso performance at halfback in place of the injured Cooper Cronk was a feature of the match
Cronulla Sharks (10)
Tries: Luke Douglas
Conversions: Luke Covell 1
Penalty Goals: Luke Covell 1, Scott Porter 1
Melbourne Storm (14)
Tries: Greg Inglis, Luke MacDougall
Conversions: Cameron Smith 2
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith 1
Man mountain Manu Vatuvei was in irresistible form for the Warriors but it was not enough as his side crashed to a 24-18 at Gold Coast.
Vatuvei grabbed two scores to go with a Kevin Locke try but the Titans took the ascendency with tries from Preston Campbell, Anthony Laffranci, Joseph Tomane and David Mead.
Scott Prince was in impervious form with the boot landing four from four conversions.
Gold Coast Titans (24)
Tries: Preston Campbell, Anthony Laffranchi, Joseph Tomane, David Mead
Conversions: Scott Prince 4
New Zealand Warriors (18)
Tries: Manu Vatuvei (2), Kevin Locke Conversions: Brett Seymour 3
Favourites South Sydney crashed to a surprise 36-10 defeat at the hands of last year’s wooden spooners Sydney Roosters.
A brace of scores each from Mitchell Pearce and Sean Kenny-Dowall ensured the Roosters an easy finish.
New recruit Todd Carney was superb in attack for the Roosters but the Rabbitohs were left to rue a dropped ball from Nathan Merritt who had the line at his mercy.
Sam Burgess made metres in attack but he was a lone force in an ineffectual Souths forward pack.
South Sydney Rabbitohs (10)
Tries: Nathan Merritt (2)
Conversions: Issac Luke 1
Sydney Roosters (36)
Tries: Sam Perrett, Mitchell Pearce (2), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2), Aiden Guerra
Conversions: Todd Carney 5
Penalty Goals: Todd Carney 1
A dramatic comeback from West Tigers ensured a thrilling 26-22 triumph over Manly.
Lote Tuqiri was able to live up to all the pre-match hype with try during a stellar start to his Tigers career but tries from Glenn Stewart, Michael Robertson and George Rose ensured Manly a 20-4 lead at the break.
But the Tigers fought back and after registering tries from Liam Fulton, Blayke Ayshford, Chris Lawrence and Gareth Ellis gave the Tigers the win.
Wests Tigers(26)
Tries: Liam Fulton, Chris Lawrence, Gareth Ellis, Blake Ayshford, Lote Tuqiri
Conversions: Benji Marshall 3
Manly Sea Eagles (22)
Tries: Glenn Stewart, Michael Robertson, George Rose
Conversions: Jamie Lyon 3
Penalty Goals: Jamie Lyon 2