Love NRL: Round 10

The 10-game mark is a common yardstick in sport to determine how a season may pan out.

If this is to be the case with the 2014 NRL campaign, then fans of Canterbury, Manly and surprise package Penrith will be amongst the most optimistic.

The Bulldogs are unstoppable at the moment, and Round 10 saw them win their seventh consecutive match.

Yet again Des Hasler’s side were pushed all the way, and yet again they proved their table-topping credentials, beating NZ Warriors 16-12.

The Sea Eagles ground out an even closer win, defeating plucky Newcastle 15-14 thanks to a long range Daly Cherry-Evans drop goal.

The Panthers, who missed out on a play-off spot in 2013, currently sit third in the ladder after their sixth win of the season.

Winger David Simmons crossed twice for Penrith in a 26-20 success away at Canberra.

Joining Ivan Cleary’s side on 12 points are Parramatta, Melbourne, Wests Tigers and Gold Coast – who, discounting the Titans, all enjoyed wins over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Scottish international centre Kane Linnett scored the first hatrick of his career in North Queensland’s 42-10 rout of last year’s champions Sydney Roosters.

Round 10 results:

South Sydney 14-27 Melbourne (May 16, ANZ Stadium)

Brisbane 22-8 Gold Coast (May 16, Suncorp Stadium)

Parramatta 36-0 St George Illawarra (May 17, Pirtek Stadium)

Cronulla 20-22 Wests Tigers (May 17, Remondis Stadium)

North Queensland 42-10 Sydney Roosters (May 17, 1300SMILES Stadium)

Canberra 20-26 Penrith (May 18, GIO Stadium)

Canterbury 16-12 NZ Warriors (May 18, Waikato Stadium)

Manly 15-14 Newcastle (May 19, Brookvale Oval)

Round 11 fixtures:

Canterbury v Sydney Roosters (May 23, ANZ Stadium)

Gold Coast v NZ Warriors (May 24, Cbus Super Stadium)

Wests Tigers v Brisbane (May 24, Campbelltown Sports Stadium)

Canberra v North Queensland (May 25, GIO Stadium)

Cronulla v South Sydney (May 26, Remondis Stadium)