Love NRL: Round 4

Newcastle did Alex McKinnon proud as they dominated Cronulla in an emotional fixture at Hunter Stadium.

Knights centre Joey Leilua scored a first-half hatrick as his side eased to a 30-0 win, whilst Sharks prop Andrew Fifita, who recently agreed a deal with Canterbury for 2015, is said to be pursuing legal action after a dispute saw the move called off.

Manly opened the weekend by avenging the four defeats they suffered at the hands of Sydney Roosters in 2014. Two Jamie Lyon penalties and a Cheyse Blair four-pointer was enough for the Sea Eagles to win a tight armwrestle with the Tricoulours. The 8-0 scoreline is the lowest of the NRL season so far.

Brisbane had won their last six against St George Illawarra going into their match at WIN Stadium, and they made it seven with a 36-20 victory – ending the Dragons’ perfect start to the season.

Another 100% record that went up in smoke was that of Melbourne, as with Cameron Smith withdrawing before kick-off, they were thrashed 40-12 by the Bulldogs, for whom James Graham was amongst the try-scorers.

Graham’s international teammate Sam Tomkins scored a solo effort for NZ Warriors in their 42-18 win over an error-strewn Wests Tigers. Glen Fisiiahi stole the headlines though, as the Tongan World Cup winger finished with four tries to take his total for the season to seven.

Another winger on seven tries after Round 4 is Paramatta’s Semi Radradra, who helped his side to an impressive 32-16 win over Penrith.

In the weekend’s other fixtures an impressive Canberra performance consigned South Sydney to their third consecutive defeat, whilst Gold Coast, who have since announced the signing of former Rabbitohs and Panthers man James Roberts, won a tight derby with North Queensland thanks to an Aidan Sezer drop-goal.

Round 4 results:

Sydney Roosters 0-8 Manly (Mar 28, Allianz Stadium)

St George Illawarra 20-36 Brisbane (Mar 28, WIN Stadium)

NZ Warriors 42-18 Wests Tigers (Mar 29, Westpac Stadium)

Canterbury 40-12 Melbourne (Mar 29, NIB Stadium)

Parramatta 32-16 Penrith (Mar 29, Pirtek Stadium)

South Sydney 18-30 Canberra (Mar 30, ANZ Stadium)

Newcastle 30-0 Cronulla (Mar 30, Hunter Stadium)

Gold Coast 13-12 North Queensland (Mar 31, Cbus Super Stadium)

Round 5 fixtures:

Sydney Roosters v Canterbury (Apr 04, Allianz Stadium)

Brisbane v Parramatta (Apr 04, Suncorp Stadium)

Cronulla v NZ Warriors (Apr 05, Remondis Stadium)

Penrith v Canberra (Apr 05, Sportingbet Stadium)

St George Illawarra v South Sydney (Apr 05, Sydney Cricket Ground)

Melbourne v Gold Coast (Apr 06, AAMI Park)

Wests Tigers v Manly (Apr 06, Leichhardt Oval)

North Queensland v Newcastle (Apr 07, 1300SMILES Stadium)