NRL round-up: Penrith go five from five, Roosters comeback stuns Cronulla & Melbourne rout Canterbury
There’s just one team able to boast five wins from five after the latest round of NRL action.
Penrith maintained their record as the competition’s only unbeaten side with a 30-10 victory over Canberra.
Young winger Charlie Staines, 20 crossed once in each half to make it an impressive nine tries in his opening seven Panthers appearances.
Sydney remain two points behind after producing a superb second half fightback to overcome Cronulla 26-18.
The Roosters found themselves 18-4 behind with less than 20 minutes left, but Drew Hutchison, Daniel Tupou and Sam Walker edged their side ahead before Brett Morris’ all-important second of the game inside the final five minutes.
South Sydney are also locked with their cross-city rivals on eight points after a comfortable 35-6 victory over struggling Brisbane.
Adam Reynolds made history by kicking the NRL’s first ever two-point drop goal just before half-time. Latrell Mitchell also bagged a double before adding another drop goal with time running out.
Matt Dufty scored twice as St. George Illawarra continued their bright start and ended Parramatta’s 100% record in 2021.
Jake Bird and Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa also crossed the whitewash to help the Dragons record an impressive 26-12 win at Bankwest Stadium.
Melbourne ran in nine tries via nine different scorers as they swept aside Canterbury, the only winless side left in the competition.
Englishman Luke Thompson crossed on his return to NRL action, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 52-18 drubbing on home soil.
Second-rower David Fifta bagged an impressive hat-trick as Gold Coast routed Newcastle 42-16 at the Cbus Super Stadium.
Corey Thompson, formerly of Widnes, also crossed in each half as the Titans cruised to their third win of the season.
Manly moved off the foot of the table as Daly Cherry Evans’ last-minute drop goal saw them overcome New Zealand Warriors in Gosford.
It leaves the Warriors on the fringes of the top eight, despite Ken Maumalo and Sean O’Sullivan crossing either side of half-time.
North Queensland recorded their first win of the season under new coach Todd Payten after edging out Wests Tigers in a see-saw affair at Leichhardt Oval.
The Cowboys should’ve been out of sight after racing into a 28-6 half-time lead, but the hosts came storming back to within eight points. However, Lachlan Burr’s score just after the hour mark proved enough for two competition points, despite Tommy Talau and Joe Ofahengaue reducing the deficit inside the final 10 minutes.
NRL round five results:
South Sydney Rabbitohs 35-6 Brisbane Broncos
New Zealand Warriors 12-13 Manly Sea Eagles
Penrith Panthers 30-10 Canberra Raiders
Gold Coast Titans 42-16 Newcastle Knights
Canterbury Bulldogs 18-52 Melbourne Storm
Sydney Roosters 26-18 Cronulla Sharks