NRL round-up: Roosters win derby, Cleary inspires Panthers, Eels upset Dragons
There were a number of cracking games in Round 22 of the NRL.
North Queensland Cowboys came from being 30-18 behind to win 34-30 against Brisbane Broncos due to a late try from Coen Hess. Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jason Taumalolo, Kyle Feldt and Gavin Cooper scored the rest of North Queensland’s tries. Cowboys full-back Te Maire Martin was sin-binned for sliding with the knees.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck put in an outstanding display to inspire New Zealand Warriors to a 20-4 win over Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium. Adam Blair, David Fusitu’a and Blake Green also crossed the whitewash for the Warriors.
Nathan Cleary kicked a drop-goal to a seal a fine 17-16 win for Penrith Panthers against Gold Coast Titans in their first game since the sacking of Penrith’s Anthony Griffin. New Zealand international Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored for Penrith in the last minute to take the game to golden point.
Two tries from Australia star Tom Trbojevic helped Manly Sea Eagles beat Canterbury Bulldogs 18-6 at McGrath Foundation Stadium. Tonga forward Addin Fonua-Blake also scored for the Sea Eagles. Manly pivot Trent Hodkinson was sin-binned in the first half for a professional foul.
Parramatta Eels came up with an astonishing 40-4 win over St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium. Fiji star Jarryd Hayne grabbed a hat-trick for the Eagles, while Lebanon international Mitchell Moses scored a try and kicked six goals. Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes was sin-binned in the first half for repeated team offences.
Wests Tigers are now just two points away from the top-eight thanks to a 22-20 win over Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Moses Mbye, Michael Chee-Kam and David Nofoaluma scored for Wests.
Melbourne Storm failed to go top of the NRL ladder after they fell short to a 17-14 defeat to Cronulla Sharks. Australia internationals Valentine Holmes and Josh Dugan scored for Cronulla, while Fiji flyer Suliasi Vunivalu bagged a brace for Melbourne.
Sydney Roosters won the bragging rights as they defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 18-14. Italy star James Tedesco scored for the Roosters, along with Joseph Manu and five goals from Latrell Mitchell. England front-rower Tom Burgess put in a workmanlike display for the Rabbitohs.
NRL round 22 results:
North Queensland Cowboys 34-30 Brisbane Broncos (19,663)
New Zealand Warriors 20-4 Newcastle Knights (14,395)
Gold Coast Titans 16-17 Penrith Panthers (11,283)
Manly Sea Eagles 18-6 Canterbury Bulldogs (7,846)
Parramatta Eels 40-4 St George Illawarra Dragons (10,541)
Canberra Raiders 20-22 Wests Tigers (14,583)
Melbourne Storm 14-17 Cronulla Sharks (16,709)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14-18 Sydney Roosters (26,331)