NRL Round Up – Round 13
Melbourne took no prisoners against a weakened Brisbane team, eventually coming out on top 48-4.
A strong break from Brett White led to the Storm’s first try through Joseph Tomane who was to grab another two later on.
Cooper Cronk barged his way over for Melbourne before a Will Chambers try established a healthy 20-0 home lead.
Billy Slater raced in from Dummy half before Greg Inglis set up Tomane for his second.
The Broncos lost Corey Parker and Alex Glenn to injury and Melbourne were not about to let their foot off the pedal.
Tomane grabbed his hattrick after racing away into the corner although Brisbane, to their credit, never gave up and got a consolation score from Israel Folau on his first return to Olympic Park.
Another try to Cronk and a maiden first grade try to Aiden Tolman made sure the Storm were worthy winners at 48-4.
Storm
Tries: Greg Inglis, Joseph Tomane (3), Cooper Cronk (2), Will Chambers, Billy Slater, Aiden Tolman
Goals: Joseph Tomane (6/9)
Broncos
Tries: Israel Folau
Penrith’s excellent run of form continued with a 26-10 defeat of Wests Tigers.
Taniela Tuaki powered over for the Tigers midway through the first half but a try to the Panthers’ Paul Aiton gave the visitors a narrow 6-4 lead at the break.
Geoff Daniela scored first for the Panthers after the restart but a controversial video decision allowed the Tigers to level things up thanks to Robbie Farah‘s try.
Farah was over again soon after but this time the video ref handed the decision to a refs call and his effort was denied.
Brad Tighe took advantage to edge Penrith in front before a brace of tries from the elusive Luke Walsh helped the Panthers out to a slightly flattering margin of victory.
A Brad Tighe four-pointer in the 71st gave Penrith the lead and Walsh then stepped his way over for the first of his two tries in the dying stages.
Luke Lewis suffered a broken toe and may be in doubt for upcoming matches including Origin II while Geoff Daniela suffered a minor dislocated knee and will miss 2-4 weeks.
Tigers
Tries: Taniela Tuiaki, Robbie Farah
Goals: Benji Marshall (1/3)
Panthers
Tries: Paul Aiton, Geoff Daniela, Brad Tighe, Luke Walsh (2)
Goals: Gavin Cooper (1/1), Luke Walsh (2/4)
Manly have heaped more misery on Sydney by defeating them 38-18 at Brookvale on Saturday.
Glenn Stewart opened the scoring from a Chris Bailey pass but the Roosters were soon ahead thanks to tries from Sean Kenny-Dowall and Setaimata Sa.
But Bailey set up Robertson who replied for Manly to help his side into a 12-8 halftime lead.
The Sea Eagles showed their nous after the break and extended their lead thanks to two tries from David Williams either side of a Sean Kenny-Dowall effort.
Anthony Watmough and Ben Jones traded scores before Manly grasped the nettle and sealed the result thanks to tries from Steve Matai and Robertson.
Sea Eagles
Tries: Glenn Stewart, Michael Robertson (2), Tony Williams, David Williams, Anthony Watmough, Steve Matai
Goals: Matt Orford (5/7)
Roosters
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2), Setaimata Sa, Ben Jones
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/4)
North Queensland put in another improved performance to smash South Sydney 46-12.
Three tries in the first 19 minutes from John Williams, Ashley Graham and Aaron Payne set the tone for the match.
Beau Champion replied for the Rabbitohs but the Cowboys put on another score before half time through Scott Bolton.
With Jonathan Thurston in impervious form, the home side were able to get further scores through Ashley Graham, Matt Bowen and Ty Williams to put them out of sight at 36-6.
More exciting play saw the Cowboys get their eighth score through John Williams out wide while their ninth came from a bullldozing run from Matthew Scott.
Craig Wing grabbed a late consolation score but his side were left to contemplate an utter hammering.
Cowboys
Tries: John Williams (2), Ashley Graham (2), Aaron Payne, Scott Bolton, Matt Bowen, Ty Williams, Matthew Scott
Goals: Johnathan Thurston (5/9)
Rabbitohs
Tries: Beau Champion, Craig Wing
Goals: Chris Sandow (2/2)
Cronulla’s improved form continued on Saturday when they produced a hard-working performance to defeat New Zealand Warriors 18-10.
The Sharks played some decent attacking football and were able to establish an 18-4 halftime lead thanks to tries from Matthew Wright, Anthony Tupou and Nathan Stapleton against a Manu Vatuvei effort in reply.
The Warriors came out with a new fire about them in the second half and although the kept their hosts scoreless and extended their tally with a try through Lewis Brown, they could not find the crucial score.
Sharks
Tries: Matthew Wright, Anthony Tupou, Nathan Stapleton
Goals: Luke Covell (3/3)
Warriors
Tries: Manu Vatuvei, Lewis Brown
Goals: Kevin Locke (1/2)
Parramatta upset the form guide with a 20-18 defeat of Newcastle.
The Knights took the lead through Keith Lulia but the Eels replied through livewire winger Joel Reddy.
Another Knights try to Junior Sau meant that the home side held a narrow advantage at half time 12-6.
The Eels upped their intensity after the break and managed to tie the scores at 12-12 with a try from Jeff Robson.
Jarrod Mullen‘s unsuccessful field goal was followed by a try to powerhouse prop FuiFui MoiMoi giving the Eels the advantage going into the closing stages.
Mullen’s try pegged back the Eels but the visitors held on for the victory.
Knights
Tries: Keith Lulia, Junior Sau, Jarrod Mullen
Field Goals: Jarrod Mullen (0/1)
Goals: Kurt Gidley (2/2), George Ndaira (1/1)
Eels
Tries: Joel Reddy, Jeff Robson, Fuifui Moimoi
Goals: Luke Burt (4/4)
Gold Coast Titans turned over in-form St George Illawarra 28-24 to register their first ever win over the joint venture club.
Scott Prince and Jamie Soward exchanged penalties before the Titans put on 20 unanswered points thanks two tries to Brad Meyers to go with scores from Chris Walker and Esikeli Tonga.
The second half was an entireley different affair with the Dragons’ putting on a score through Wendell Sailor.
A reply from Luke O’Dwyer looked to seal the game but the Dragons were not finished by far.
Two scores from Brett Morris and Jamie Soward reduced the difference to just two but the magical final score eluded the visitors and the Titans held on for a famous win.
Titans
Tries: Chris Walker, Esikeli Tonga, Brad Meyers (2), Luke O’Dwyer
Goals: Scott Prince (4/6)
Dragons
Tries: Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Brett Morris, Ben Hornby
Goals: Jamie Soward (4/4)