NRL Round Up – Round 16

Penrith’s premiership credentials received another boost when they demolished Manly 40-22.

A hat-trick of tries from the electric Michael Jennings helped the Panthers to a hefty win over their North Shore visitors.

Gargantuan Manly winger Tony Williams crossed for a brace but the Panthers were no match, running in a total of seven tries.

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Two late tries gave St George Illawarra a comprehensive if slightly flattering 34-10 win over Wests Tigers.

Darius Boyd and Kyle Stanley scored first half tries to give the Dragons a 14-4 interval lead.

Despite a wonderful solo try from Lote Tuqiri, the Dragons posted further tries through Ben Creagh, Jamie Soward and Brett Morris.

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Parramatta fell to a 10-6 loss to Brisbane in an uneventful game at Parramatta Stadium.

A try each for Jarryd Hayne and Peter Wallace saw the scores tied at 6-6 at the break.

The scores remained that way until Israel Folau popped up midway through the second stanza to grab the points for the Broncos.

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A late field goal from Trent Barrett snatched a dramatic late 20-19 win for Cronulla over North Queensland.

The Cowboys surged into an 18-0 lead at the break courtesy of tries from Willie Mason, Matthew Scott and Carl Webb.

But a reinvigorated Sharks outfit fought their way back to 19-19 thanks to tries from Ben Pomeroy, Paul Aiton, Nathan Gardner and Isaac Gordon before Barrett weighed in with his heroics.

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South Sydney consolidated their position in the top half of the table with a narrow 16-14 victory over Melbourne.

Fetuli Talanoa and Justin O’Neill grabbed a brace of tries each but hooker Isaac Luke’s 53rd minute penalty proved decisive.

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The New Zealand Warriors grabbed a narrow victory over Sydney in a rain-soaked clash in Christchurch.

Mitchell Pearce and Tood Carney’s tries helped the visitors to a 12-8 interval lead with Warriors speedster Kevin Locke grabbing two scores in reply.

Manu Vatuvei’s score was cancelled out by Sean Kenny-Dowall before a heroic effort from Locke saw him over for a hat-trick and the match-winner in the final minute.

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Gold Coast’s shaky form continued when they crashed to a 12-18 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle.

Two tries in quick succession from the Knights’ James McManus and Junior Sau helped them to an 18-12 lead.

Despite a second half try from William Zillman, a try from Wes Naiqama sealed the win for the visitors.