NRL Round Up – Round 16
St George Illawarra’s premiership campaign remains on track following a confident 21-10 win over Wests Tigers.
Brett Morris grabbed an early try for the Dragons and after coping comfortably with a number of Tigers attacks, the Dragons put on three scores through Ben Creagh, Ben Hornby and Wendell Sailor.
Beau Ryan got a score for the Tigers in reply but the Dragons still held a commanding 20-4 lead at half time.
An arm wrestle ensued and despite energetic play from the Tigers, they were unable to break a stoic Dragons defence.
A late try to Benji Marshall gave the joint venture club hope, but Jamie Soward’s even later field goal mad sure of the result.
Tigers 10
Tries: Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall
Goals: Benji Marshall (1/2)
Dragons 21
Tries: Brett Morris, Ben Creagh, Ben Hornby, Wendell Sailor
Goals: Jamie Soward (2/4)
Field Goals: Jamie Soward (1/1)
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Canterbury’s momentum showed no sign of stopping when they put North Queensland to the sword 30-18.
Luke Patten’s mistake denied the home side an early lead until Ben Roberts’ long range break put Josh Morris away in the 23rd minute.
Andrew Ryan picked up a loose ball to put Bryson Goodwin away for the Bulldogs’ second score and help them into a 12-0 lead at the break.
Greg Eastwood was in support to burst over straight after half time but the Cowboys did manage a reply through Anthony Watts who barged over from dummy-half.
Two quick scores through Patten and Goodwin effectively ended the game as a contest before the visitors put on two consolation scores in the last ten minutes through Aaron Payne and John Williams.
Bulldogs 30
Tries: Bryson Goodwin (2), Josh Morris, Greg Eastwood, Luke Patten
Goals: Hazem El Masri (5/5)
Cowboys 18
Tries: Anthony Watts, Aaron Payne, John Williams
Goals: Johnathan Thurston (3/3)
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A depleted Gold Coast showed their mettle to overcome New Zealand 28-12 at Skilled Park.
Three first half scores from Anthony Laffranchi, Kevin Gordon and David Mead helped the Titans race out into a comfortable lead at half time.
Mead bagged his second following half time after collecting a long ball from Scott Prince, although a neat scrum-play saw Lance Hohaia race over to give the Warriors hope.
An interception score from Gordon killed off the New Zealanders’ hopes of an upset but they did manage a consolation score from Lewis Brown.
Titans 28
Tries: Kevin Gordon (2), David Mead (2), Anthony Laffranchi
Goals: Scott Prince (4/5)
Warriors 12
Tries: Lance Hohaia, Lewis Brown
Goals: Kevin Locke (2/3)
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Sydney Roosters have put an end to their nightmare run of six straight defeats by beating Cronulla 19-12.
Nathan Stapleton scored first for the Sharks before Mitchell Pearce ghosted his way through for a score in reply.
Blake Ferguson crossed to give Cronulla a 12-6 lead at the break.
A determined Roosters took the field in the second half and established a lead thanks to two quickscores from Sam Perrett and Sean Kenny-Dowall.
A late field goal to Pearce rounded off the win.
Roosters 19
Perrett, Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (3/3)
Field Goals: Mitchell Pearce (1/1)
Tries: Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ferguson
Goals: Luke Covell (2/2)
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Canberra put their seven-year hoodoo against Melbourne to bed by coming out on top 26-16.
Joel Monaghan set up Justin Carney for the Raiders’ first before the former Rooster weighed in with two scores to help his side out to a healthy 14-0 lead.
The Storm replied however through a soft try to Cameron Smith, who dived over from dummy-half to get his side on the scoreboard before the break.
Carney accelerated past the Storm defence to register his second score but two scores through Inglis and Chambers put the visitors back in contention.
But the 2007 Premiers could not find their usual upper gears and the Raiders sealed the win through Bronson Harrison.
Raiders 26
Tries: Justin Carney (2), Joel Monaghan (2), Bronson Harrison
Goals: Terry Campese (3/5)
Storm 16
Tries: Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers
Goals: Joseph Tomane (0/1), Cameron Smith (2/2)
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Parranatta kept their finals hopes alive with a spectacular 21-14 win over luckless Brisbane.
Joel Reddy’s neat offload allowed Eric Grothe to race over for the Eels’ first and it was not long before Reddy himself was over.
The Broncos replied through Steve Michaels who crossed out wide just before the break.
Brisbane pressed after the break but heartbreak struck with Krisnan Inu latched on to Darren Lockyer’s long pass to race the length of the field.
Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough dived over from dummy half and Steve Michaels drew his side level when he dotted down close to the deadball line.
Brisbane hung on but the Eels put the game to bed thanks to a Luke Burt’s field goal and a try to youngster Daniel Mortimer
Eels 21
Tries: Eric Grothe, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu, Daniel Mortimer
Field Goals: Luke Burt (1/1)
Goals: Luke Burt (2/4)
Tries: Steve Michaels (2), Andrew McCullough
Field Goals: Darren Lockyer (0/1)
Goals: Corey Parker (1/3)
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Newcastle remain in the top eight after a narrow 25-20 home win over South Sydney.
The Knights struck first when Aku Uate was put clear by Zeb Taia before Michael Crocker side-stepped his way over in reply.
Jamie Simpson scored another for the Rabbitohs just before half time to help his side into a 12-6 lead.
The Knights came out a different side in the second half and posted three scores through Richie Fa’aoso, Keith Lulia and Steve Simpson without reply.
Jarrod Mullen’s stabbed field goal put the result beyond doubt but the Bunnies did manage two consolation scores from David Fa’alogo and Jamie Simpson.
Knights 25
Tries: Aku Uate, Richard Fa’aoso, Keith Lulia, Steve Simpson
Field Goals: Jarrod Mullen (1/1)
Goals: Kurt Gidley (4/5)
Rabbitohs 20
Tries: Michael Crocker, Jamie Simpson (2), David Fa’alogo
Goals: Issac Luke (2/4)