NRL Round Up – Round 22
Canterbury sprang a surprise defeat on in-form North Queensland coming out on top 14-6.
Josh Reynolds scampered over for the Bulldogs midway through the half to help the home side into a narrow 6-0 interval advantage
A try, conversion and penalty from Steve Turner meant Ray Thompson’s score ten minutes before time had no bearing on the result.
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A thrilling game at the Sydney Football Stadium saw Wests Tigers narrowly triumph over St George 16-14.
Jamie Soward’s penalty was all that separated the sides at the interval, following a tense opening half.
Tries from Darius Boyd and Brett Morris were equalled by efforts from Liam Fulton and Benji Marshall to set up a tense finish.
It was Beau Ryan who had the final say streaking on to a pass following a Benji Marshall break to seal victory.
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A solid performance from Melbourne saw them extend their winning run to ten matches and overcome Penrith 26-6 at AAMI Park.
Adrian Purtell and Ryan Hinchcliffe scored for the respective sides to leave the teams locked a 6-6 at the interval.
After Cameron Smith had handed the Storm the lead with a penalty, the home side put on three unanswered tries from Sika Manu, Billy Slater and Kevin Proctor to put the result beyond doubt.
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Cronulla’s finals hopes were extinguished with a home defeat to Gold Coast 20-16.
A first half brace from Titans winger David Mead saw the visitors in front 10-4 at the break.
Two Scott Prince penalties and a William Zillman score in the second half ensured the Titans went home with the points.
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Darren Lockyer’s record-equalling 349th NRL match was marked with a stunning 21-20 win for Brisbane over the New Zealand Warriors.
Despite an early score from in-form Justin Hodges the Broncos conceded tries through Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke to trail 12-8 at the break.
Despite Broncos tries from Gerard Beale and Matt Gillett the Warriors hung on with a converted try from Sean Berrigan and a James Maloney penalty to tie the scores at 20-20.
It stayed that way until the final minute of the match when Lockyer’s half-back partner Peter Wallace slotted the match-winning drop goal.
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Newcastle gave a statement of their intent ahead of the NRL finals with a 40-8 flogging of Canberra.
A brace from veteran Adam MacDougall went with scores from Akuila Uate, Chris Houston and Matt Hilder to put the Knights in front 22-4 at the half time siren.
The scores kept coming for the home side after the break with James McManus, Houston and Uate all crossing during a dominant second half performance.
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Manly sent the Sydney Roosters packing with a 26-8 walloping of their visitors at Brookvale Oval.
The Sea Eagles got stuck into their visitors from the off and led 12-0 at the break thanks to scores from fit-again winger Will Hopate and Jamie Lyon.
Second half scores from Glenn Stewart, Tony Williams, Steve Matai (2) and Hopoate ensured Roosters scores from Phil Graham and Aiden Guerra meant nothing.
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South Sydney ran riot over Parramatta, running in ten tries to defeat the Eels 56-6.
Greg Inglis grabbed a brace and Nathan Merritt a hat-trick as the Rabbitohs put the visitors to the sword to lead 34-0 at the interval.
Dylan Farrell and Luke Burt traded scores but three tries in ten minutes from Merritt (2) and Chris McQueen ensure the men in red and green finished with a flourish.