NRL round-up: Thurston inspires Cowboys, Eels still bottom, Warriors win

There were several very tight fixtures in the NRL on the weekend.

Brisbane Broncos edged past Canterbury Bulldogs 22-20 at the Suncorp Stadium on Thursday. Corey Oates, Alex Glenn and Joe Ofahengaue got on the scoresheet for the Broncos.

Two tries from New Zealand star Shaun Kenny-Dowall wasn’t enough to get the two points for Newcastle Knights against South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs ran-out 36-18 winners at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday, with Australia pair Dane Gagai and Greg Inglis crossing for tries.

Johnathan Thurston racked up a tally of 14 points to help North Queensland Cowboys beat Penrith Panthers 26-20 at Carrington Park on Friday. Australia half-back Michael Morgan scored for the Cowboys, while Scotland international Peter Wallace scored two for the Panthers.

Canberra Raiders continue to climb the NRL table after a comfortable 32-18 victory over Gold Coast Titans at GIO Stadium on Saturday. Former St Helens star Sia Soliola and New Zealand duo Joseph Tapine and Jordan Rapana all scored for the Raiders.

Karl Lawton scored two tries to help New Zealand Warriors return to winning ways with a 26-4 win over Wests Tigers at the Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday. Tonga winger David Fusitu’a and New Zealand half-back Shaun Johnson both scored for the Warriors. Ex-Hull FC man Mahe Fonua scored for the Tigers.

Sosaia Feki bagged a brace to help Cronulla Sharks edge past Parramatta Eels 22-20 at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday. Chad Townsend also scored a try and kicked three goals for the Sharks. The Eels scored three tries in the last five minutes of the game.

Sydney Roosters beat Manly Sea Eagles 22-20 at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Latrell Mitchell notched five goals from five attempts with the boot, while Daly Cherry-Evans missed one of his five goals.

Scotland star Euan Aitken scored two tries and England ace Gareth Widdop kicked nine goals to help St George Illawarra Dragons win 34-14 against Melbourne Storm. Josh Addo-Carr was unlucky to be on the losing side as he scored a hat-trick.

The Dragons are currently top of the NRL ladder with 16 points, while the Eels are bottom.

NRL round nine results:

Brisbane Broncos 22-20 Canterbury Bulldogs

Newcastle Knights 18-36 South Sydney Rabbitohs

Penrith Panthers 20-26 North Queensland Cowboys

Canberra Raiders 32-18 Gold Coast Titans

New Zealand Warriors 26-4 Wests Tigers

Cronulla Sharks 22-20 Parramatta Eels

Sydney Roosters 22-20 Manly Sea Eagles

St George Illawarra Dragons 34-14 Melbourne Storm