Cronulla Sharks 28 – 6 Melbourne Storm
Remember last week in my match preview when I said the Sharks “are far from the side that impressed everyone earlier in the season” as well as “Melbourne don’t lose back-to-back too often, which is why I’m tipping them here”?
I take it all back.
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Cronulla did impress, and Melbourne succumbed to back-to-back losses at Shark Park on Thursday night.
The Storm were missing big names like Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Felise Kaufusi, but 24 hours before kick-off the home side lost Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf from the match, both testing positive to Covid.
But the Sharks stuck to the game plan, running rings around a Storm outfit that are currently way off the pace.
Jesse Ramien opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with Blayke Brailey crossing only minutes later.
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Not long before half time winger Ronaldo Mulitalo joined the party, and Ramien crossed for his second to give the Sharks a 20-0 halftime lead.
Cronulla stayed in the driver’s seat for the second half, with Sione Katoa scoring in the 67th minute and Ramien grabbing his hattrick not long after.
Alec MacDonald got the visitors on the board with three minutes to go, crossing for a consolation try.
Already missing stars to Origin and injury, life is about to get even harder for the Storm.
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Kenny Bromwich limped off after hurting his leg in a tackle, Marion Seve came off after a head knock, and Grants Anderson left the game with a busted wing. But it was mouth of Brandon Smith may that cause the most damage – the very naughty boy was sent to the sin bin for allegedly calling the referee a ‘cheating b*****d'.
He was referred straight to the judiciary and is expected to sit out for a week or two.
But credit to the Sharks, putting on a top-notch performance and silencing many of their critics (myself included).
Matt Moylan has been in career best form and stepped up to lead his side around perfectly in the absence of Hynes, and earning a well-deserved two year extension on his contract.
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The win sees the Sharks secure fourth spot, with the Storm slipping down a bit the third.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 40 – 28 Newcastle Knights
What a game this one turned out to be.
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Despite both teams missing some big names, it was still a high-scoring, energy filled and emotionally-charged 80 minutes that saw the Bunnies dig deep to overcome the odds.
Heading up to Newcastle without Origin players Damien Cook, Cam Murray and Jai Arrow, then Mark Nicholls and Alex Johnson becoming late withdrawals, Souths were the underdogs.
After one minute of play they lost Lachlan Ilias thanks to a head clash, and the odds became even longer.
The Bunnies just shook it off and got down to business, scoring the first try though Cody Walker in the 10th minute.
Dom Young hit back for the home side, with David Klemmer getting them in front shortly after when he picked up a loose ball and scored his first try since 2017.
In his return game from injury, Bradman Best extended the Knights lead out to 16-6 after an epic flick pass from Edrick Lee.
They kept the pressure on by trapping Souths in goal, but the momentum swung in an instant when the short goal line dropout caught them off guard and the Bunnies ended up back with the ball.
A penalty piggybacked Souths towards Knight territory, and in the blink of an eye Richard Kennar crossed for two quick tries to get the Bunnies back in front.
Cody Walker found himself on the right side of an intercept try, catching a floating pass from Newcastle’s Mat Croker and streaking away for a 24-16 halftime lead.
Souths kept the pressure on in the second half, with Kennar grabbing a hat-trick just two minutes in.
Tevita Tatola got the visitors out to a 34-16 lead and the Knights were gobsmacked.
Edrick Lee hit back, but Jaxon Paulo returned serve.
Mitch Barnett crossed late for the home side, but it was all too late.
The dying minutes saw emotions explode, when a bit of argy-bargy spilled out between Klemmer and Keanon Koloamatangi. After that was handled with, a fired up Klemmer’s next tackle saw him make contact with the head of Daniel Suluka-Fifita. An angered Latrell Mitchell rushed in and pushed Klemmer, players were pushing and shoving and Klemmer was eventually sent off.
Mitchell was also sin binned for being the third man in… oh… no wait. No, he wasn’t.
Anyway, the understrength Souths outclassed Newcastle right across the park.
They put on a stellar effort in trying circumstances, reigniting their finals chances in seventh spot on the ladder.
Despite some promising signs from the home side, they once again got in their own way.
Silly errors and ill-discipline continue to hurt their final chances, with the Knights remaining in 12th spot.
Parramatta Eels 28 – 20 Wests Tigers
I think both fan bases were mentally and physically exhausted after this one.
A topsy turvy game, complete with excitement and frustration, a referee who seemed very whistle happy awarding a whopping 17 penalties, and some bunker calls that confused the masses.
Shaun Lane thought he had opened the scoring for the Eels early in the match but was denied by the bunker due to an alleged knock on before the try.
Teammate Will Penisini also thought he had his side on the board shortly after but was called back for a forward pass.
The Tigers showed them how it’s done ten minutes later when ‘Nu Brown stormed over the try line from dummy half.
A Clint Gutherson fumble in goal lead to the Tigers second, when Daine Laurie pounced on the lose ball to give the home side a 12-0 lead.
But in the blink of an eye the game turned on its head when Justin Matamua was sin binned just five minutes after making his NRL debut for an apparent late tackle on Mitchell Moses.
The Eels took advantage, scoring three quick tries to go to the break 16-12 up. An extra point should have been given for Reed Mahoney’s try celebration, managing to turn the football into a lawnmower.
They kept the roll on in the second half, with Mitchell Moses scoring just minutes after the break.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, future Tiger Isaiah Papali’I extended his current sides lead out to 28-12 and seemingly put the match put of reach.
But David Nofoaluma wasn’t about to give up, crossing for two quick tries in the corner to get his side within eight points.
Unfortunately for the Leichhardt crowd the siren sounded with the deficit still intact.
Eel’s halfback Moses had a superb game, with eight tackle busts, two try assists, a try of his own and a beautiful kicking game.
Tigers’ five-eighth Luke Brooks’ efforts were the perfect definition of a mixed bag.
With two try assist and two-line break assists, as well as a massive air swing that led to an Eels try, and an early kick in the tackle count that swung momentum against his side.
The win sees Parramatta securing sixth spot, while the Tigers remain just ahead of the bottom dwellers Gold Coast in 15th spot.
Brisbane Broncos 32 – 18 St George Illawarra Dragons
Baby Broncos 2.0 turned up to play on Sunday, showing everyone once again that their young guns can get the job done.
With Adam Reynolds at the helm, Brisbane were missing 1000 players due to Origin and injury, so the captain was surrounded by a team full of little inexperience but huge heart.
And didn’t they step up?!
The Red V were missing their only player, Ben Hunt.
Of course, that was enough.
How many times have I told you guys he carries this team?
And did anyone have two Tariq Sims’ sin binning’s on their bingo card? It was clear from the get-go that one of the Dragon’s plans was to target Adam Reynolds, with Sims getting marched for ten in the opening minutes for an alleged late hit on the Broncos captain.
He was sent packing later in the game for a shoulder charge to the head of Rhys Kennedy.
Both times led to Broncos tries, one to Delouise Hoeter and Tesi Niu, but the Dragons hit back each time through Cody Ramsey and Moses Suli. Brisbane got the upper hand when Kotoni Staggs crossed just before the break and went to the sheds with a 16-12 lead.
Hoeter grabbed his second not long onto the second half, with Ezra Mam crossing shortly after.
The conversion of Mam’s try brought up Adam Reynolds 900th NRL conversion, etching his name once again in the records books.
When Staggss crossed for his second after a beautiful Jordan Pereira kick, Brisbane were well in control at 32-12.
A late consolation try to Ramsey for his second of the game closed the gap to 14, and despite some late efforts from the visitors, the Baby Broncos held on for the win.
The Senior Broncos will be very proud of the young guns’ efforts, with their victory today keeping them in fifth spot.
The Dragons are now left clinging to the top eight, and hoping Ben Hunt doesn’t miss any more matches.
Topics: Australia, NRL, Rugby League
Danielle Smith