Rugby League: NRL Round 3 Review

We enjoyed our strongest week of tipping last week, correctly picking the winning team in 7 of the 8 games, and the winning team and margin in 6 0f the 8 games. It counts for nothing in a multi bet without boxing it though and we were left to rue the Dragons late win against the Raiders. A team that had scored 8 points in 160 minutes of Rugby League in the first two weeks somehow found a way to score 8 points in the last 11 minutes of their Round 3 match. The surge providing one of the few surprises of the weekend.

Here’s how the rest of the games finished up:

Manly Sea Eagles (12) v Canterbury Bulldogs (16)

The Bulldogs got the better of an intense froward battle at Brookvale, edging the contest by two points despite a contentious refereeing decision going against them. That decision was the bizarre overturning of a Matt Ceccin no-try call by the TMO when he blindly guessed Steve Matai had scored a four pointer amongst several strewn bodies. That said, the Bulldogs survived the strange call and a late try Pita Hiku to chalk up their second win of the season. They got plenty of metres out of Aidan Tolman and James Graham, while Sam Perrett and Tim Lafai were dangerous in the outside backs. Manly’s effort was full of enthusiasm and energy, unfortunately their execution was again missing. Barring Daly Cheery-Evans, who was one again at the heart of everything his side did in both attack and defence, there were no Manly standouts.

Brisbane Broncos (44) v North Queensland Cowboys (22)

North Queensland’s abysmal start to the season got worse with a heavy defeat to the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp in Friday night’s second game. An entertaining affair early on with the Broncos opening their account twice inside 12 minutes courtesy of Ben Hunt and Josh MacGuire only to have a the Cowboys break the Broncos defense a few minutes later with Michael Morgan dotting down after a well constructed Cowboys play. Broncos dominated the late stages of the half with a 10 minute master class of finesse and power resulting in 3 tries to Corey Parker, Lachlan Maranta, and McCullough, 32-6 into half time. Winger Kyle Feldt crossed the line 2 minutes into the half to get the Cowboys revival going only to have the Broncos captain Justin Hodges snap up a loose pass moments later and dot down to extend his teams lead. Winger Kyle Feldt picked up a second try with a runaway try in the final minutes to soften the blow for the Cowboys, still a very dominant performance from the Broncos.

New Zealand Warriors (29) v Parramatta Eels (16)

Saturday started off with the Warriors hosting the Eels at Mt Smart. The host’s dominant early on with their new signing Ryan Hoffman crashing over the white wash courtesy of lazy marking, and five minutes later a pin point grubber was snapped up by Solomone Kata. 80 meters out Thomas Leuluai took advantage of lazy marking once again racing away and drawing the last man perfectly with Tuimoala Lolohea dotting down to have the hosts 16-0 up. Manu Vatuvei was on the end of more lazy marking as Chad Townsend cut up the Eels to send the Beast over. The Warriors dominant into the half time break 22-0 up. Early into the second half another pin point kick from Townsend was diffused by Solomone Kata as he rose high to claim the spoils for his second. Moments later the Eels were back in the game with Takairangi racing down the line to dot down Parramatta’s first of the game. What looked like a strip from Watmough saw the Eels break a Warriors attacking set early, the Eels pouncing on the mistake to dot down in quick successions courtesy of David Gower.

The Eels were in a purple patch and were looking the better of the two claiming another try mid way through the second half with Reece Robinson staying in field to roll over the try line for his second. Shaun Johnson showed his maturity with a drop goal on the 75^th minute to put the game out of reach.

Canberra Raiders (20) v St George Illawarra Dragons (22)

Next up was the Raiders hosting the Dragons at GIO stadium. The visitors were the quickest out of the blocks nearly touching down out wide only to be wrestled into touch millimeters away from the goal line. In return the hosts dominated possession with new signing Josh Hodgson crashing over from 10 out to put the Raiders ahead. Some slick footwork from the Raiders halves and creative passing put Sia Soliola into space and the big man took the advantage close to the line to bust through and open his account. The hosts struck again 5 minutes later after a unforced error from the Dragons gifted the Raiders a scrum 30 out with Blake Austin running at the defense dummying multiple times only to race through the defensive line un touched for a try of his own.

The Dragons denied themselves another try scoring opportunity with a fumble then Blake Austin was denied a second deemed to have made a double movement as he touched down. Dragons captain Nightingale then stripped Crocker and the Dragons were on the attack to once again lose possession but resilient defense saw the Dragons keep the Raiders in their half, 2 out from half time Merrin rumbled over for a well deserved try. On the stroke of half time an early charge by the Raiders saw the Dragons gifted another 2 points for the penalty. Halftime, 18-8 Raiders.

The second half opened with a Dragons attack as Nightingale scored out wide through some quick hands. Moments later the Dragons were penalized for holding a player off the ball resulting in a converted penalty by Crocker to extend the lead 20-12. Josh Dugan was sent to the bin moments later for interfering with the Raiders dead ball restart, deemed a professional foul. Mitch Rein cut through the guts of the Raiders exposing lazy marking and poor tackling 10 minutes from time to ignite a Dragons comeback. Ex Raider Joel Thompson muscled his way over after quick hands through the line gave him the advantage at contact locking the game up 20-20 kick to come which was slotted beautifully 22-20 fulltime, spoils to the Dragons in an excellent come back.

Melbourne Storm (36) v Cronulla Sharks (18)

The Melbourne Storm hosted the Sharks at AAMI Park with the visitor’s winless coming into the game. Melbourne absorbed an early attack from the Sharks only to return the favor which the Sharks could not the brute strength of Tohu Harris crashing over to open the Storms account. Cooper Cronk was next on the board after putting up a bomb which was fumbled by the Sharks defense and fed back Cronk’s way he darted over to put the Storm up 8-0 inside 20. The Storm continued with pressure through the centre of the pitch and finding the Sharks right hand defense weak with Tohu Harris crashing over again from 10 meters out. A wealth of possession 5 minutes from half time saw the Sharks get one back through sustain pressure, Jeff Robson dotting down, halftime 18-6.

Like the first the Storm were back on the scoreboard early, Marika Koroibete claiming the spoils out wide after the Sharks defense swarmed Tohu Harris. More pressure from the Storm was rewarded through Cameron Smith dotting down after a failed strip by the Sharks and messy defense the Captain guided through. Will Chambers crashing over 5 minutes out this time exposing the left hand defense. What looked to be a big defeat for the Sharks was reduced when the Sharks decided to open up more on attack and wild pass from Barba saw Valentine Holmes dot down out wide. With 10 to go a short ball close to the line saw Andrew Fifita crash over to close in on the deficit, for the Sharks too little too late.

South Sydney Rabbitohs (20) v Wests Tigers (6)

ANZ hosted the Rabbitohs and Tigers. The first 30 minutes saw multiple chances from both sides declined through offside and forward pass plays, the Tiger’s intentions were to be the more physical side with some early big hits and runs. Farah darted through the ruck close to the line to open the Tigers account, only to have the Rabbitohs replied minutes later through quick hands out wide with Inglis feeding Alex Johnston. Rabbitohs continued to dominate the remainder of the half scoring again with a Tigers handling knock on in their own half saw the Rabbitohs pounce at the mistake and Reynolds grubber through for Dylan Walker to race through and dot down on the stroke of half time. 10-6 Rabbitohs. 6 minutes into the half Rabbitohs captain Inglis claimed his own 4 pointer with a powerful run 10 out, crashing over his opposite. The remainder of the half continued the physical battle and tempers flared on multiple occasions with Galloway and Grant squaring up after Galloway received some unwanted attention in a tackle.

The reigning premiers closing out the game in the final 5 minutes with Dylan Walker gliding through for his second.

Gold Coast Titans (18) v Newcastle Knights (20)

The Gold Coast Titans hosting the Newcastle Knights with the Titans stars Bird, Taylor, and Fallon returning from their respective drug investigations. The Titans out wide opened the scoring through some slick hands, Anthony Don dotting down with Aiden Sezar slotting the kick from touch. A flat footed Newcastle defense was caught napping and Beau Scott strolled through a gaping hole to open his teams account. The Knights were denied another try after an amazing run from Gagai, a knock on earlier in the play taking away the brilliance of the would be try. The remainder of the half relatively uneventful with Tyrone Roberts slotting a late penalty to end the half 14-6, Knights. Aiden Sezar claimed a try 3 minutes in when two Knights hesitated under a highball. Midway through the second half Aiden Sezar was at it again running nicely off a tackled player to dot down and converted to take the Titans 4 up with 15 to go. The Knights claiming victory minutes out from full time as Jeremy Smith crashes through the line and Roberts converts.

Sydney Roosters (20) v Penrith Panthers (12)

The final game of the round had the Roosters and Panthers at Allianz Stadium. Both sides with similar form in the 2015 season. The Roosters opened the scoring early on through some hard yards up the middle only to have the ball swung out to Kenny-Dowall who dotted down out wide. Panthers denied shortly after catching the Roosters napping out wide man for man only for the diving effort to be deemed lost forward. A rake cost the Panthers another 2 points. Minutes out from half-time a big bomb was claimed by the Panthers and Mansour off loaded in the tackle to Idris who powered over close to the line. Halftime, 8-6 to the Roosters.

After being dominated by Idris, Blake Ferguson got the better of his opposite by easily stepping inside to open his season account 3 minutes into the half. Ferguson crossing 20 minutes later with the Roosters showing quick hands to get the outside men an overlap and Ferguson picking up his second. 15 minutes from time a rather complacent Roosters outfit were caught napping and Lewis Brown cut through the centre and a slick pass to beat the last man saw Segeyaro dot down. The Panthers guilty of the same play moments later was well received with Dylan Napa smashing Segeyaro and forcing a fumble to round out the match 20-12.

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