NRL Telstra Premiership Round 4 Results. Who could finally get on track with a win, the Sharks or Titans? Exciting match ups with close games going down to the wire and won on the final whistle. Monday night footy in Townsville putting on an golden point thriller.
Eels (29) v (16) Rabbitohs
Round 3 started off in style with the Eels hosting the Premiers at Pirtek. The matched opened with the Rabbitohs scoring through Joel Reddy (8th) on the receiving end of slick passing through the line. The Eels replied 6 minutes later courtesy of John Folau who took a short pass 10 out to step and crash through defenders (14th). Reynolds was done for decent towards the pocket referee and Sandow converted the penalty however he redeemed himself shortly after putting up a difficult bomb which was blundered by the Eels and Grensmuhl pounced for his first (34th). On the stroke of half time a barn storming run 10 out from John Folau carrying 3 Rabbitohs with him over the line saw him pick up his second try of the night (39th). The Eels were at it again early in the second half with some slick hands passing through the line giving Reece Robinson the advantage over his inside defense and he kicked into 2nd gear to get around a diving Inglis for the try (42nd). The Premiers under the pump in the second half, taking nearly 20 minutes to get substantial possession and a try scoring opportunity. A numbers game out wide saw the Rabbitohs strike back with a try to Alex Johnston (60th). It didn’t take long for the Eels to reply with Reece Robinson again getting the better of the defense, getting around his opposite on the outside (67th). Sandow extended the lead by 7 with a drop goal (76th) and on the stroke of full time Sandow grubber was spilled back into his path and easy pick up and dive gave Sandow the last laugh (79th).
Eels
Tries – J. Folau 2, R. Robinson 2, C. Sandow
Pen – C. Sandow
Con – C. Sandow 3
F/Goal – C. Sandow
Rabbitohs
Tries – J. Reddy, C. Grevsmuhl, A. Johnston
Con – A. Reynolds 2
Wests Tigers (24) v (25) Canterbury Bulldogs
ANZ Stadium hosted the Tigers and Bulldogs, a match full of expectation. The Tigers first out of the blocks with a try inside 4 minutes when Kyle Lovett slipped through a yawning Bulldogs defensive line. The Doggies hit back after some well constructed plays through the middle to have Frank Prichard bulldoze close to the line and make an offload millimeters from the ground to put Curtis Rona over (15th). Both team squandering chances for the remainder of the half. The Tigers charged into the second 40 much like the first scoring early with Luke Brooks blocking a poor grubber into the Tigers half, he scooped up the deflection running 50 metres to dot down (45th). 3 minutes later some slick running from dummy half put the Tigers ahead of the advantage line and a tactical grubber into space bounced favorably into Tedescos’ hands only having to run over the line to dot down (48th). Brooks was at it again from dummy half putting through a pin point grubber for Tedesco to run onto making it his second for the night (55th). With the gap widening the Doggies managed to apply some pressure to the Tigers with their big men running hard, Lichaa found himself over the try line after beating some tired tackles close to the line (58th). Curtis Rona added to his tally 8 minutes later after some excellent dummy pass skills courtesy of Kasiano to feed an open Rona (66th). The Doggies evened up the game with 5 to go through a Josh Morris run away. Golden point commenced and an 83rd minute droppy from Moses Mbye sealed victory for the Bulldogs.
Tigers
Tries – K. Lovett, L. Brooks, J. Tedesco 2
Con – M. Moses 4
Bulldogs
Tries – C. Rona 2, M. Lichaa, J. Morris
Con – T. Hodkinson 4
F/Goal – M. Mbye
Newcastle Knights (26) v (14) Penrith Panthers
The unbeaten Knights hosted a Penrith Panthers outfit missing Soward and Segearo at Hunter Stadium. The hosts were strongest early on with a try to Chris Houston (7th) after receiving a short ball 5 out showing great balance and footwork for a big man to dot down. A dummy half run catching the Panthers defenders napping extended the score (14th) courtesy of Clydsdale. Mounting pressure was taking its toll on the Panthers with well worked second man play seeing Gidley take the contact and bounce out of the tackle to crash over for the Knights 3rd (17th). After so much pressure the Panthers finally got a real attacking opportunity and cashed in through slick passing from the left hand attack feeding Mansour who gracefully stepped inside his opposite to dot down (23rd). Two missed opportunities from the Panthers saw them go into half 14 points down. Uate was the next man on the board with the Knights line drawing the defense to lead to an overlap, Uate dotting down (52nd). The Panthers hitting back, attacking the right hand defense and only to spin it back the other way and Moylan hitting a gap 20 out to dot down (65th). The Panthers getting back to back tries with Dean Whare pushing the advantage line to bust through some fragile Knights defense (71st). Newcastle withstood the onslaught keeping the Panthers scoreless in the final 5, Tyrone Roberts slotting a penalty on the final whistle.
Knights
Tries – C. Houston, A. Clydsdale, K. Gidley, A. Uate
Pen – T. Roberts
Con – T. Roberts 4
Panthers
Tries – J. Mansour, M. Moylan, D. Whare
Con – M. Moylan
Cronulla Sharks (22) v (24) Gold Coast Titans
Both teams winless coming into the round, the Sharks hosted the Titans at Remondis. Michael Gordon putting the Sharks on the board early with a penalty (2nd) after a high shot. The opening 20 was dull as both sides were guilty of poor execution. Dave Taylor eventually crashing over after some ugly play 10 out from both sides losing possession, Taylor catching out defenders not playing the whistle (20th). The Sharks were quick to reply, Valentine Holmes getting the luck of the bounce with a dodgy grubber falling into his hands and he had little work to do beating his opposite on the outside (26th). Another Sharks try was on the board after the Sharks dissected the Titans up through the middle with Ennis running support to dot down under the posts (32nd). James Roberts claimed a try just inside of halftime with the Sharks defense ball watching a grubber hoping it would go out (41st). A pinpoint kick 20 out from Robson into the in-goal area was casually claimed by Holmes getting his second (47th). Nate Myles turned playmaker with a short burst 10 out and a beautiful short ball to Sezer on his shoulder seeing Sezer crash over (59th). Michael Gordon extended the Sharks lead with two penalties (65th & 72nd) after the Titans ill discipline in the tackle cost them. The four point lead evaporated with a soft pass on attack being intercepted by James Roberts who dotted down to even it up, Sezer converting to give the Titans the win.
Sharks
Tries – V. Holmes 2, M. Ennis
Pen – M. Gordon 4
Con – M. Gordon
Titans
Tries – D. Taylor, J. Roberts 2, A. Paasi
Con – A. Sezer 4
St George-Illawarra Dragons (12) v (4) Manly Sea Eagles
The Dragons on fire after a spirited come from behind win against the Raiders last round. The Dragons were on the board first with an early converted penalty to Widdop. The Dragons dominating possession inside the opening 10 with with Nightingale dotting in the corner after a slick offload from Duggan in contact (9th). Ill discipline from the Sea Eagles at ruck time cost them 3 points, pushing over the ball player, Widdop converting (24th). Duggan falling short on the stroke of halftime to extend the lead. Hiku nearly opening the Sea Eagles account early into the half with a heroic dive for the corner only to plant the ball out of play but with more possession midway into the second the Eagles finally dotting down through a Keiran Foran grubber cleaned up by Brayden Willame (58th). Off the ball infringement from Luke Burgess 30 out cost the Sea Eagles another 2 points with Widdop slotting the conversion (69th). The Sea Eagles had appeared to score through Willame but the officials deemed the Foran pass to go forward in the previous play. Dragons hold on.
Dragons
Tries – J. Nightingale
Pen – G. Widdop 3
Con – G. Widdop
Sea Eagles
Tries – B. Wiliame
New Zealand Warriors (16) v (24) Brisbane Broncos
The Warriors celebrating their 20th year hosting the Broncos at Mt Smart. The Broncos absorbing early pressure from the hosts and replying with a try through a experience cut out pass courtesy of Justin Hodges, Corey Oates dotting down in the corner (11th). The Broncos continued their crisp passing game catching the Warriors defense on the back foot, Lachlan Maranta diving over in the opposite corner (16th). The Warriors breaking the Broncos line but failing to convert points, Broncos dotting down again with Jarrod Wallace crashing over by the sticks (38th). Early into the second half the Warriors claimed their own bomb with a tap back to Allwood who found Townsend inside him, Townsend sprinting 10 to dive to over for the Warriors first (45th). Retaining possession was paying off for the Warriors and Shaun Johnson ran a great angle, with a behind the back offload opening a huge gap for Allgood to gallop through from 20 out, Allgood dotting down (64th) Another massive bomb from Johnson was tapped back by Vatuvei and Solomone Kata claiming the spoils to even it up (69th). Ill discipline at ruck time from the Warriors cost them two points and a short restart was fumbled by the Warriors back over the in-goal line with Andrew McCullough dotting down to seal the victory (79th).
Warriors
Tries – C. Townsend, M. Allwood, S. Kata
Con – S. Johnson
Broncos
Tries – C. Oates, L. Maranta, J. Wallace, A. McCullough
Pen – C. Parker
Con – C. Parker 3
Sydney Roosters (34) v (6) Canberra Raiders
The Roosters hosting the Canberra Raiders at ALLIANZ Stadium. The hosts hot favorites going into the match, they did not disappoint the home crowd. Shaun Kenny-Dowall opened the scoring for the hosts after the Rooster line fed a series of passes gaining the advantage line and Pearce throwing a superb cut out pass to Kenny-Dowall who dotted down in the corner (4th). Tuivasa-Sheck extended the lead after he found a gaping hole in the defense, easing past the last man to score (10th). The Roosters continuing to make metres and gain ascendency found them over again after Blake Ferguson ran a great angle from 10 out, dummying, and the defence falling off gifted Ferguson an easy try (27th). Minutes out from half time an well constructed Raiders attack was finished off with a soft grubber which bounced favorably for Croker who beat the man and dotted down to open the Raiders account. That was all she wrote for the Raiders with the Roosters scoring 3 minutes into the second half, the Raiders defense flat footed and falling for the support runners allowing Jennings to walse over (43rd). Daniel Tupou was next on the board through air supremecy, easily defusing a bomb and crashing over the line (48th). Some smooth footwork from Jennings put him outside of his opposite and he fed Tupou who galloped up the line, feeding Maloney on his inside who ran away to close the game out (69th)
Roosters
Tries – S. Kenny-Dowall, R. Tuivasa-Sheck, B. Ferguson, M. Jennings, D. Tupou, J. Maloney
Con – J. Maloney 5
Raiders
Tries – J. Croker
Con – J. Croker
North Queensland Cowboys (18) v (17) Melbourne Storm
Townsville hosted the final game of the round with the Cowboys facing the Melbourne Storm. The Storm were first to strike with a well constructed move out left seeing Kurt Mann take the overlap and crash through the last man (6th). The Cowboys were hot on a reply with hard yards up the middle and Thurston throwing a ranging cut out pass to Winterstein with the overlap, easily stepping inside to dive over (12th). Koroibete difussed a high bomb will ease and caught the attacking Cowboys off guard as he charged through napping defenders to race 90 meters and score (27th). The Storm hot on attack were over the line again as Kafusi was on the end a well timed shortball 10 out to ease through the defense (34th). Midway through the second half some slick cut out passing and dynamic running from the Cowboys left side attack opened the Storm defence up, Winterstein on the end of it all picking up his second (60th). With 10 to go Cooper Cronk slotted a field goal to put the Storm 7 points ahead (70th). The Cowboys endured and attacked the Storm line searching for a try, catching an overlap out right with Matthew Wright dotting down and Thurston converting to put the Cowboys a point behind (77th). With no pressure 40 out Thurston hit a field goal to put the game into extra time (79th). Sustain pressure into extra time and Thurston was at it again, hitting a similar field goal to give the Cowboys and extra time win (84th).
Cowboys
Tries – A. Winterstein 2, M. Wright
Con – J. Thurston
F/Goal – J. Thurston 2
Storm
Tries – K. Mann, M. Koroibete, F. Kaufusi
Con – C. Smith
F/Goal – C. Cronk
