Wins to the Storm, the Cowboys and the Dragons have seen all three of them join the Broncos at the top of the NRL ladder. All three enjoyed comfortable wins against quality opposition in a round that also saw two games go to golden point deciders.
Here’s our take on the eight Round 10 games:
Canterbury Bulldogs (10) v Sydney Roosters (24)
James Graham lasted just 27 minutes in his return from injury and the Bulldogs captain was badly missed as Sydney scored a comfortable win to kick off Round 10. Jake Friend was the main beneficiary of the increased space he was afforded post Graham’s concussion. Friend exploited the middle of the park expertly and had two try assists in a fine individual performance. The other standout individual performance came from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck whose fleet footed antics resulted in 285 running metres and a 38th minute try.
The Roosters two tries before half time effectively sealed the game before Mitch Aubusson and Aidan Guerra rounded it off. The 24-14 margin made to a look a little closer than it ever was because a late try to Moses Mbye.
The NSW halves battle that was tipped as an Origin trial was slightly disappointing. None of the four players reached any great heights, however that won’t worry coach Laurie Daley as much as Michael Jennings’ failure to finish the game.
North Queensland Cowboys (31) v Brisbane Broncos (20)
The Cowboys avenged a Round 3 loss to the Broncos by playing near flawless footy to run out winners by 31 to 20. The Cowboys completed their sets at close to 90% and turned a weight of possession and pressure into a Michael Morgan hat-trick.
That was despite conceding the opening two tries of the game as a fast starting Broncos side led through Lachlan Maranta and Jordan Kahu. The Broncos initially did well to prevent the predictable Cowboys comeback, but so exceptional was Jonathan Thurston’s game management they couldn’t do so forever.
Thurston was excellent, controlling play, and using Morgan, Coote, Ethan Lowe and James Tamou expertly to deliver two competition points for his side and see them join the Broncos at the top of the table. From a horror start they Cowboys have now won seven in a row and are absolutely certain of featuring in the playoffs, perhaps against the Broncos late in the season.
The Broncos played their part in the Friday night thriller, and had good returns form the ever reliable Corey Parker and the origin ready Darius Boyd.
Parramatta Eels (13) v New Zealand Warriors (17)
For the second consecutive week the Warriors needed a match winner and this time they got someone who wasn’t Shaun Johnson. Sure Johnson was magical earlier on in the match, in particular his 19th minute try and some clutch goalkicking, but the real star of the show was Bodene Thompson.
After the match was tied 13-all at the end of normal time, and the golden point period was coming to a close, Thompson took the opportunity to go unnoticed (most eyes were on Johnson and Townsend for the field goal) to crash over and get the Warriors their fifth win of 2015.
It should have been a little more comfortable for the Warriors, as they led 12-0 at half time despite losing Ryan Hoffman for the match in the 3rd minute and Leuluai to a similar fate in the 24th. The double loss gave coach Andrew McFadden plenty of interchange headaches, and the toll on the Warriors players legs eventually told early in the second half.
Two tires inside six minutes at the start of the second half got the Eeels back in the game, and in truth they were the better team in the final moments and will be disappointed not to have capitalised on a weak Warriors left side.
The Warriors will be pleased with their rare away win, but they are not looking title material. The five wins they have registered this season have come against the Eels (2), Raiders, Sharks and Tigers – hardly worrying.
Gold Coast Titans (22) v Cronulla Sharks (23)
The Second golden point match of the round saw the Sharks grab a much needed win over the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.
Valentine Holmes was the scoreboard hero, kicking an 81st minute field goal to break the 22-all deadlock, but it was veteran Luke Lewis who provided the inspiration.
Lewis also had a try, however his contribution to both Jack Bird’s try and the first set of extra time was critical. Lewis’ key plays and Andrew Fafita’s work rate will have please coach Shane Flanagan immensely, so too NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Aidan Sezar had earlier missed the chance to win the game in normal time when he failed to convert Anthony Don’s try from wide out. The Titans will need to start taking opportunities like this if they are to get anything out of the season – a prospect looking unlikely after 10 rounds.
Melbourne Storm (16) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (12)
Adam Reynolds was always going to be a big loss for the Rabbitohs, and his absence saw his teammates struggle to match an imperious Storm side at AAMI Park. Gutsy as they were without their pivot the Rabbitohs came up one try short, going down 16-12.
All of Melbourne’s points came in the first half. Weak defence allowed Jesse Bromwich to waltz over for his first try of the season in the 19th minute to offset an early Bryson Goodwin penalty, and Melbourne extended their lead on the stroke of halftime when Billy Slater put Will Chambers away.
At 16-2 it looked as though Melbourne could run away with the fixture but Souths thought otherwise as they fought hard in the second half to keep their opponents scoreless and kept up the pressure with tries to wingers Alex Johnston and Aaron Gray. Even in the closing stages they had their opportunities to snatch a win or send a third game of the Round to golden point but the final play just alluded them.
Melbourne go top of the table. Important with origin just around the corner. Whereas the Rabbits are 7th.
Queensland fans and Mel Maninga will be sweating on the availability of captain Cameron Smith. Smith kicked out at Isaac Luke when looking for a quick play the ball. He did seem unaware that Luke was in the tackle but at least three kicks made contact with Luke’s head – it could get interesting.
St George-Illawarra Dragons (32) v Canberra Raiders (18)
Sunday afternoon’s Dragons / Raiders clash lived up to its billing and matched the intensity from the team’s earlier Round 3 encounter. The Dragons ultimately got the better of their Canberra based opponents but not before both teams were able to play end to end footy at its best.
Running behind a quality pack featuring the likes of Merrin, Frizzle, De Belin, Thompson and others the Dragons’ halves ran riot with ball and hand and expertly marshalled their team with deft kicking games. Both Widdop and Marshall laid tries on for each other and also played parts in several of the other five Dragons’ tries.
Completing the season double versus the Raiders means the Dragons have now won seven of their past eight and helps them join the logjam at the top of the ladder at 14 points.
The win also displayed the Dragons attacking threat, piling on a season best 32 points to dampen the rumours of a weak offensive game plan. They head into the bye in the best of moods while Ricky Stuart will have to help his side get to face the Bulldogs next week.
Newcastle Knights (22) v Wests Tigers (12)
Newcastle may have got their season back on track after they snapped a five game losing streak to beat the Tigers at Hunter Stadium in the last of the Sunday action.
The Knights were in charge for much of the day, but it took a late try to debutant Chad Redman to seal the 22-12 to win after earlier spending at least ten minutes defending their narrow 16-12 lead on their own goal line. That pressure came about from a Robbie Farah 40/20, but the home side were able to hold on and get to the other end and safety – a controversial scrum win against the feed helping immeasurably.
Neither side got away to any great lead, instead trading tries to James McManus, Dene Halatau, David Fa’alogo and Luke Brooks, until the Knights scored two on the bounce to damaging centre Joey Leilua.
The Knights just miss out on a top 8 spot (their for and against record see them just slip behind the Warriors) but will be pleased to break a five week hoodoo that had threaten to completely derail their season after a nice start.
The Tigers were disappointed with their ability to create pressure on the oppositions tryline – Robbie Farah said so three times in one sentence during the press conference, but coach Jason Taylor did pay dues to Mitch Moses as one of the few capable of busting the defence open.
Manly Sea Eagles (10) v Penrith Panthers (11)
A Matt Moylan field goal capped off an impressive performance form the young fullback and delivered his team a tight win against Manly at Brookvale on Monday night. Moylan was a the heart of everything good in the Panthers play, both on attack and in defence.
His field goal and natural poise in every facet of the game overshadowed a record-setting Brett Stewart double – the veteran becoming the most prolific Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles try-scorer in the process. Both of Stewart’s tries came in a first half that Manly edged 10-6.
The Panthers rarely threatened in the first half but improved after the break and kept the home side scoreless in the second half. Jamie Soward helped get them within two with a fine play to put Dallin Watene-Zelzniak away before Moylan kicked a 72nd minute penalty and a 73rd minute droopy.
The droppy from 39m out was the play that will make most of the highlight reels, but it was his positioning of Waqa Blake (a pass that Blake spilled with an open try line) that better illustrated his worth to Rugby League.
Of concern to the Panthers was the late injury to George Jennings. The young outside back appeared to break his leg and could be out for up to 6 weeks.
