NRL Round 26 Rewind

By Stephen Gallagher

Broncos 24 Roosters 14

The Broncos were the ones in hot seat, but it was the visitors who took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Two tries and the Roosters were hot.

But it was a breakout, and a mistake which took all the momentum out of the Sydney-siders and back to the home side.

The Broncos pushed hard in the second half, and finished off the match. The Roosters did everything they could do get the result but the Broncos were more desperate.

Rabbitohs 28 Bulldogs 10

It’s official: The wheels have fallen off the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs did manage to nab the first try early on, but it was the Rabbitohs were the ones who looked the goods.

They scored two first half tries to lead at the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was an arm wrestle, and it was a deflection which saw Josh Reynolds run 80 to score and set up a thrilling 15 minutes.

But as soon as they got back in to the game, they were out as the Rabbitohs scored three easy tries in 9 minutes and finished their season on a big high.

 

Dragons 28 Knights 26

18 straight losses caps off the worst season for any club since 1993.

They started off like a top four team with two solid tries in ten minutes.

However a few errors turned in to Dragons possession, and four Red V tries to round off the first half.

The second half started much like the first, with two Newcastle tries giving the game a tense moment.

The Dragons went wide and added some breathing space, but the Knights did not give up.

9 to go and they leveled it up, it took a Gareth Widdop penalty goal right before full time to win it.

 

Cowboys 32 Titans 16

It was another strong showing at home fr the Cowboys.

They set the scoreboard attendant to work early with the first try.

The Titans were getting eaten through the middle all game, which was the deciding factor between the two teams.

The Cowboys struck again before the Titans nabbed one just before the break.

More poor defence saw the Cowboys walk in goal for more points.

It was always out of touch for the Titans, especially at 20-6.

Cowboys finding some good form at the right time.

 

Storm 26 Sharks 6

It was the battle of the Minor Premiership in which the Storm won.

There was plenty of physicality to start the match, but a slick inside ball saw the Storm score first.

The Sharks tried everything to try crack Melbourne’s D, but they were just so gutsy on their line that the Sharks were not getting in.

Cronulla had some uncharacteristic errors saw Melbourne get more ball and capitalise.

It took less than two minutes after the break for Melbourne’s lead to extend, and a massive leap from Vunivalu saw Melbourne all but wrap it up with 25 to go.

The Sharks scored with 12 left, but too little – too late as their late season shakes continue.

 

Raiders 52 Tigers 10

The Green Machine cement second spot with a spanking over the Tigers.

With it all in the line, the Tigers failed to fire more than one shot in the first half as it rained Raiders tries. 5 of them in fact which left the Leichhardt faithful silent.

The second half started with a Tigers run up the middle and a crash over next play, but everything that followed was absolutely horrible.

They had no commitment as the Raiders barely got out of third gear to romp home.

 

Eels 40 Warriors 18

The Eels played an absolute clinical match in bad Auckland conditions to end their season on a high.

They didn’t have it all their way, as the Warriors took an early 12-0 lead.

The Eels pounced on typical Warriors errors and soon took the lead.

Defence seemed to go out the window with a 22-18 scoreline at the break.

Two tries right after the break broke any chance the Warriors may have had.

They looked lethargic and the match summed up their season.

The Eels finished 2016 on a good note, and hope 2017 has less off field headlines.

 

​Panthers 36 Sea Eagles 6

This is the performance Penrith were looking for right in time for the finals.

​A fifth straight win piled on the misery for the hapless Sea Eagles as they could not do anything to contain the Panthers.

Josh Mansour crossed in the​​ fourth minute and it didn’t let up from there.

​Five first half tries capped off an impressive forty minutes, but the Panthers could only manage one second half try.

The Sea Eagles finally got on the board through their most impressive player, Tom Trbojevic in the 61st minute, but it was never going to be good enough to spark a miracle comeback.

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