NRL Weekly Wrap: Reviewing Finals Week 1

Cleary-led Panthers too strong for undermanned Chooks

The defending premier Panthers surged past the Roosters 30-10 in Penrith behind a red-hot opening forty.

Tries to Brian To’o, Izack Tago, Jarome Luai and Luke Garner saw the hosts take a 24-0 lead into the sheds.

Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i and James Tedesco went bang-bang early in the second for the Chooks, but their comeback attempt ended there with Garner snagging a second late to ice the win for Penrith.

Nathan Cleary assisted on two tries and kicked for 375 metres in his return whilst Isaah Yeo ran for 203 metres and made 42 tackles.

Tedesco scored a try, assisted on another, and ran for 171 metres with six tackle breaks whilst Connor Watson made a game-high 69 tackles.

Grant hat-trick powers Storm past Sharks

Melbourne turned it on in their 37-10 win over the Sharks at AAMI Park with Harry Grant nabbing a maiden career hat-trick.

The clash started in dire fashion for the visitors with an error off the opening kick-off leading to a first-minute Cameron Munster try before the clash began to seesaw with Sione Katoa answering for Cronulla before Will Warbrick crossed for the hosts.

Briton Nikora scored on the stroke of half-time to cut it back to 14-10 – which would have pleased Craig Fitzgibbon – before Melbourne’s dominance led to a flourish of points with Grant scoring three and Warbrick grabbing a second to seal it.

Grant scored three and ran for 82 metres whilst Trent Loiero ran for 222 metres and made 26 tackles without a miss.

Katoa scored a try and ran for 103 metres with seven tackle breaks whilst Siosifa Talakai assisted on a try and ran for 165 metres.

Ponga masterclass not enough as Cowboys edge Knights

The Cowboys remain alive having downed the Knights 28-16 at QCB Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite conceding a Kyle Feldt intercept early the Knights took a 12-4 lead into the break behind tries to Jayden Brailey and Fletcher Sharpe.

Tries to Murray Taulagi and Jordan McLean saw the Cowboys storm back into it before a Dylan Lucas try tied things up at 16-apiece.

Newcastle looked to have found a try to put them ahead only for Dane Gagai to lose the ball off a Kalyn Ponga break before Reuben Cotter scored off a kick down the other end and Tom Dearden slipped over late to secure the victory.

Feldt scored a try and ran for 293 metres with four tackle breaks whilst Dearden scored a try and ran for 149 metres with six tackle breaks.

Ponga assisted on two tries and ran for 207 metres with eight tackle breaks whilst Greg Marzhew ran for 218 metres with 14 tackle breaks.

Manly down Dogs in Accor epic

Manly pulled off an incredible 24-22 win over the Bulldogs in front of more than 50,000 fans at Accor Stadium on Sunday.

It proved a back-and-forth first half with Jacob Kiraz crossing just six minutes in before Tommy Talau answered for Manly only for tries to Viliame Kikau and Stephen Crichton to put Canterbury up double digits.

Ethan Bullemor scored just shy of half-time to drag Manly back into it before a Jeral Skelton try had the Bulldogs up by 10 with a half-hour to play.

Daly Cherry-Evans scored a terrific scrum try soon after before Toluta’u Koula finished off one of the tries of the season to win it for Manly in the 71st minute.

Koula scored a try, assisted on another, and ran for 131 metres whilst Haumole Olakau’atu ran for 133 metres with 11 tackle breaks and made 28 tackles.

Skelton scored a try and ran for 214 metres whilst Kiraz scored a try and ran for 161 metres.

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