Match Report

A seven-minute first half flurry – which saw North Queensland run in three tries while Jayden Sullivan was in the sin bin – put the game beyond doubt early on with the Cowboys consigning the Dragons to their sixth straight defeat.

Having become just the 47th player to reach the 300-game mark, the night started in perfect fashion for Hunt, with the versatile veteran setting up Jack de Belin for the first points of the game after just three minutes.

The Rabbitohs have now won six on the trot, the best streak by any team in 2023, and move to the top of the NRL ladder courtesy of a superior points differential to the Broncos.

On the back of a six-again call Latrell Mitchell earned a repeat set with a neat grubber and the Rabbitohs threatened to open the scoring but Tommy Talau flew high to defuse a bomb and the Tigers kept their line intact.

Talau then aimed up in defence with a big hit on Michael Chee Kam to force an error but the Tigers lost their way in attack and failed to capitalise.

Bennett has waited 18 months to unleash Kiwi wrecking ball Valynce Te Whare and the 183rd player to be given his debut by the super coach made an immediate impression.

Te Whare - a raw but powerful rugby union convert, who has been biding his time with the Dolphins feeder team in the Queensland Cup - scored a try in each half as the new franchise produced a typical Bennett effort.

The Warriors lost winger Ed Kosi, second-rower Jackson Ford and prop Bunty Afoa to injuries during the match and twice had to play with a man in the sin-bin but the game wasn't decided until Spencer Leniu scored in the 75th minute. 

The class of Cleary proved the difference, with the Kangaroos halfback running 129 metres with the ball, having a hand in two of Penrith's three tries and maintaining pressure on the Warriors defence with his kicking game.

The mercurial duo both laid on tries with grubber kicks as the Rabbitohs avenged a Round 5 loss to Melbourne and climbed to second on the ladder in the process.

After Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston was dragged down just short of the line in the sixth minute, Mitchell jumped into dummy half and laid on a try for Walker with a brilliant grubber kick. The star fullback converted for a 6-0 lead.

Days on from confirmation that key player Jack Wighton would be departing the club for the Rabbitohs at the end of the season, the Raiders picked up their fourth victory of the year in front of a vocal crowd in Wagga Wagga. 

After a dream start which saw them up 10-0 after an opening eight minutes in which they didn't have to make a single tackle, the Raiders came close to being overrun by the Dolphins, who looked set to produce a stunning comeback for the second week in a row. 

Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham continues to give himself every chance of making his Origin debut this year with a first half double setting up a 12-6 lead for the visitors after 40 minutes. 

He then crossed for a third try as the Rabbitohs stretched their lead to 16 after 50 minutes with Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker finding the spark required as the game hung in the balance in the middle of the contest.

Both sides traded tries early before the Eels produced eight line breaks in the first half to set up a 30-6 lead against a Knights outfit that missed 65 tackles throughout the contest.

Marquee men Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses crossed for tries before Gutherson fooled a clumsy Knights defensive line at dummy half twice to cross for a double.

He had a treble by the 46th minute as the Eels let slip a few more opportunities throughout the evening.

Fresh after signing a lifetime deal with the Sharks until the end of 2029, Hynes stepped up when it mattered to send Blayke Brailey over the line to break a 12-12 deadlock with 10 minutes remaining.

He then helped the Sharks gain further momentum for Braden Hamlin-Uele to bust up the middle before Brailey sent Briton Nikora over the line in the following play.

It was an important win for Hynes and the home side, who were coming off the bye and the shock loss to the Warriors in Round 5.

In a drama-filled contest that was reminiscent of the infamous Battle of Brookvale in 2011, three players were sin-binned and only one try was scored each for 74 minutes before Taniela Paseka and Lachlan Croker linked late to seal the win. 

A huge hit from Haumole Olakau'atu and Josh Aloiai on Justin Olam set the tone for the evening in a response that coach Anthony Seibold would've been pleased with the immediate intensity turnaround after last week's lacklustre effort.