NRL

Last-second try sees Dragons end painful week on a high

Just three days on from the departure of former coach Anthony Griffin, the Dragons looked set to go unrewarded for a brave effort against the Roosters as they trailed 22-18 with seconds to go, before a Hail Mary bomb from Tyrell Sloan ended in Feagai crossing next to the posts and Zac Lomax kicking the Red V to victory after the siren. 

A frantic final half hour saw the lead change four times, with the Dragons ultimately having final say. 

Broncos v Panthers: Madden in for Reyno; No changes for champs

Brisbane's top spot on the ladder has been overtaken by the Rabbitohs after their loss to Melbourne at AAMI Park but Kevin Walters' side will be buoyed by the performance despite coming home empty-handed. 

The Broncos return to Suncorp Stadium for the eighth time in 12 matches this year and will want to make a statement of their own by knocking off the defending champions twice in a season after the Round 1 clash earlier this year.

Namo named on Cowboys extended bench

Namo since joining the Cowboys on train and trial deal early this year has been very strong for Townsville Blackhawks in the Hostplus Cup throughout the season. And this is a reward for his hard work and commitment. 

Namo’s last game against SP PNG Hunters was a prove for his form. He scored a try and put a strong performance through the middle. Which helped his side to a comfortable victory against his former club, the SP Hunters. 

Bellamy to remain Storm coach in 2024

The master coach signed a new five-year contract with Storm in 2022 that allows him to decide each year whether he will continue in the head coach role for the following season or transition into a coaching director role.

Today, he informed the club he would remain in charge of the NRL squad he has led in 532 games with a winning percentage of just under 70%, for another year.

“It took me a little while to make a decision to be honest. Six or eight weeks ago I was pretty certain I would be packing things up,” Bellamy said of his decision.

Ponga, Best respond in style as Knights down Titans

Ponga, playing in his first game at McDonald Jones Stadium since July last year, responded to criticism received last month with a try and two try assists as the Knights ran in four tries in 15 minutes to blow the Titans away.

The Knights trailed 12-6 before half-time until Ponga sprung to life and placed a kick for Tyson Frizell to cross. He then linked with Bradman Best on the left edge for a 22-18 lead and then broke through himself for the side's fifth of the afternoon.

Classy Cowboys cruise to comfortable win over Dragons

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.

Rabbitohs shut out Tigers to go top of table

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.

Raiders v Eels: Hopoate recalled; Arthur in for Moses

The 2022 grand finalists – who finished last year's regular season with 16 wins – have struggled for consistency through the opening three months of the new campaign, having recorded back-to-back wins just once all year.

Their defeat to the Titans was another case of what could have been with errors opening the door for Gold Coast to hang on for a 26-24 win – a loss compounded by a head knock to star halfback Mitchell Moses which will rule him out of this week's clash due to the mandatory 11-day protocols.

Cowboys v Dragons: Same 17 for Payten; Hook sticks solid

The sigh of relief could be heard from Brisbane all the way to Townsville as the Cowboys defended their way to a morale-boosting win over the Roosters in Magic Round.

To their credit they dug deep to restrict the Roosters to just one try and also rediscovered some of their attacking flair with Murray Taulagi, Val Holmes and Scott Drinkwater all featuring prominently. 

Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers: Bunnies chase six straight; Bateman good to go

The Rabbitohs are the hottest team in the NRL with five wins on the bounce and they will fancy their chances of making it six when they host Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium.

The last time the Rabbitohs won five straight was late in the 2021 season as they marched towards the grand final and with their big guns firing on all cylinders their form looks every bit as ominous in 2023.