NRL

Kennedy did the damage with 16 minutes of magic in the first half and the Sharks did enough from there to make it back-to-back wins for the first time in 2023.

After the Bulldogs opened the scoring with an early penalty goal to Matt Burton the Sharks struck twice in the space of three minutes to blow the game open.

Both the tries came courtesy of Kennedy who backed up a Briton Nikora break to score in the seventh minute and then flew high to pull down a Matt Moylan bomb for his second. Nicho Hynes converted both tries for a 12-2 lead.

Adam O'Brien's men face a long road trip to Townsville after a Nathan Cleary field goal broke their hearts last Saturday but the expected return of skipper Kalyn Ponga should be enough to put the spring back in their step at Newcastle this week. 

Meanwhile, the Cowboys will be hoping to make amends with their faithful after losing to the Dolphins at home in Round 6.

Coming off heavy back-to-back losses and with injuries hitting hard, the Bulldogs will have their depth tested as well as their resolve when they face an enigmatic Cronulla side still searching for back-to-back wins.

With Jacob Kiraz's MCL injury and Viliame Kikau's training mishap the latest blows to hit the Bulldogs they'll need co-captains Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton and forward leader Tevita Pangai jnr to stand tall if they are to return to the winners' list.

The Broncos ran in four tries in the opening 40 minutes to set up a 22-6 lead with the combination of halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam running riot on the back of a strong platform set by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan up front early.

The ladder leaders then controlled the game in the second half with a further two penalty goals ruling out any chance of an Eels comeback despite two tries in five minutes giving the home side a sniff. 

With Dally M leaders Reece Walsh and Payne Haas in rare form and Adam Reynolds marshalling his troops magnificently, the Broncos boast a 6-1 record on the back of the NRL's slickest attack.

The Eels, meanwhile, look to be hitting top gear on the back of wins over Wests Tigers and Bulldogs but Brad Arthur is well aware a much sterner test awaits in the shape of the Broncos.

Key points:

• Tuivasa-Sheck has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors
• He left the club late in the 2021 NRL season to switch to rugby union
• Tuivasa-Sheck has played three Tests for the All Blacks

Tuivasa-Sheck – who won the 2018 Dally M Medal with the Warriors – has signed a three-year contract with the New Zealand club.

He left the Warriors late in the 2021 NRL season after being granted an early release from his contract.

A key area the Rabbitohs will need to improve if they are to take down the premiers is their completion rate, which was down at 68 per cent (24 of 35 sets) that night, making their task extremely tough.

The fact they stayed in the fight and had a chance to draw level in the dying minutes is cause for optimism heading into a game on their own turf and coming off two big wins over the Bulldogs and Dolphins.

Playing in front of a passionate Mt Smart Stadium crowd the Warriors dug deep in defence to keep the Cowboys at bay despite having to make 80 more tackles.

It took the Warriors just four minutes to get the ball rolling when Addin Fonua-Blake powered over from close range after an Adam Pompey intercept had put the home side on the attack.

The Cowboys hit back in the 19th minute after mounting plenty of pressure on the back of Shaun Johnson putting a a short dropout out on the full and a string of six-again calls.

Despite winning many of the key statistical areas of their clash against the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane suffered a shock 20-14 loss which now has them just two points clear of the Panthers at the top of the ladder. 

Kevin Walters' men will be eyeing an immediate return to winning ways in what is their third derby match in six weeks, following earlier victories over the Cowboys and Dolphins. 

The Titans will have taken plenty of confidence from getting the job done against the Dragons in a 20-18 win.

After an up and down opening few games, the defending premiers have returned to form in impressive fashion over the last two rounds, scoring 97 points and conceding just 24 in wins over the Raiders and Sea Eagles. 

With Dylan Edwards firing at the back and Nathan Cleary pulling all the right strings in the halves, the Panthers have shaken off any suggestion of a Premiership hangover and now sit second on the Telstra Premiership ladder.