rugby league

Penrith - Roosters to kick off Round 4

The week’s other featured games include Brisbane Broncos vs Cowboys, Warriors vs Knights and Tigers vs Eels on Easter Monday.

This season keeps on serving up the big clashes and this game promises to be another cracker. The Roosters smashed the Rabbitohs last week, while the Panthers continued their path of improvement with a big win over the Broncos.

Captain Ila credits team for the win

It was a remarkable turnaround for Hunters captain Ila Alu and his boys to bounce back with a close win 22-10 against Sunshine Coast Falcons last Saturday at the Santos National Football Stadium after their second-half mediocre performance against CQ Capras in Round 2 of the Hosplus Cup the week before.

Ila admitted it was not an easy win as they had to fight it out till the end to win but again credited the boys for having faith in each other, though they didn’t get the start they wanted. They however showed resilience in the second half to get the two points.

Vipers academy in talks with UK super league club

While ongoing dialogue between both clubs continues, it is believed this would be the first time for a franchise club from the PNG domestic national rugby league competition to be linked to a UK club and establish an academy pathway for players coming through the recently launched NCD Schools Rugby League competition. The ambitious plan looks to offer young boys coming through this program scholarships to study and play in the UK.

Olo inspiring settlement kids

Olo is directing his energy and focus back on his local community at the Two-mile settlement within the Moresby South electorate, to inspire young boys and girls to pick up a rugby league ball and play.

Olo’s illustrious rugby league career inspired his two-mile community, especially the young boys and girls to aspire to be like him one day. This motivated him to set up the SO League Agency and Academy, which is now aligned with the NCD Schools Rugby League program under the auspices of the National Capital District Commission through NCD Governor Powes Parkop’s office.

Horror start for PNG and Fiji

While Country were in control from start to finish to post a 22-0 win, the match was much closer than the score indicated, with some stoic defensive efforts from the PNG side. 

Newcomers Fiji faced a tough assignment first up, taking on the Queensland Sapphires.

Panthers v Broncos: Match Preview

Both teams head into the grand final rematch 1-1 to start the season and will be desperate to get on a run after hard fought wins in Round 2.

The Broncos look yet to fully adjust to life without several of last year's stars and have been dealt another curveball with halfback Adam Reynolds (knee) set for a stint on the sideline.

Coach Kevin Walters will need his front men to be at their damaging best and fullback Reece Walsh to bring the magic as the Broncos chase just their second victory at BlueBet Stadium in 15 years.

Storm v Warriors: Match Preview

After a stellar opening 20 minutes last Friday the Warriors failed to fire a shot against the Sharks in an eventual 16-12 loss, while later that night in Melbourne the Storm were outstanding in an 8-0 shutout of the Panthers to extend their unbeaten opening round record to a mind-boggling 22 years.

Craig Bellamy’s men have owned this rivalry since 2016 and boast 14-straight wins over the Warriors.

Cowboys v Knights: Match Preview

Under the guidance of former premiership-winning half James Maloney, who has taken on the role of club attack coach, the Cowboys played an expansive brand that included scoring four times after running it on last tackle against the 'Phins in a 43-18 win.

Newcastle on the other hand fell to a disappointing 28-12 defeat in front of a sold-out crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium, with a bad collapse in the final 20 minutes seeing them leak three tries.

Tago, Turuva stand tall as champs open their account

Having secured his future through to 2028, the 21-year-old came up with a try, six line breaks and 273 run metres as the champs held off their western Sydney rivals in a quality contest.

After losing winger Bailey Simonsson to a HIA in the opening minute the Eels regrouped to open the scoring when hooker Joey Lussick plunged over from dummy half in just the third minute.

The premiers hit back eight minutes later when Nathan Cleary laid on a pinpoint grubber for Dylan Edwards to score as the last two Clive Churchill Medal winners stamped their class on the match.

Sharks put bite on Dogs with second-half surge

The Sharks have now won 12 of their past 14 games against the Bulldogs and take bragging rights in the 100th clash between the two clubs.

A tough start for the Bulldogs with Poasa Faamausili out of the game after clashing heads with Cameron McInnes in the opening hit-up of the game.

The Sharks then lost Briton Nikora to the sin for a shoulder charge and the Bulldogs looked to have capitalised on the one-man advantage when Viliame Kikau crashed over but the try was ruled out due to referee getting caught in the defensive line and impeding Cronulla defenders.