As it happened: Bulldogs, Roosters win big; Dragons stun Sharks

Superboot Burton: The Bulldogs No.6 came up with 379 kick metres, including one of the biggest 40-20s kicked in the NRL. His long and short kicking game was spot on and he combined superbly with fellow half Lachlan Galvin to pin the Wahs deep in their own end.

Full-time: The Panthers are into the top four and the Warriors are out after the Bulldogs dominated the final game of Super Saturday. The Bulldogs missed only 12 tackles for the night and completed 38 of 45 sets at 84 per cent. 

78 min: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck picks off a Jacob Kiraz pass to race away and score just the second try of the night for the Warriors. Bulldogs 32-14.

77 min: A poor kick by Chanel Harris-Tavita on just the second tackle hands the ball straight back to the Bulldogs.

76 min: Viliame Kikau is penalised for a late tackle to give the Warriors one last shot at points.

68 min: The Dogs go right and Jacob Kiraz does a great job to reach down and collect a Lachlan Galvin pass before sending it on to Enari Tuala for the fifth try of the night. Stephen Crichton lands the extras. Bulldogs 32-8.

67 min: The Warriors' seventh error of the night through Tanner Stowers-Smith hands the Bulldogs field position and they get a six-again call to crank up the pressure.

64 min: Reed Mahoney gets his first taste of action for the night after Bailey Hayward was promoted to starting hooker for this game.

61 min: Kurt Capewell leaves the field for a HIA after copping a hip to the head while making a front-on tackle. He passes the assessment and is able to return.

57 min: James Fisher-Harris is penalised for pushing the marker over and it costs his team two points as Stephen Crichton lands the penalty goal. Bulldogs 26-8.

55 min: The Warriors start the long climb back as Samuel Healey puts in a grubber and gets to the ball first to score the first try of his career. Adam Pompey converts. Bulldogs 24-8.

50 min: Stephen Crichton sells a couple of dummies and slices between Adam Pompey and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to extend the Dogs lead. Matt Burton hits the upright with the conversion attempt. Bulldogs 24-2.

48 min: A poor drop by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck from a Lachlan Galvin kick has the Warriors under the pump again.

47 min: Chanel Harris-Tavita hoists a ball at the end of the set but Stephen Crichton takes it superbly and the Dogs are out of the danger zone.

45 min: The Warriors go to the air, Jacob Kiraz puts it down, Viliame Kikau dives on it but is tackled into touch. Warriors go on the attack.

Half-time: The Bulldogs had 67 per cent of possession and completed 21 of 23 sets to squeeze the life out of the Warriors. Props Max King (11 runs for 84 metres) and Sam Hughes (12 runs for 76 metres) were huge in the middle while Jacob Kiraz racked up 123 run metres and four tackle breaks.

39 min: On the back of two six-again calls the Warriors had to crack and Stephen Crichton throws the final pass for Enari Tuala to score. Crichton converts from touch. Bulldogs 20-2.

37 min: A neat chip kick over the top from Lachlan Galvin forces Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to hustle back and knock the ball out for a dropout.

32 min: The Bulldogs have a second after Matt Burton and Bronson Xerri combine on the left edge to send Jethro Rinakama sliding into the corner. Stephen Crichton comes up with a superb conversion from wide out. Bulldogs 14-2.

30 min: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak makes a meal of the play the ball in the sloppy conditions to hand the Bulldogs a set inside the Red Zone.

27 min: Leka Halasima is forced off for a HIA.

24 min: Te Maire Martin leaves the field for a HIA and is deemed a Category head knock and won't return.

22 min: Viliame Kikau puts a big step from Marata Niukore and slides into the in goal for the game's opening try. Stephen Crichton misses the conversion. Bulldogs 8-2.

21 min: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gets back to cover up a grubber and the Warriors go long with the dropout which travels 50 metres.

17 min: Taine Tauapiki puts a line dropout out on the full and the referee rules it was non-contestable so the Bulldogs get a penalty in front and Stephen Crichton puts it over. Bulldogs 4-2.

14 min: Matt Burton launches a massive kick from his own 20-metre line that goes out inside the Warriors' 20 to give him a monster 40-20 and put the Dogs on the attack.

7 min: A high tackle penalty against Jackson Ford hands Stephen Crichton a shot and he knocks it over. 2-2.

3 min: Adam Pompey steps up to take the shot at penalty goal with regular kicker Tanah Boyd dropped to NSW Cup. Pompey nails the shot. Warriors 2-0.

2 min: James Fisher-Harris is ruled to have lost the ball but throws in a challenge alleging Jacob Preston had stripped the ball. The challenge is successful and a penalty follows.

2 min: Sam Hughes is placed on report for a high shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Late Mail

Bulldogs: One late change with Bailey Hayward coming into the side at hooker and Reed Mahoney reverting to the interchange. Lachlan Galvin is good to go after battling niggling injuries during the week. Daniel Suluka-Fifita is the 18th man. 

Warriors: Changes in the spine an hour before kick-off with Te Maire Martin starting in the halves at the expense of Tanah Boyd, who played NSW Cup earlier in the day. Freddy Lussick will start at hooker with Sam Healey going to the bench. James Fisher-Harris will make his return from a calf injury and will start the game. Marata Niukore shifts to second row as a result, with Leka Halasima moving to the interchange and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava dropping back to the reserves. Chanel Harris-Tavita also returns from a calf injury.

Numbers Game

• The Bulldogs have won only two of their past eight games against the Warriors.
• The Warriors have won four of their last five games at Accor Stadium.
• The Bulldogs have won seven from nine at home this season.
• Warriors bench forward Leka Halasima has scored seven tries in his last eight games.
• Bulldogs fullback Jacob Kiraz has scored four tries in his last three games.

 

Dolphins v Roosters at Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins disaster: The previous biggest loss in the Dolphins' three years in the competition was 42 points against the Storm at AAMI Park in Round 25, 2004. Their points differential took a huge hit from +171 down to +119 while the Roosters' differential jumped from +20 to +72.

Full-time: The Roosters make a huge statement with an 11-try romp to join the Dolphins on 26 competition points. Wingers Mark Nawaqanitawase and Daniel Tupou grab five tries and 388 run metres between them while Naufahu Whyte racks up 208 run metres. The Roosters had 10 line breaks to two and 45 tackle breaks to 23.

79 min: A consolation try for the Dolphins as Tevita Naufahu produces another acrobatic dive into the corner. Jamayne Isaako converts. Roosters 64-12.

76 min: Isaiya Katoa comes up with a 20-40 kick but the Dolphins come up empty as James Tedesco intercepts a Josh Kerr pass.

72 min: Billy Smith is tackled just short of the line, Connor Watson gets into dummy half and finds James Tedesco who threads the needle to put Daniel Tupou over for a quickfire double. Sam Walker finally misses after 27 successful kicks in a row. Roosters 64-6.

69 min: Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls leaves the field for a HIA.

68 min: Another magic trick from the Roosters as James Tedesco chips over the top and Sam Walker regathers before summing up his options and throwing a 20-metre pass over the top to Daniel Tupou to score try No.178 of his career. Walker drills the conversion to make it 60-6.

60 min: Another cross field kick, another try for Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has the first hat-trick of his NRL career. Roosters 54-6.

57 min: The Dolphins' horror night continues when a pass goes astray and is swooped on by the Roosters. The home side are up to seven errors and have had only 20 sets compared to 31 sets for the Roosters.

48 min: James Tedesco puts Egan Butcher into space with a short ball and then backs up to take the return pass to score as the Roosters continue their rampage in front of 24,117 stunned fans at Suncorp. Sam Walker converts to make it 25 successful kicks in a row. Roosters 48-6.

45 min: Francis Molo is placed on report for a high shot on Naufahu Whyte.

44 min: The avalanche continues for the Roosters as Sam Walker puts a pinpoint grubber into the in goal and James Tedesco shows more desperation than the Dolphins defenders to get through and score. Walker converts. Roosters 42-6.

Half-time: A stunning 40 minutes at Suncorp Stadium with the Roosters cashing in on 59 per cent of possession to run in six tries. Four players were sent to the bin in an explosive opening before the Roosters settled best with Naufahu Whyte (137 metres from 11 runs) and Spencer Leniu (116 run metres and nine tackle breaks) showing the way.

39 min: Spencer Leniu comes up with a powerhouse solo try from 25 metres out to give him the last laugh in his running battle with the crowd and the Dolphins players. Sam Walker makes it six from six with the boot. Roosters 36-6.

35 min: Sensational hands by the Roosters and they have another try through Hugo Savala after Naufahu Whyte and James Tedesco come up with freakish offloads for the five-eighth to wriggle over under the posts. Roosters 30-6.

33 min: The Dolphins create space on the left but Kodi Nikorima's inside ball to Conelly Lemuelu is ruled forward.

28 min: On the back of a powerful run and quick play the ball by Naufahu Whyte, interchange forward Victor Radley explodes onto a Connor Watson pass from close range and the Roosters have four tries. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 24-6.

26 min: Jamayne Isaako heads for the right-hand corner but Sam Walker comes across in cover and slings him into touch.

23 min: Sam Walker earns a line dropout with a neat grubber into the in goal and the Dolphins come up with possession after Mark Nawaqanitawase fails to control the catch on the dropout.

19 min: The Roosters are in again Sam Walker and Hugo Savala handle before James Tedesco tips the ball on to Billy Smith who puts on a nice side step to make it five tries in his last five games. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 18-6.

14 min: Robert Toia is placed on report for a shoulder charge.

12 min: With 11 on 11 the space will open up and the Dolphins go wide to put Tevita Naufahu over in the corner with a spectacular leap. Jamayne Isaako converts. Roosters 12-6.

12 min: Siua Wong is knocked out as he brings the ball back from the kick-off after a head clash with Kurt Donoghoe. He leaves the field for a HIA. Wong is ruled a Category 1 head knock and will not return.

9 min: Slick hands on the right edge from Hugo Savala, James Tedesco and Robert Toia puts Mark Nawaqanitawase over in the corner for his second try. A scuffle in the aftermath to the try sees both sides lose two players to the sin bin with Roosters Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte and Dolphins Aublix Tawha and Francis Molo all marched. Roosters 12-0.

8 min: Tensions spill over after a high shot by Aublix Tawha on Billy Smith and a number of players come running in to fly the flag.

5 min: First blood to the Roosters as Hugo Savala goes to the air and Mark Nawaqanitawase produces an acrobatic catch to come up with his 14th try of the season. Sam Walker pilots his 18th successful goal kick on the bounce. Roosters 6-0.

Late Mail

Dolphins: Mark Nicholls and Connelly Lemuelu have been moved to the bench an hour before kick-off with Aublix Tawha and Kulikefu Finefuiaki starting the game. Young gun Tevita Naufahu comes into the centres after Herbie Farnworth was struck down with a hamstring injury while Finefuiaki returns from a thumb injury that has kept him sidelined since Round 19. Trai Fuller is 18th man.

Roosters: Victor Radley and Connor Watson will again come off the bench as they did last week against Manly. Benaiah Ioelu starts at hooker, Spencer Leniu at prop and Naufahu Whyte goes to lock. 

Numbers Game

• The Dolphins have won five of their last seven games at Suncorp Stadium.
• The Roosters have scored 106 points in three consecutive wins against the Dolphins.
• Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 14 tries in his last seven games at Suncorp.
• Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored seven tries in his last six games.
• The Dolphins have scored over 40 points in five of their last eight games.

 

Dragons v Sharks at Jubilee Stadium

Klem turns back the clock: At 31 and in his 13th season in first grade, David Klemmer came up with 141 metres from 19 runs and 36 tackles as the Dragons forwards dominated the middle of the ruck. Jack de Belin (19 runs for 157 metres) and Luciano Leilua (19 runs for 132 metres) also stood tall as the Red V gave the Kogarah faithful an afternoon to remember.

Full-time: The Dragons have now taken down the Raiders and Sharks in consecutive weeks to play giant killers and keep alive a slim hope of playing finals. The Dragons completed 41 of 46 sets at 89 per cent and made just six errors compared to 15 by the Sharks.

79 min: More desperate attack from the Sharks and more scrambling defence from the Dragons who refuse to yield.

77 min: Sharks back-rower Briton Nikora is sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle.

77 min: The Sharks keep the ball alive through several sets of hands but the last pass from Sifa Talakai to Ronaldo Mulitalo goes over the sideline and the Dragons move one step closer to another upset win.

75 min: The Sharks come up with a lost ball through Braydon Trindall as they launch a raid to the right.

74 min: Blayke Brailey is clipped high by Tyrell Sloan after putting in a grubber from close range and the Sharks get a penalty.

68 min: Addin Fonua-Blake is penalised 20 metres out in front of the posts for not clearing the ruck and getting in the way of Jacob Liddle's pass out of dummy half. Kyle Flanagan lands the easy kick. Dragons 22-14.

66 min: A high tackle penalty against Emre Guler puts the Dragons under the pump inside the Red Zone and Will Kennedy slices through to score but Briton Nikora is pinged for obstruction on the inside to create the hole for Kennedy.

63 min: The Dragons lose their captain's challenge when the bunker backs the ref's call of a strip.

63 min: The Dragons throw in a captain's challenge against a Clint Gutherson knock on call. Replays are inconclusive so the Dragons keep their challenge but the Sharks get the scrum feed.

58 min: The Sharks throw in a captain's challenge against a lost ball call against Nicho Hynes and come up trumps. The bunker rules his hand came off the ball but it was pinned to his body.

52 min: A mistake by Billy Burns coming out of his own end hands the Dragons another set inside the Red Zone but Luciano Leilua dies with the ball on the last and the Sharks come away.

47 min: Hayden Buchanan's dream debut continues as he delivers the final pass for Clint Gutherson to score on the left edge. Kyle Flanagan pulls the conversion to the left to leave the margin at six. Dragons 20-14.

45 min: Clint Gutherson nudges the ball into the in goal and Will Kennedy scrambles it dead for a line dropout and another set for the Dragons.

Half-time: The Dragons completed 20 of 21 sets at 95 per cent and missed just nine tackles as they took the game right up to their more fancied rivals. Centre Moses Suli (131 metres from 12 runs) had a barnstorming first half but hobbled off at half-time with a knee injury and won't return.

37 min: The Dragons take the lead back when teenager Hayden Buchanan grabs a try on debut after a line break from Lyhkan King-Togia who finds Clint Gutherson and the skipper delivers the final pass to Buchanan. Dragons 16-14.

32 min: Luciano Leilua is penalised for running Will Kennedy off the ball as the Sharks fullback chases a grubber. The bunker rules penalty sufficient. Nicho Hynes knocks over the penalty goal. Sharks 14-12.

27 min: A penalty against Teig Wilton for ruck interference hands Kyle Flanagan an easy shot at goal and the Red V level up. 12-12.

24 min: Jack de Belin is placed on report for a cannonball tackle on Ronaldo Mulitalo.

21 min: Tyrell Sloan bags his 16th try of the season courtesy of a slick tip-on from centre Moses Suli, who has started the game in fine style. Kyle Flanagan pushes the conversion attempt wide. Sharks 12-10.

16 min: Teig Wilton is awarded a penalty try after he climbs high to bring down a bomb and Tyrell Sloan is ruled to have changed from competing for the ball to making a mid-air tackle, thus denying Wilton the chance to score. Sharks 12-6.

13 min: David Klemmer leaves the field for a HIA after Hamlin-Uele landed on top of him as he was plunging over to score. Klemmer passes and will be able to return.

11 min: The Sharks make the Dragons pay when Braden Hamlin-Uele takes a short ball from Nicho Hynes and powers over to score. Hynes converts. 6-6. 

10 min: The Sharks swing the ball to the left but aggressive defence by Moses Suli forces an error from Will Kennedy but Corey Allan hands it straight back with an error coming out of his own end.

5 min: The ideal start for the home side with Damien Cook nudging a grubber into the in goal for Emre Guler to follow through and grab his first try of the season. Kyle Flanagan converts. Dragons 6-0.

Pre-game ceremony: A unique start to the game with the NRLW and NRL players walking out together and linking arms on the field as the acknowledgment of country is delivered by Majeda Beatty.

Late Mail

Dragons: Michael Molo (ankle) has been ruled out so Hamish Stewart will start in the second row and Jacob Halangahu joins the bench for his NRL debut. Emerging centre Hayden Buchanan also makes his NRL debut after being elevated into the starting line-up in place of Mat Feagai when the squads were trimmed to 19 players on Friday.

Sharks: Hohepa Puru has been added to the bench an hour before kick-off in place of utility Daniel Atkinson as Craig Fitzgibbon opts for four forwards on the bench. Samoan international Braden Hamlin-Uele starts at prop in place of Oregon Kaufusi (calf), with Billy Burns coming onto the interchange after a late change on Friday afternoon. Toby Rudolf is on track to return from a concussion and is set to replace suspended forward Jesse Colquhoun on the bench. 

Numbers Game

• The Dragons have not defeated the Sharks at Jubilee Stadium since 2016.
• The Sharks have won their last 10 games against the Dragons.
• Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in his last five games.
• Sharks second-rower Teig Wilton will make his 100th NRL appearance.
• The Dragons have defeated three top-eight teams this season.