Super Saturday: Titans v Wests Tigers; Panthers snare seventh; Bulldogs v Sharks

14 min: A memorable moment for debutant Heamasi Makasini who finishes off a slick left side raid from the Tigers that featured Samuela Fainu and Jarome Luai. The conversion from Api Koroisau hits the upright. Tigers 10-0.

13 min: Keano Kini crouches low to catch a kick and is hit immediately by Samuela Fainu in a crunching tackle that forces the ball loose.

11 min: Some slick attack from the Titans which breaks down on the final play when AJ Brimson's chip kick is cleaned up easily by Sunia Turuva.

8 min: Jarome Luai goes to the air and Jahream Bula comes up with a spectacular leap to outjump Keano Kini and cruise in for the game's opening try. Api Koroisau converts. Tigers 6-0. 

7 min: Kieran Foran looks to play short to Tino Fa'asuamaleaui but the pass is high and goes to ground off Tino's shoulder.

5 min: The Tigers are forced into a short dropout which is contested by several players and the visitors are deemed to have knocked on so the Titans reload.

3 min: Latu Fainu is penalised for a lifting tackle on Beau Fermor and the Titans go on the attack early.

Late Mail

Titans: One late change for the Titans with Klese Haas coming into the starting side at lock and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui shifting to prop. Reagan Campbell-Gillard moves to the interchange. Tony Francis is the 18th man. Phil Sami has failed to overcome a groin injury and was replaced on Friday by Jaylan De Groot. Former Wallaby Carter Gordon and teenager Cooper Bai will make their NRL debuts in Des Hasler's final game as Titans coach. 

Wests Tigers: One change for the Tigers as well, with Alex Seyfarth to start at prop and Fonua Pole moving to the interchange. Tristan Hope is the 18th man. Winger Jeral Skelton (concussion) is replaced by 18-year-old debutant Heamasi Makasini, a rugby union sensation at Newington College who was the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year. Bench forward Alex Seyfarth's return from suspension pushes Charlie Murray to the reserves. 

Numbers Game

• The Titans have won five of their past seven games against the Tigers.
• Wests Tigers have not defeated the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium since 2017.
• The Titans have conceded 122 points in their past three games.
• Wests Tigers can claim their 10th win of the season for the first time in six years.

 

Dragons v Panthers at WIN Stadium

Full-time: The Panthers rack up win No.13 for the season to lock up seventh spot - a remarkable achievement given they were last on the ladder after 12 rounds. Nathan Cleary starred with four line break assists, two try assists, 131 run metres and 16 points. Wingers Thomas Jenkins and Paul Alamoti combined for 362 run metres and three tries.

79 min: The Panthers ice the win with Paul Alamoti crossing after slick hands on the inside from Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Daine Laurie and Izack Tago. Panthers 40-20.

76 min: Jaydn Su'A comes up with a neat grubber which is regathered by Tyrell Sloan who unloads back inside to Su'A who races away to score a consolation try. Kyle Flanagan converts. Panthers 34-20.

74 min: Jack de Belin is placed on report for dangerous contact.

72 min: Luke Garner breaks the line and puts boot to ball with a chip which Brad Schneider can't quite regather and knocks the ball on.

68 min: Dylan Edwards is given an early mark by Ivan Cleary with 20 runs and 219 metres to his name.

67 min: Another try assist for Nathan Cleary as he delivers a perfect pass for Lindsay Smith to crash over from close range. The halfback converts. Panthers 34-14.

65 min: Clint Gutherson is penalised for dissent to hand the Panthers a full set from close range.

61 min: Scott Sorensen is dragged down just short and plays the ball quickly for Casey McLean to jump into dummy half and find a rampaging Isaiah Papalii for a try to give the Panthers breathing space. Nathan Cleary converts. Panthers 28-14.

56 min: A mistake by Dylan Edwards in the play-the-ball offers the Red V another shot at points but the attacking set is poor and they come up empty when Jaydn Su'A is shut down on the last.

54 min: On the back of a one-on-one steal by Jacob Liddle the Dragons sweep the ball to the right and Clint Gutherson produces a clever flick pass to Tyrell Sloan who crosses for his 17th try of the season. Kyle Flanagan comes up with another poor attempt at conversion to leave the margin at eight. Panthers 22-14.

51 min: Jacob Liddle tries to burrow over from dummy half but the Panthers get down low and deny him and the ball comes loose.

50 min: Brad Schneider is penalised for ruck interference, the Panthers challenge and come up empty. Both sides have now lost their captain's challenge.

48 min: Kyle Flanagan and Clint Gutherson combine to create space for Corey Allan who produces an acrobatic finish to slam it down in the corner and the Dragons strike first with the breeze at their backs. Flanagan pulls the conversion way left. Panthers 22-10.

The Scenario: If the premiers can go on with the job in the second half they will leapfrog the Roosters into seventh spot on the ladder. That would set up a blockbuster elimination final against the Warriors in Auckland in week one of the finals. Should they drop their intensity and the Dragons spring an upset, Penrith will finish eighth and face the Sharks next week.

Half-time: The Panthers dominated possession (55 per cent to 45 per cent) and completed 17 of 21 sets to take control of the contest. Dylan Edwards ran for 109 metres and Paul Alamoti 102m while Nathan Cleary snared a try and came up with a try assist and two line break assists.

37 min: The Panthers assert their superiority with Luke Garner getting through a poor attempted tackle by Lykhan King-Togia before picking up Nathan Cleary back on the inside and the champion No.7 races away to score. Panthers 22-6.

33 min: Good hands on the inside from Isaiah Papalii, Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary create space for Casey McLean who puts Thomas Jenkins away down the left and the winger kicks back inside for McLean to regather and score. Cleary converts. Panthers 16-6.

29 min: Lyhkan King-Togia goes to the air and Dylan Edwards makes a confidence building catch to allow the Panthers to clear the danger zone.

26 min: Mat Feagai is penalised for not allowing Paul Alamoti a fair catch at a bomb. The Dragons throw in a captain's challenge but they are unsuccessful.

25 min: The Panthers keep the ball alive and Casey McLean launches himself with an acrobatic dive for the corner but Hayden Buchanan comes up with a good cover tackle and McLean's foot goes into touch.

22 min: Kyle Flanagan makes a meal of catching the kick-off and stumbles back over the dead ball line forcing a dropout.

20 min: Kyle Flanagan goes to the air, Dylan Edwards spills it, David Klemmer picks it up and finds Emre Guler who sends it to Flanagan who dummies his way through a hole and over for the Dragons' first try. The halfback converts. Panthers 10-6.

16 min: Nathan Cleary has started the game in style and he lays on a try for Paul Alamoti with a 20m pass that cuts out two players and gives the winger a saloon passage to the line. Cleary converts. Panthers 10-0.

14 min: Dylan Edwards finds half a break on kick return but the Dragons round him up and push him towards the sideline and he spills it.

13 min: Nathan Cleary puts in a chip close to the line and Luke Garner flies high to bring it down but the Dragons shut him down just short of the stripe.

9 min: Lindsay Smith is pinged for not being square at marker so the Dragons get their first real shot at points.

6 min: The Panthers strike first with Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean all handling to create space for Thomas Jenkins to cross in the left-hand corner. Cleary pushes the conversion wide. Panthers 4-0.

5 min: Nathan Cleary's bomb comes down right on the Dragons line and Tyrell Sloan is forced back in goal after taking the catch.

Late Mail

Dragons: The Dragons were forced into a last-minute change with Christian Tuipulotu suffering a hamstring strain in the warm-up and Corey Allan coming into the side. The Dragons have won three of their past four games at WIN Stadium. No changes in Friday's 24-hour update with Ben Murdoch-Masila the 18th man and Corey Allan also retained.

Panthers: Daine Laurie has been added to the bench an hour before kick-off with Matt Eisenhuth dropping out. Winger Brian To'o and back-rower Liam Martin will be given another week off after enduring a huge workload in 2025. Paul Alamoti holds his place on the wing. Mavrik Geyer is 18th man.

Numbers Game

• The Dragons have won three of their past four games at WIN Stadium.
• The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games against the Dragons.
• Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored seven tries in his last seven games.
• Panthers captain Nathan Cleary has scored six tries in his last six games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have beaten four of the current top eight teams this season.

 

Bulldogs v Sharks at Accor Stadium