NRL wrap - ROUND 25

NRL wrap - ROUND 25

With only one round to go before the finals, the NRL top eight is still undecided as Parramatta make a late charge for eighth spot. The Eels are still in a with show after narrowly defeating the Broncos in Brisbane. Parra will now be relying on Saints to stage an upset at the same venue next weekend.

Meanwhile, the Dragons' season came to abrupt end after being smashed by the Knights at Kogarah. Saints were no match for the Newcastle pack and looked like a team begging to be put out of their misery.

Other matches saw a victory to the Sharks over Souths in a high scoring affair while the mighty Panthers came back to notch up a half century against the Sea Eagles. Meanwhile, the Cowboys continued to show some end-of-season form with a fine victory over an ordinary looking Tigers outfit.

And finally, the Warriors showed that they're still with us following a narrow win over the Roosters. The defending premiers held a four point lead before the Warriors crashed through for the winning try just before the bell, sending a signal to the competition front-runners that the Kiwis may just go one better in 2003.

Next week (round 26, 5-7 September): Broncos v Dragons at Lang Park Warriors v Westie Tigers at Ericsson Sharks v Bulldogs at Toyota Storm v Manly in Melbourne Raiders v Roosters in Canberra* Panthers v Eels in Penrith Knights v Cowboys in Newcastle Souths: Bye *Mondays Expert match of the round

Round 25 results at a glance home team listed first

Scorers: BULLDOGS 16 Tries: O'Meley, Reardon Goals: El Masri 4/4 defeated by RAIDERS 21 Tries: McLinden 2, J Monaghan, Lolesi Goals: Schifcofske 2/4, Schifcofske F/G Friday 29 August 2003 7:30 PM Sydney Showground Referee: Bill Harrigan Video Referee: Graeme West Crowd: 20,016 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - R Wiki (Raiders) 2 - M McLinden (Raiders) 1 - W Mason (Bulldogs)

BRONCOS 14 Tries: McGuire 2, Frawley Goals: De Vere (1/3) defeated by EELS 16 Tries: Moodie 2, Hindmarsh Goals: Witt (2/4), Dykes (1/1) Saturday 30 August 2003 5:30 PM Suncorp Stadium Referee: Sean Hampstead Video Referee: Eddie Ward Crowd: 26,340 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - A Dykes (Eels) 2 - N Cayless (Eels) 1 - S Webcke (Broncos)

RABBITOHS 34 Tries: Watts 2, Caine 2, MacDougall, Kativerata, Goals: Smith 5/6 defeated by SHARKS 54 Tries: Isemonger 3,Bird 2, Nutley, Beattie, Anderson, Reick, Gallen Goals: Anderson 7/10 Saturday 30 August 2003 7:30 PM Aussie Stadium Referee: Tony Archer Video Referee: Stephen Clark Crowd: 8,839 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - S Isemonger (Sharks) 2 - J Anderson (Sharks) 1 - J Smith (Rabbitohs)

SEA EAGLES 26 Tries: Torrens 2, Shipway, MacDougall, Randall Goals: Harris 3/4,Ferris 0/2 defeated by PANTHERS 52 Tries:Campbell 2, Lewis 2, Priddis, Galea, Puletua, Sattler, Wesser, Goals:Campbell 6/7, Girdler 2/2 Saturday 30 August 2003 7:30 PM Brookvale Oval Referee: Steve Lyons Video Referee: Chris Ward Crowd: Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - P Campbell (Panthers) 2 - C Gower (Panthers) 1 - T Puletua (Panthers)

ROOSTERS 24 Tries: Walker 2, Hegarty, Cross, Wing Goals: Walker 2/5, Fittler 0/1 defeated by WARRIORS 26 Tries: Meli 2, Toopi, Villasanti Goals: Webb 5/7 Sunday 31 August 2003 2:30 PM Aussie Stadium Referee: Tim Mander Video Referee: Bill Harrigan Crowd: 18,726 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - C Toopi (Warriors) 2 - A Guttenbeil (Warriors) 1 - F Meli (Warriors)

WESTS TIGERS 14 Tries: Miles, Wilson, O'Halloran Goals: Colliss 1/3 defeated by COWBOYS 34 Tries: Williams 3, Sing 2, Hannay, Muckert Goals: Hannay 3/7 Sunday 31 August 2003 3:00 PM Campbelltown Stadium Referee: Paul Simpkins/Jason Robinson Video Referee: Mick Lewis Crowd: 6,158 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - T Williams (Cowboys) 2 - M Sing (Cowboys) 1 - G Morrison (Cowboys)

DRAGONS 8 Tries: Creagh Goals: Riddell 1/1, Firman 1/2 defeated KNIGHTS 42 Tries: Tahu 3, MacDougall, K.Gidley, Buderus, O'Davis Goals: Abraham 6/7, K.Gidley 1/1 Sunday 31 August 2003 3:00 PM Kogarah Jubilee Oval Referee: Stephen Clark Video Referee: Phil Cooley Crowd: 10,978 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - K Gidley (Knights) 2 - T Tahu (Knights) 1 - A MacDougall (Knights)

Leagueunlimited.com Player of the Year Awards Round 25 Tally update: 27 points: M Orford (Storm) 24 points: P Campbell (Panthers) 21 points: D Lockyer (Broncos) 20 points: L Bailey (Dragons), C Gower (Panthers), B Sherwin (Bulldogs) 19 points: A Johns (Knights) 18 points: A Minichiello (Roosters), L Priddis (Panthers) 17 points: B Firman (Dragons), B Slater (Storm) 16 points: C Schicofske (Raiders) 14 points: C Wing (Roosters) 13 points: C Fitzgibbon (Roosters), S Price (Bulldogs) 12 points: B Fittler (Roosters), T Hill (Tigers), B Kimmorley (Sharks), J Morris (Eels), G Morrison (Cowboys), M Sing (Cowboys), J Smith (Rabbitohs) 11 points: M Bowen (Cowboys), F Meli (Warriors), J Monaghan (Raiders), R Wiki (Raiders) 10 points: D Buderus (Knights), M Crocker (Roosters), B Drew (Raiders), H El Masri (Bulldogs), M Geyer (Storm), S Jones (Warriors), M McLinden (Raiders), PJ Marsh (Warriors), D Nutley (Sharks), L Withers (Tigers) 9 points: N Hindmarsh (Eels), L Hohaia (Warriors), R Kearns (Storm), B Walker (Sea Eagles), R Wesser (Panthers) 8 points: K Campion (Cowboys), J Ferris (Sea Eagles), J Lyon (Eels), W Mason (Bulldogs), D Senter (Tigers), G Tallis (Broncos), L Thompson (Dragons), S Webcke (Broncos) 7 points: P Bailey (Sharks), S Berrigan (Broncos), B Finch (Roosters), B Fletcher (Rabbitohs), A Guttenbeil (Warriors), B Harris (Bulldogs), S Kearney (Storm), D Peachey (Sharks), P Rauhihi (Cowboys), S Timmins (Dragons), N Vagana (Bulldogs), M Witt (Eels) 6 points: T Carroll (Broncos), S Faumuina (Warriors), K Gidley (Knights), J Hannay (Cowboys), B Kennedy (Knights), M O'Meley (Bulldogs), D Myles (Cowboys), C Pearson (Wests Tigers), J Skandalis (Tigers), T Tahu (Knights), A Watmough (Sea Eagles), B Webb (Warriors) 5 points: D Abraham (Knights), O Craigie (Rabbitohs), M Gidley (Knights), C Toopi (Warriors), M O'Neill (Tigers), J Perry (Knights), T Puletua (Panthers), C Randall (Sea Eagles), M Riddell (Dragons), J Seu Seu (Warriors), C Smith (Storm), P Stringer (Rabbitohs), L Swann (Warriors), S Woolford (Raiders) 4 points: N Blacklock (Dragons), T Byrne (Roosters), N Cayless (Eels), S Donald (Sea Eagles), J Galuvao (Panthers), M Gasnier (Dragons), B Hodgson (Eels), A MacDougall (Knights), L McWilliams (Cowboys), S Sattler (Panthers), B Tate (Broncos), M Utai (Bulldogs), P Whatuira (Panthers), T Williams (Cowboys) 3 points: B Anasta (Bulldogs), S Bell (Storm), L Covell (Tigers), L Davico (Raiders), M De Vere (Broncos), A Dykes (Eels), C Flannery (Roosters), P Graham (Raiders), S Isemonger (Sharks), A Lauiti'iti (Warriors), L Lewis (Panthers), J Lowe (Cowboys), M McClinden (Raiders), S Menzies (Sea Eagles), A Morley (Roosters), R O'Hara (Raiders), L Rooney (Panthers), M Sullivan (Sharks) 2 points: J Anderson (Sharks), D Byrne (Dragons), D Carlaw (Broncos), J Caine (Wests Tigers), L Dorn (Sea Eagles), J Feeney (Bulldogs), B Galea (Tigers), A Graham (Eels), T Grimaldi (Bulldogs), D Heckenberg (Eels), C Heighnington (Tigers), S Hill (Storm), L Hopkins (Eels), M Hughes (Knights), A Laffranchi (Tigers), J Lolesi (Raiders), N Merritt (Rabbitohs), A Mogg (Raiders), R O'Hara (Raiders), M Parsons (Knights), B Reeves (Sea Eagles), L Ricketson (Roosters), S Rudder (Knights), J Ryles (Dragons), M Sargent (Storm), S Tadulala (Storm), D Wagon (Eels), L Williamson (Eagles) 1 point: T Barrett (Dragons), C Beattie (Sharks), J Bulgarelli (Raiders), J Carlaw (Warriors), P Civoniceva (Broncos), M Creary (Sea Eagles), J Croker (Raiders), J Death (Rabbitohs), S Dunley (Eels), H Fa'afili (Warriors), P Gallen (Sharks), R Girdler (Panthers), E Grothe (Roosters), A Hart (Rabbitohs), J Hodges (Roosters), S Kelly (Broncos), D Kidwell (Storm), L MacDougall (Rabbitohs), R Mears (Tigers), R O'Davis (Knights), C Parker (Broncos), M Peterson (Eels), A Quinn (Knights), C Sheppard (Cowboys), T Smith (Raiders), R Swain (Broncos), J Thurston (Bulldogs), C Webb (Broncos), D Widders (Eels), A Woolnough (Knights)