NRL Match Review & Judiciary Charges: 2024 Round 8
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Toyota Cup Wrap: Round 8
It was back to high scoring clashes this week, with six games ending
blowouts and creating a larger gulf between the top and bottom teams in
the competition.
Cronulla 46 South Sydney 16
While their first grade might be floundering, the Toyota Cup Sharks are right in the hunt. They bounced back from a loss last week, to thump the runners up from last year, South Sydney. Stewart Mills bagging a hat-trick and maybe being the answers to Cronullas backline woes.
Cronulla Sharks 46 (Mills 3, Pickerd 2, Peach 2 and Townsend tries; Townsend 7/9 goals) defeated South Sydney 16 (Phillips, Sisifa, Phillips tries; Koroisau 2/2, Vale 0/1 goals)
Canterbury Bankstown 24 Brisbane 6
Canterbury kept their position entrenched in the top eight of the Toyota Cup, with a clinical display over in the hostile environment of Suncorp Stadium. Tim Lafai will keep the first grade centres on their toes, with another try in Friday's game.
Canterbury Bankstown 24 (Finucane, Lafai, Finn and O'Malley tries; Taotua 2/2, Sezer 2/2 goals) defeated Brisbane Broncos 6 (Baptiste try; Frei Goal)
Sydney 30 Gold Coast 10
Roosters u20s coach, Jason Taylor can breathe a sigh of relief after a winless month, his Roosters outfit disposed of a helpless Titans outfit who are propping up the table at the moment. Chris Taripo might get a run soon, with first grade's hopeless form, after a brace on Saturday, Matt Srama is framing to be Nathan Friend's replacement, with a impressive display in a well beaten side.
Sydney Roosters 30 (Taripo 2, Jacks, Blair, Allen and Eshman tries; Taripo 3/6 goals) defeated Gold Coast Titans 10 (Carney, Srama tries; Rankin 1/1, McGrady 0/1 goals)
Melbourne 46 Newcastle 12
AAMI Park is quickly becoming a fortress for Melbourne's u20s, they recorded their sixth straight home win, with a 34 point demolition over Newcastle. Doubles to Loxley and Fonua were highlights of the romp, further pushed by an impressive goal kicking display from Matt McGahan, only missing one conversion.
Melbourne Storm 46 (Loxley 2, Fonua 2, Tonumaipea, Bromwich, Pooley, Leiataua tries; McGahan 7/8 goals) defeated Newcastle 12 (Mata'utia, Geoffrey tries; Smith 2/2 goals)
North Queensland 38 Manly 10
The long trip to Townsville wasn't happy for either grade for Manly, with their u20s being thrashed by the Cowboys, who had seven different try-scorers in a romp that gives the home side their fifth consecutive home win. North Queensland have shown with the successful transition of several u20s stars, they will have a few more out of the current crop including Moses Pangai.
North Queensland Cowboys 38 (Elisala, Santo, Grevsmuhl, Haywood, Norford, Pangai, Taumalolo tries; Feldt 5/7 goals) defeated Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 10 (Burrell, Bovis tries; Falaniko 1/1, Drinkwater 0/1 goals)
New Zealand 56 Penrith 26
It's going to take a huge effort to wrest the premiership away from across the ditch, New Zealand have disposed of another team, with ease. They crossed the whitewash ten times, with winger Omar Slaimankhel, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Carlos Tuimavave bagging doubles with Dylan Collier taking a personal haul of 20 points (1 try, 8 goals).
New Zealand Warriors 56 (Slaimankhel 2, Taukeiaho 2, Tuimavave 2, Collier, Malu, Havili, Feki tries; Collier 8/10 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 26 (Grace, Pelasio, Eisenhuth, Austin, Gregory tries; Siejka 3/5 goals)
Wests 37 Canberra 31
After scoring two tries each in a tense first half, the Tigers u20s would run away with the contest, with three tries in a ten minute period between the 50th and 60th minute. Before, there was a late Canberra fightback brought some tense moments before a last minute try to Jay Bonnell sealed it for the Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers 37 (Sue 2, Bonnell 2, Spence, Fotuaika tries; Miller 5/6 goals; Miller 1/1 Field Goal) defeated Canberra Raiders 31 (Scott 2, Massey, Williams, McIlwrick tries; Massey 5/5 goals; Williams 1/1 Field Goal)
St George 24 Parramatta 10
St George Illawarra have weathered a late second half storm, to record their third win in the 2011 Toyota Cup season, with four tries within the first 30 minutes sealing it for the Dragons. Second rower, Jack De Belin was impressive and may get a run in first grade during the representative season.
St George Illawarra Dragons 24 (Green, Boyle, Russell, McKinnon, Clune tries; Clune 2/5 goals) defeated Parramatta Eels 10 (Ulugia, Barba tries; Whebe 1/2 goals)
Toyota Cup Premiership Ladder After 8 Rounds
Melbourne 14, New Zealand 12, North Queensland 12, Cronulla 12, Canterbury 10, Brisbane 10, Canberra 10, Wests 8, Sydney 7, St George 7, Parramatta 6, Newcastle 6, Penrith 6, South Sydney 5, Manly 2 and Gold Coast 1.