3 minute read
Melbourne wrapped up the minor premiership with a 48-6 win over the Dolphins as round 25 produced a stunning comeback win by Wests Tigers over Manly.
HOW ROUND 25 OF THE NRL PLAYED OUT:
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "That's our worst performance of the season." - Wayne Bennett after the Dolphins fell apart to lose 48-6 to Melbourne.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Gold Coast have had a wretched year but winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira is on track for the Ken Irvine Medal for most tries in the season. The Titans flyer scored a hat-trick in the 48-22 loss to Sydney Roosters to take his season tally to 23, four clear of his nearest rival in Roosters flyer Dominic Young.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Wests Tigers' effort to come back down from 16-0 down against top-four hopefuls Manly and win 34-26 at Leichhardt. It was filled with controversy, but it has given the joint-venture a chance of avoiding a third straight wooden spoon.
* TALKING POINT: Is the NRL lost on sin-bins for high tackles? As an example: Stephen Crichton wasn't sin-binned for a shoulder to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's head on Friday night, but faces a grade-two charge. Haumole Olakau'atu was sin-binned in Manly's loss, but was hit with a grade-one charge.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Storm half Jahrome Hughes was magnificent in the 48-6 thrashing of the Dolphins. He ran for 189m, scored a try, had two try assists and two line breaks. His kicking game was also masterful.
* CASUALTY WARD: Knights - Kai Pearce-Paul; Warriors - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion), Adam Pompey (knee); Bulldogs - Kurt Mann (collarbone); Tigers - Aidan Sezer (shoulder). Roosters - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (shoulder)
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Sea Eagles - Corey Waddell; Rabbitohs - Cameron Murray (high tackle); Roosters - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (high tackle), Victor Radley (high tackle), Spencer Leniu (shoulder charge), Daniel Tupou (dangerous contact), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (high tackle). Titans - Jaiman Jolliffe (dangerous contact)
* UNDER PRESSURE: Penrith. There is now a very real possibility that the three-time defending premiers could be forced to head to Melbourne in the first week of the finals after their shock loss to Canberra. They looked a different side without Nathan Cleary on Saturday.
