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It only took a couple of minutes for the first controversial incident of the new season to rear its head. In the week before
the Souths v Roosters game, there had been a considerable volume of trash-talking in the media with Souths
launching "The Book of Feuds" detailing their rivalries. And another chapter was written when former Rooster Craig
Wing, in his first game back in Rabbitohs colours, was already being held up by two Roosters opponents when
Rooster youngster Riley Brown charged in with a hit on Wing's shoulder that saw Wing play no further part in the game
and looks set to sideline him for the next few months.
The Roosters, buoyed by the hit, dominated proceedings on the park; and despite a late fightback by Souths putting
some respectability on the scoreboard, this was the be the Roosters' night, with Setaimata Sa and Anthony Tupou
completing doubles in the Roosters' 34-20 win.
Sydney Roosters 34 d South Sydney 20
Tries : Roosters - S Sa 2, A Tupou 2, S Kenny-Dowall, N Myles. Rabbitohs - N Merritt 2, Y Gordon, G Paulson.
Goals : Roosters - C Fitzgibbon 5/6. Rabbitohs - I Luke 2/4.
Referee - T Archer. Crowd - 29,386 at ANZ Stadium.
Gold Coast opened their new stadium at Robina, with the Titans celebrating in style in front of a full house with an
easy 36-18 victory. Debutant Jordan Atkins was the star, setting a new record with 4 tries in his first NRL game.
Revelling in the atmosphere created by the occasion, the Titans maintained the pressure throughout the night; and
despite a double by Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys were never allowed into the contest.
Gold Coast 36 d North Queensland 18
Tries : Titans - J atkins 4, L Bailey, A Laffranchi. Cowboys - J Thurston 2, B Harris.
Goals : Titans - S Prince 6/8. Cowboys - J Thurston 3/3.
Referee - S Hayne. Crowd - 26,974 at Skilled Park, Robina.
Parramatta and the Bulldogs both went into their opening round clash as clubs under seige. The Bulldogs had been
through a tumultous off-season of internal bickering that saw forward Willie Mason walk out on the club and the
dismissal of CEO Malcolm Noad after a bitter board election. The Eels had also been through troubles, forced to
stand down half-back Jarryd Hayne from the game after another drunken off-field incident. Once the match started it
was the Bulldogs who took the initiative, racing to a 20-0 lead within half an hour of the start. But after the break the
Eels had a dramatic turnaround in their form, working their way back into the contest to hit the lead late in the match
and take a 28-20 win, the biggest lead ever surrendered by the Bulldogs.
Parramatta 28 d Bulldogs 20
Tries : Eels - J Reddy 2, F Mateo 2, E Grothe. Bulldogs - H El-Mazri, W Tonga, L Te Maari.
Goals : Eels - L Burt 4/5. Bulldogs - H El-Mazri 4/4.
Referee - J Robinson. Crowd - 25,065 at ANZ Stadium.
Brookvale Oval was the scene of the NRL's first major upset for 2008. Few tipsters gave the Sharks much chance of
toppling the 2007 runners up at their Brookvale fortress. An early hit that saw Ben Ross stretchered off spurred the
Sharks into action, tightening their defence and locking Manly out. The Sea Eagles struggled to create opportunities
without Michael Monaghan at hooker, while the Sharks, despite having a minority of possession, were able to make
better uses of the chances they did have. A controversial video referee decision to disallow a late Manly try to Brett
Stewart ended the home side's hopes of stealing the victory, but the determined Sharks deserved their victory; one that
throws the 2008 season wide open.
Cronulla 16 d Manly-Warringah 10
Tries : Sharks - B Kearney, B Goodwin. Sea Eagles - A Watmough, M Bani.
Goals : Sharks - L Covell 4/5. Sea Eagles - M Orford 1/2.
Referee - J Maxwell. Crowd - 15,424 at Brookvale Oval.
the Souths v Roosters game, there had been a considerable volume of trash-talking in the media with Souths
launching "The Book of Feuds" detailing their rivalries. And another chapter was written when former Rooster Craig
Wing, in his first game back in Rabbitohs colours, was already being held up by two Roosters opponents when
Rooster youngster Riley Brown charged in with a hit on Wing's shoulder that saw Wing play no further part in the game
and looks set to sideline him for the next few months.
The Roosters, buoyed by the hit, dominated proceedings on the park; and despite a late fightback by Souths putting
some respectability on the scoreboard, this was the be the Roosters' night, with Setaimata Sa and Anthony Tupou
completing doubles in the Roosters' 34-20 win.
Sydney Roosters 34 d South Sydney 20
Tries : Roosters - S Sa 2, A Tupou 2, S Kenny-Dowall, N Myles. Rabbitohs - N Merritt 2, Y Gordon, G Paulson.
Goals : Roosters - C Fitzgibbon 5/6. Rabbitohs - I Luke 2/4.
Referee - T Archer. Crowd - 29,386 at ANZ Stadium.
Gold Coast opened their new stadium at Robina, with the Titans celebrating in style in front of a full house with an
easy 36-18 victory. Debutant Jordan Atkins was the star, setting a new record with 4 tries in his first NRL game.
Revelling in the atmosphere created by the occasion, the Titans maintained the pressure throughout the night; and
despite a double by Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys were never allowed into the contest.
Gold Coast 36 d North Queensland 18
Tries : Titans - J atkins 4, L Bailey, A Laffranchi. Cowboys - J Thurston 2, B Harris.
Goals : Titans - S Prince 6/8. Cowboys - J Thurston 3/3.
Referee - S Hayne. Crowd - 26,974 at Skilled Park, Robina.
Parramatta and the Bulldogs both went into their opening round clash as clubs under seige. The Bulldogs had been
through a tumultous off-season of internal bickering that saw forward Willie Mason walk out on the club and the
dismissal of CEO Malcolm Noad after a bitter board election. The Eels had also been through troubles, forced to
stand down half-back Jarryd Hayne from the game after another drunken off-field incident. Once the match started it
was the Bulldogs who took the initiative, racing to a 20-0 lead within half an hour of the start. But after the break the
Eels had a dramatic turnaround in their form, working their way back into the contest to hit the lead late in the match
and take a 28-20 win, the biggest lead ever surrendered by the Bulldogs.
Parramatta 28 d Bulldogs 20
Tries : Eels - J Reddy 2, F Mateo 2, E Grothe. Bulldogs - H El-Mazri, W Tonga, L Te Maari.
Goals : Eels - L Burt 4/5. Bulldogs - H El-Mazri 4/4.
Referee - J Robinson. Crowd - 25,065 at ANZ Stadium.
Brookvale Oval was the scene of the NRL's first major upset for 2008. Few tipsters gave the Sharks much chance of
toppling the 2007 runners up at their Brookvale fortress. An early hit that saw Ben Ross stretchered off spurred the
Sharks into action, tightening their defence and locking Manly out. The Sea Eagles struggled to create opportunities
without Michael Monaghan at hooker, while the Sharks, despite having a minority of possession, were able to make
better uses of the chances they did have. A controversial video referee decision to disallow a late Manly try to Brett
Stewart ended the home side's hopes of stealing the victory, but the determined Sharks deserved their victory; one that
throws the 2008 season wide open.
Cronulla 16 d Manly-Warringah 10
Tries : Sharks - B Kearney, B Goodwin. Sea Eagles - A Watmough, M Bani.
Goals : Sharks - L Covell 4/5. Sea Eagles - M Orford 1/2.
Referee - J Maxwell. Crowd - 15,424 at Brookvale Oval.
|
| ROUND 2 FIXTURES: (All times shown are Sydney time) Friday 21st March Sydney Roosters v Brisbane (Sydney Football Stadium, 7:30pm) South Sydney v Bulldogs (ANZ Stadium, 7:30pm) Saturday 22nd March Penrith v Canberra (CUA Stadium, 5:30pm) Newcastle v Manly (Energy Australia Stadium, 7:30pm) North Queensland v Wests Tigers (Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7:30pm) Sunday 23rd March New Zealand Warriors v Parramatta (Mt Smart Stadium, 2:00pm) Melbourne v Cronulla (Olympic Park, 3:00pm) Monday 24th March St George/Illawarra v Gold Coast (WIN Stadium, 7:00pm) |
After a disappointing 2007 season that saw Newcastle finish a lowly 15th, the Knights at least started their 2008
season with a 30-14 victory over Canberra in front of a home crowd that looked considerably smaller than the official
roll-up of 17,233. In a match that never reached any great heights or displayed any great intensity, the Knights ran
through 5 tries to 3 to ensure a comfortable first-up home win, and further shorten the Raiders' odds of a wooden
spoon in 2008.
Newcastle 30 d Canberra 14
Tries : Knights - K Gidley, W Naigama, C Vuna, D Buderus, D Wicks. Raiders - A Purtell 2, L Withers.
Goals : Knights - K Gidley 5/6. Raiders - T Carney 1/3.
Referee - T De Lasheras. Crowd - 17,233 at Energy Australia Stadium.
It was a hot Sunday afternoon in Brisbane, and the Broncos got their season off to a flying start when they turned up
the heat on a hapless Penrith side. Despite signing former Bronco Pedro Civoniceva, the Panthers were hopelessly
undermanned and lacked the firepower to match it with a red-hot Brisbane side intent of launching their 2008 season
in style. Darius Boyd was the standout, with a hat-trick and a glut of possession, while the boot of Corey Parker was
irrepressible with a perfect goalkicking record after 10 shots.
Brisbane 48 d Penrith 12
Tries : Broncos - D Boyd 3, J Hodges, C Parker, D Lockyer, G Eastwood. Panthers - N Smith, J Sammut.
Goals : Broncos - C Parker 10/10. Panthers - J Williams 2/2.
Referee - G Badger. Crowd - 31,250 at Suncorp Stadium.
The celebrations of the NRL's centenary didn't quite follow their original plan when cricket's priority meant the Wests
Tigers v St George-Illawarra match was forced to be moved from the SCG to the SFS. But the historical
commemorations went ahead at the more modern venue, with the Tigers wearing the old Wests Magpies strip for this
game. Again the rising injury toll raised its head, with the luckless Benji Marshall suffering a serious knee injury to be
sidelined indefinately; the latest in a series of misadventures for Marshall that has prevented him from replicating his
2005 heriocs. But the Tigers rallied to snatch the game out of St George-Illawarra's reach and get the amalgamation
between two foundation sides off to a perfect start.
Wests Tigers 24 d St George-Illawarra 16
Tries : Tigers C Lawrence, R Farah, L Fulton, T Moltzen. Dragons - M Gasnier, J Soward, K Reynoldson.
Goals : Tigers - B Hodgson 4/4. Dragons - J Soward 2/2, M Gasnier 0/1.
Referee - S Hampstead. Crowd - 18,211 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Reigning premiers Melbourne unfurled their premiership flag in style with an easy 32-18 win over New Zealand
Warriors at Telstra Dome on Monday night. A hat-trick from Billy Slater provided the spark for the Storm, who were
never threatened by a Warriors side without the speed to worry Melbourne tearaways Slater and Israel Folou. A length
of the field run from Dallas Johnson sealed an impressive first-up win for the Storm, and despite a double from Manu
Vatuvei the Warriors never looked likely to work their way back into the game.
Melbourne 32 d New Zealand 18
Tries : Storm - B Slater 3, D Johnson, S Tagataese. Warriors - M Vatuvei 2, J Ropati.
Goals : Storm - C Smith 5/6, S Turner 1/1. Warriors - M Witt 3/3.
Referee - B Cummins. Crowd - 20,084 at Telstra Dome.
season with a 30-14 victory over Canberra in front of a home crowd that looked considerably smaller than the official
roll-up of 17,233. In a match that never reached any great heights or displayed any great intensity, the Knights ran
through 5 tries to 3 to ensure a comfortable first-up home win, and further shorten the Raiders' odds of a wooden
spoon in 2008.
Newcastle 30 d Canberra 14
Tries : Knights - K Gidley, W Naigama, C Vuna, D Buderus, D Wicks. Raiders - A Purtell 2, L Withers.
Goals : Knights - K Gidley 5/6. Raiders - T Carney 1/3.
Referee - T De Lasheras. Crowd - 17,233 at Energy Australia Stadium.
It was a hot Sunday afternoon in Brisbane, and the Broncos got their season off to a flying start when they turned up
the heat on a hapless Penrith side. Despite signing former Bronco Pedro Civoniceva, the Panthers were hopelessly
undermanned and lacked the firepower to match it with a red-hot Brisbane side intent of launching their 2008 season
in style. Darius Boyd was the standout, with a hat-trick and a glut of possession, while the boot of Corey Parker was
irrepressible with a perfect goalkicking record after 10 shots.
Brisbane 48 d Penrith 12
Tries : Broncos - D Boyd 3, J Hodges, C Parker, D Lockyer, G Eastwood. Panthers - N Smith, J Sammut.
Goals : Broncos - C Parker 10/10. Panthers - J Williams 2/2.
Referee - G Badger. Crowd - 31,250 at Suncorp Stadium.
The celebrations of the NRL's centenary didn't quite follow their original plan when cricket's priority meant the Wests
Tigers v St George-Illawarra match was forced to be moved from the SCG to the SFS. But the historical
commemorations went ahead at the more modern venue, with the Tigers wearing the old Wests Magpies strip for this
game. Again the rising injury toll raised its head, with the luckless Benji Marshall suffering a serious knee injury to be
sidelined indefinately; the latest in a series of misadventures for Marshall that has prevented him from replicating his
2005 heriocs. But the Tigers rallied to snatch the game out of St George-Illawarra's reach and get the amalgamation
between two foundation sides off to a perfect start.
Wests Tigers 24 d St George-Illawarra 16
Tries : Tigers C Lawrence, R Farah, L Fulton, T Moltzen. Dragons - M Gasnier, J Soward, K Reynoldson.
Goals : Tigers - B Hodgson 4/4. Dragons - J Soward 2/2, M Gasnier 0/1.
Referee - S Hampstead. Crowd - 18,211 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Reigning premiers Melbourne unfurled their premiership flag in style with an easy 32-18 win over New Zealand
Warriors at Telstra Dome on Monday night. A hat-trick from Billy Slater provided the spark for the Storm, who were
never threatened by a Warriors side without the speed to worry Melbourne tearaways Slater and Israel Folou. A length
of the field run from Dallas Johnson sealed an impressive first-up win for the Storm, and despite a double from Manu
Vatuvei the Warriors never looked likely to work their way back into the game.
Melbourne 32 d New Zealand 18
Tries : Storm - B Slater 3, D Johnson, S Tagataese. Warriors - M Vatuvei 2, J Ropati.
Goals : Storm - C Smith 5/6, S Turner 1/1. Warriors - M Witt 3/3.
Referee - B Cummins. Crowd - 20,084 at Telstra Dome.
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