Didn’t catch the NRL on Saturday night? Well here to review the games in the quickest possible time is our collection of one minute Match Reviews for Round 3 NRL Super Saturday.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN 32 d GOLD COAST 0
Canterbury has destroyed the Titans at Belmore. After two losses to start the season, the Bulldogs made the most of a winnable game, running in six tries (Jacob Preston, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Jacob Kiraz, Connor Tracey, Blake Taaffe) to nil.
The Titans sensationally bombed a try in the opening minutes – and it was downhill from there.
It sets up a blockbuster Good Friday clash for Canterbury against the struggling South Sydney next week.
NORTH QUEENSLAND 46 d ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 24
North Queensland has belted the Dragons at Kogarah Oval. The Dragons rushed to an 18-4 lead (tries to Zac Lomax, Tyrell Sloan, Kyle Flanagan), but that was as good as it got for the Red V.
The Cowboys scored 42 straight points in 40 minutes: tries to Murray Taulagi, Sam McIntyre, Griffin Neame, Scott Drinkwater, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes, and Chad Townsend. Holmes also kicked seven goals to pass 1,000 career points.
Lomax scored his second try with 10 minutes left (and kicked four goals), but it was far too late.
WESTS TIGERS 32 d CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND 6
The Tigers have opened their account for 2024, beating Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval.
While Thomas Hazelton scored the opening try for the Sharks, the Tigers dominated from there, building on a 18-6 half-time lead.
Jahream Bula scored a double while Apisai Koroisau kicked six goals. It was Benji Marshall’s first win as a stand-alone NRL coach.
Match Summary above courtesy of Not Six Again – NRL Fanatics & Banter. For more NRL Banter and Views please follow the link below.
FINAL THOUGHTS
- After the Friday and Saturday games it appears the battle for the wooden spoon might be more open that it has been for years. Titans look favourites for now but other teams are putting up their hands. Dragons haven’t done well since flogging the Titans in Round 1. South Sydney are looking like they want a piece of the pie too. Previous front runners for the lower reaches Bulldogs and Wests Tigers, had good wins, so look like they are on the improve. So if the top of the table gets boring the bottom might be where the action is. But the Titans look especially awful. And so do Souths.
- Great to see the Wests Tigers winning at a rocking Leichhardt. Suburban rugby league kicks arse, and who wouldn’t begrudge the Wests Tigers and Benji Marshall some success. It will at least get the Fox League writers off their back for a while. Or at least a week.
- The Cowboys have started off the season with a 3-0 record, so looks like they are on track to steal back a final slot. But at the expense of who?
Courtesy of nrl.com
BULLDOGS v TITANS
- It was the ninth time the Titans have been kept scoreless. Three times on a Saturday with 5-4 split for away games overall.
- That’s the seventh time since 1998 that the Bulldogs have kept a side to nil. The first time since they beat the Tigers 38-0 at Redcliffe in 2021.
- The Bulldogs win was the first time since they returned to Belmore in 2015 that they have beaten a Queensland team at the ground.
- The Titans have lost their last seven games on a Saturday.
- The Titans continue to have the worst record on a Saturday in the NRL.
- The Titans 1,239 run metres is the second lowest total so far this season. Beaten only by the Bulldogs in Round 1.
DRAGONS v COWBOYS
- Dragons are W12 L8 at Kogarah on a Saturday v all opposition.
- Dragons have lost their last four home games on a Saturday.
- Dragons loss ended a four game winning streak against Queensland sides.
- Valentine Holmes almost ended up with a Full House (no, not that one) of attacking stats. Topping Run Metres, Post Contact Metres, Tackle Breaks and Line Breaks. Sadly he fell short with “only” 1 Line Break Assist and 1 Try Assist.
TIGERS v SHARKS
- Wests Tigers record at Leichhardt Oval in the NRL era it is W52 L42. On a Saturday it is W13 L11. Against Sydney opposition it is W23 L22. Against Cronulla it is W4 L1 on a Saturday and W6 L4 on any day.
- That’s two wins in a row now at home on a Saturday for the Wests Tigers.
- Justin Olam is back.
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