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NRL News - July 2008

St George-Illawarra Dragons 30
Tries: Josh Morris 3, Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Jamie Soward
Goals: Jamie Soward 3
Defeated
Canterbury Bulldogs 0


At ANZ Stadium




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Broncos gun down Sharks

July 25th 2008 11:36
The Brisbane Broncos have all but sealed their semi-final position, grinding out a gutsy 18-12 victory over the Cronulla Sharks at a slippery Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Broncos three tries to two victory was built around a committed defensive attitude, with Brisbane’s forward pack rumbling their way to a hard fought win over a Sharks outfit missing the brilliance of lock Greg Bird.

Brisbane were made to work hard for the two competition points, with both David Stagg (concussion) and Peter Wallace (back) unable to complete the match.

An early penalty goal to Broncos hooker Michael Ennis gave the home side the early ascendency, with Brisbane unlucky not to extend that lead after cutting swathes through the Sharks outside defence inside the opening quarter.


It took until the half hour before the large Suncorp crowd witnessed the first try; Brisbane lock Greg Eastwood placing a precision cross-field chip over for an unmarked Denan Kemp to dive over wide out.

Ennis’s sideline conversion curled just inside the left hand goalpost, allowing the Broncos to go the sheds at half-time with a comfortable 8-0 advantage at the break.

After a dour opening to the second half, the Broncos moved further ahead courtesy of a Sam Thaiday barge over try, with Ennis’s third conversion handing the Broncos a handy 14-0 lead in the 59th minute.

Cronulla fullback Brett Kearney gave the visitors some hope when he finished off a tremendous Sharks raid to finally get the Sharks on the board, with Luke Covell’s conversion from close range making it game on at 14-6 in the 65th minute.

But Eastwood capped off a great game when he crossed for a deserved four-pointer eight minutes form full-time, the bulky backrower crashing over off a sublime Ennis pass for a seemingly unassailable 18-6 lead.

Young Cronulla backrower Grant Millington ensured a grandstand finish when he crossed for a late converted try late in proceedings, but the Broncos held on to cement their place in the NRL top five with a morale boosting victory.

Brisbane Broncos 18
Tries: Denan Kemp, Sam Thaiday, Greg Eastwood
Goals: Michael Ennis 3
Defeated
Cronulla Sharks 12

Tries: Brett Kearney, Grant Millington
Goals: Luke Covell 2

At Suncorp Stadium

Referee – Shayne Hayne

In tonight’s other game,

Parramatta kept their slim semi-final hopes alive with a hard fought 16-4 victory over a committed North Queensland Cowboys outfit at a soggy Parramatta Stadium tonight.

Parramatta Eels 16
Tries: Luke Burt, Tony Williams
Goals: Luke Burt 4
Defeated
North QLD Cowboys 4

Tries: John Williams
Goals:

At Parramatta Stadium

Click here to see the updated NRL Tables!

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NRL News Footy Tips - Round 20

July 25th 2008 04:11
I'M BACK!

Well after two weeks of continuous rain at the Universities Rugby League World Cup, I am finally back to offer my thoughts on the NRL's run home to the semi-finals. I would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to my mate Arnold who generously donated his time to keeping this blog up to date in my absence - much appreciated!

Round 20 of the NRL - where has the season gone? It's going to be a tense but exciting run home to the semis, with up to 13 teams still alive for the 2008 NRL crown. By my reckoning, 5 teams ae definately through, with the Dragons, Titans, Panthers, Raiders, Tigers, Warriors, Knights and Eels left to fight it out for the remaining three positions. If I had to stick my neck out, I woudl say that the Dragons and Panthers should advance, with form to decide the eighth spot.

The 2008 NRL News Footy Tipping competition is far from being decided, with up to six tipsters still in the running to claim the '08 crown. Eastsideboy (91) has snatched a slight lead over the past few weeks, with igornadrog and t-roy69 only two points behind on 89. But Brizdaz (86), GIVE THE FAT A WHACK and PMell (both 85) are all within striking distance, so its still anyones crown to claim!

Which brings us to my Round 20 Tips -

Brisbane v Cronulla
A full strength Brisbane squad should have too much class for the third placed Sharks, especially given the successful return form injury of Lockyer, Wallace and Hodges. Too much strikepower for mine - Bronx by 6

Parramatta v North QLD
The Eels need a massive win here to not only restore their confidence, but also to help their ailing For and Against record. The Cowboys just have too many injuries, and are staring down the barrel of their 12th straight defeat here - Eels by 12

Canberra v Gold Coast
Despite being without bad boys Goodwin and Carney, the Raiders should have too much firepower for an injury riddled Titans side. You cannot knock the committment of the Titans, but they are just missing that individual brillaince of Prince and Bailey to get them over the line - Raiders by 8

Penrith v Wests
A tough match to pick, with both sides displaying inconsistent form of late. I might stick with the Pantehrs in a thriller, on the basis of having more fit troops at their disposal - Panthers by 6
New Zealand v Melbourne
Despite playing on their home ground, it is gard to see the inconsistent Warriors troubling the well oiled Storm machine - Storm by 10

Newcastle v South Sydney
I think the bubble has burst for the BUnnies, and with Buderus returning in front of a huge home crowd, there seems only one result for mine - the Knights by 12

Sydney v Manly
The match of the round for mine, pits the star-studded Roosters against the form NRL team in Manly. There are some mouth-watering individual match-ups here, and with Lyon unavailable and Orford under a fitness cloud, I am going to stick my neck out and say the Roosters by 4

St George-Illawarra v Canterbury
Too much turmoil at Canterbury - the Saints in a canter!

Cheers,

StephenP
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NRL Team Lists - Round 20

July 24th 2008 23:37
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Mark Gasnier quits the Dragons

July 16th 2008 08:47
Mark Gasnier


Australia and NSW representative centre Mark Gasnier will quit St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the 2008 season to play rugby union in France with glamour club Stade Francais for at least two seasons on a reported $800,000 to $1million per year deal


[ Click here to read more ]
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South Sydney Rabbitohs


The words 'high-flying' and 'Rabbitohs' would have made no sense together just two months ago but the Redfern-based club are just that at the moment after securing four wins in a row - all nail-biting come-from-behind stuff - with a 34-30 victory over the Bulldogs in an away game at ANZ Stadium


[ Click here to read more ]
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Limited NRL News Coverage

July 2nd 2008 00:00
Hey Alll NRL Fans,

Just a quick note to say that this blog will have limited coverage over the next fortnight (that's more limited then what it currently already has), due to my media committments for the 2008 Universities Rugby League World Cup


[ Click here to read more ]
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NRL Team Lists - Round 17

July 1st 2008 23:52
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