Recap | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round Eight

Bears hold off gritty Dogs to return to winning ways

Anthony Eltarraf

Game summary

The North Sydney Bears have scored a hard-earned 18-12 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Saturday to maintain their status as one of the favourites for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup this season.

The Bulldogs scored first through winger Declan Casey, who rose above the opposition to catch a Bailey Hayward bomb and run a further 10m to score.

It was end-to-end footy for the majority of the first half until the Bears unleashed giant forward Tuku Hau Tapuha, who charged his way through the middle to give his side a huge boost. Just minutes after entering the game, the front rower barged his way over to level the game at a try apiece.

An error from the Bears however gave the Bulldogs another opportunity and they were immediately punished for it after Casey secured his second try of the afternoon. He finished off a well-worked set play from the scrum, with halfback Bailey Hayward converting both tries to give the home side a 12-6 lead at half-time.

The second half saw a much more determined Bears outfit, piling the pressure on the Dogs before finally scoring through Vuate Karawalevu, who received a pin-point pass from fullback Josh Bergamin before touching down in the corner to close the margin to reduce the deficit to two points.

A second try for the Bears winger Karawalevu in the same corner after another Bergamin assist, followed by a penalty goal secured the away side’s 18-12 victory.

Talking points

The Bears’ defence stuck solid in the second half, holding off the Bulldogs to secure their sixth win of the season.

Front rower Tuku Hau Tapuha was a powerhouse up front, coming off the bench to lift his side enormously through massive carries and heavy defence.

The Bulldogs’ outside backs look seriously threatening, especially through the likes of Creedence Toia, Casey and Jacob Kiraz, who were all comfortable under the high ball and gave the Dogs a massive boost from the back.

Key moment

A simple backline spread was all it took for the Bears to secure the game with winger Karawalevu diving over in the corner to score his second try of the game and earn his side a well-earned two competition points.

What's next?

The Bulldogs travel to Wollongong to face an improving Dragons outfit, while the Bears host Newtown Jets in North Sydney in what looks to be an entertaining top-of-the-table clash.

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Rabbitohs outlast Sea Eagles for third straight win

Jason Hosken

Game summary

South Sydney extended their winning run with a comfortable 26-12 victory over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Redfern on Saturday afternoon.

Blacktown struck first through James Roumanos to lead 6-0, the prop on hand to finish a James Segeyaro break in the 12th minute.

Returning to their spiritual home for the first time this season, Souths quickly returned fire in the slippery conditions with four unanswered tries to round out the half.

Jake Tago raced over for the first in the 16th minute and six minutes later his centre partner Jaxson Paulo kept the Rabbitohs on track for three straight wins, cleaning up a bomb for Souths’ second.

Peter Mamouzelos then put Souths clear 16-6, the hooker’s speed too hot for Blacktown’s midfield defence. Then in the final seconds of the opening-half, a slashing try to winger Josiah Karapani extended the margin by four.

A try to winger Bilal Maarbani in the 55th minute opened the door for the Sea Eagles, but with Souths up by eight, Maila Chan-Foon slammed it shut to round out the scoring for Souths ten minutes before full time.

Talking points

Former NRL veteran and Rabbitohs skipper James Hasson challenged the Blacktown pack all afternoon. His massive hit on Tyran Ott in the third minute ruffled the Sea Eagles’ feathers. The dummy-half hobbled to the sheds with replacement Joey Tramontana called upon to deliver many more minutes than expected.

James Segeyaro’s last outing for Blacktown was in their Round-Five win against Newcastle. It took only 12 minutes for the former hooker to show what they had been missing. Playing at No.7, the ex-Cowboy sliced through the heart of the Rabbitohs’ pack to set up the opening try of the day.

Up-and-coming Rabbitoh Peter Mamouzelos is rapidly making a name for himself at hooker, but it was his play from the back of the scrum 12 minutes before the break that put Souths in control. After picking up the ball, Mamouzelos was untouchable in a scorching 30m dash that saw him slide over next to the posts to open-up a 10-point advantage.

Karapani was one of South Sydney’s best. Apart from beating several defenders on the way to scoring Souths’ fourth try, the bustling winger proved a handful all afternoon including one memorable 50m run from his own goal-line.

Key moment

With Souths leading 16-6 one minute before the break, Morgan Harper broke into the Rabbitohs’ back-field only to see the final pass hit the ground with the line wide open.

Instead of Blacktown trailing by four at the break, Dean Hawkins and fullback Jacob Gagai combined to break Blacktown hearts when they put Karapani away as the siren sounded to lead 20-6.

What’s next?

The Rabbitohs return to Redfern next Saturday in a Round Nine clash with the Knights.

Blacktown's search for a second win moves to 4 Pines Park where they tackle last-placed Western Suburbs in Saturday’s live match on Foxtel.

Penrith Panthers v Newtown Jets

Newcastle Knights v Mounties

St George Illawarra Dragons v Western Suburbs Magpies

Dragons put on the points in victory over Magpies

Blake Edwards

Game summary

Another strong showing from Tyrell Sloan has helped the St George Illawarra Dragons secure their fourth consecutive victory, beating the Magpies 46-16 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. 

Sloan scored a double and had a hand in two other tries, no doubt gaining the attention of the Dragons' NRL head coach Anthony Griffin. 

It was worrying signs early for the winless Magpies, with the Dragons immediately stamping their authority by scoring three unanswered tries in the first 10 minutes through Sloan, back-rower Jackson Ford and winger Cody Ramsey.

The trio of four-pointers were scored with relative ease on the on the Magpies' defensive right edge.

The visitors were then afforded some possession through a string of penalties, and were able to find their way over the line in the 18th minutes through hooker Run Ngatikaura. 

Wests’ joy was short-lived as the Dragons responded swiftly - once again attacking the right edge - with Ramsey striding over for a first half double, extend his side's lead to 22-6.

Errors and ill discipline from the Dragons invited the Magpies back into the contest, running in their second try through experienced campaigner Tyrone Peachey and narrowing the Dragons’ lead to 12 points. 

St George Illawarra crossed for two early tries after the halftime break. Second row forward Jack Gosiewksi crossed in the 47th minutes before Sloan chimed in for his second of the afternoon, piercing his way through some poor middle defence and racing away to plant the ball down.

A four-pointer in the 63rd minute to Dragons rake Connor Mulheisen was another crucial blow for a struggling Wests outfit, widening the gap to 30 points and putting the game well out of reach with 15 minutes to play.

The flood gates opened as the Red V ran in their eighth try through Braxton Wallace, but Western Suburbs found a consolation when Ngatikaura eventually crossed for his double.

Talking points

Another strong showing from Tyrell Sloan will no doubt again catch the eye of Dragons NRL coach Anthony Griffin. Cody Ramsey will also be aiming for a NRL recall as the flanker looks to have recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered earlier in the year. 

For Wests, they looked good in patches - mainly in the first half - but ultimately are yet to secure victory this season. The Magpies will look to take those positives into their next match.

Key moment

Two early second half tries for the Red V - scored by Gosiewksi and Sloan - spelt curtains for the Magpies with 30 minutes remaining as the home side extended the lead to beyond three converted tries.

The Dragons would then run in further tries to Connor Mulheisen and Braxton Wallace, before Ngatiikaura chalked up his double for Wests in the dying stages.

What’s next?

The Dragons will look to keep their winning streak alive when they host the Bulldogs in Round Nine, while the Magpies head to 4 Pines Park to face the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders

Raiders return to top eight with win over Eels

Patrick Staveley

Game summary

The Canberra Raiders have pulled themselves back into the top eight with a 28-4 victory over Parramatta Eels on Sunday - their first win since Round Five.

The Raiders were boosted by the late addition of NRL regular Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback, after failing to get any minutes in first grade on Saturday night. The star No.1 certainly made his presence known, having a hand in most of Canberra’s attacking raids.

He threw a lovely cut-out ball to Albert Hopoate for the opening try, before passing to Jarrod Croker who sent Hopoate over for a double shortly after.

After dominating possession for the first 15 minutes, the Eels were left to rue their missed chances.

Croker later pounced on a deft Matt Frawley grubber to extend the Raiders' lead to 18-0 in the 26th minute, which remained until halftime.

The match stayed fairly even throughout the second half before a Samuel Loizou four-pointer kept the Eels in the hunt.

The comeback wasn’t to be, however, when Nicoll-Klokstad sent a floating pass to James Schiller for a try. Trey Mooney crossed for the last of the day with Croker's fourth conversion rounding out the 28-4 win.

Talking points

With more than 500 games of NRL experience in the Canberra line-up, the visitors had the edge with their cool heads in scoring opportunities.

The Eels lacked the power needed to get past the Canberra defence. Zac Cini was one of the only Eels players causing any real trouble throughout the afternoon. 

Key moment

While the match was evenly poised for the opening 15 minutes, once the Raiders were in good field position they took their opportunity. At that point it was a line-break from front-rower Ata Mariota which set the platform for the Canberra backline, who immediately took advantage by outnumbering the Parramatta defence on the right edge for Hopoate to score first points. 

What’s next?

Canberra move into seventh position with their victory as Parramatta sit just one win ahead in fourth.

The Eels now face the top-of-the-table Panthers on Friday night in Round Nine, while the Raiders head into their first bye for the season.