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

Warriors go back-to-back to open the season in style

NSWRL 

Match summary

The Warriors remain undefeated after two rounds of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup with an impressive 31-20 win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Friday night.

The lead changed four times in a highly entertaining match featuring nine tries.

But in the end it was the 100 per cent goal-kicking accuracy of the Warriors No.7 Tanah Boyd, who struck five from five to keep the home side's noses in front.

It was the visitors who more lively in the opening minutes scoring tries for a 12-0 lead early.

The Warriors snapped into action in the 24th minute scoring two quick tries themselves through second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and prop Tom Ale to level scores.

Then 2024 NSW Cup premiership-winning hooker from the Newtown Jets, Sam Healey, scored his first try in Warriors colours by supporting his centre Rocco Berry who made a bust up the middle in the 36th minute. 

Boyd, the former Gold Coast Titans NRL halfback , converted all three tries for an 18-12 halftime lead. 

The Sea Eagles first two tries came from lock Dean Matterson, who collected a grubber kick ricocheting off a Warriors defender, before winger Navern Willett  finished off a slick right-edge move. 

In the second half, repeat sets to Manly resulted in a nice off-load from second rower Michael Chee Kam with his centre Aaron Schoupp steaming onto the ball to score. He was unable to convert his own try (18-16).

Manly took back the lead with half Jake Arthur toeing the ball through from the 10-metre line for his centre Jordan Swann to get a favourable bounce (20-18).

The pendulum swung again when Warriors scored another two quick tries - firstly when No.6 Te Maire Martin stepped off his left foot twice in the 58th minute and then second rower Jacob Laban was the man in support to run 60 metres in the 63rd. 

Another two Boyd conversions and the lead had extended to 10 points (30-20).

The classy halfback then drilled a field goal in the 80th minute to put an exclamation mark on the win.

Talking points

• Tanah Boyd didn't miss a conversion, kicking five in total, and then landed a field goal n the final seconds for an 11-point contribution
• New recruit Sam Healey from the Newtown Jets scored his first points for his new club crossing for the Warriors third try of the match
• It was the Warriors first win at home for the 2025 season after they claimed a 18-16 victory over the Canberra Raiders at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval in Round One
• Manly's 18th man Charlie Thompson was called into the fullback role for the entire match after Clayton Faulalo was called up to the NRL side to replace centre Tolu Koula (corked thigh) 

Key moment

Te Maire Martin splitting defenders twice with a darting individual run midway through the second half that put the Warriors back in the lead for a second time, and they never looked back.

What's next?

The Warriors remain at home to take on the Sydney Roosters next Friday night (21 March), while the Sea Eagles return to 4 Pines Park to host the Raiders on Sunday.

Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters 

Match Summary 

Panthers roast Roosters in searing heat

by Stewart Moses

Penrith has atoned for its disappointing opening round performance recording a resounding 38-10 win over the Roosters today. 

The visitors were unable to repeat their round one heroics against last year’s Grand finalists the North Sydney Bears, with the game played in oppressive heatwave conditions at Parker Street Reserve, Penrith.

Having scored the opening two tries of the game inside the opening 13 minutes, Panthers winger Asu Kepaoa finished the game with a hat-trick when he scored again in the 44th minute.

Luron Patea was next to score for the Panthers in the 16th minute, with the prop forward scoring his second try at this level, both ironically against the Roosters.

The Panthers were scoring a better than a point a minute when NSW Cup debutant, fullback Jaxon Edgar scored on his junior home ground midway through the first half and with Schneider’s successful conversion, the visitors were up against it trailing 22-0.

The visitors finally opened their account in the 30th minute with centre Billy Smith, celebrating his return from injury with a try, converted by Jake Elliott.

But the Panthers reaffirmed their dominance heading into the main break with 28-6 lead after a late first half try to centre, Thomas Jenkins.

With Kepaoa sealing his hat-trick early in the second half to extend Penrith’s lead out to 32-6, the oppressive conditions began to take their toll on both teams, especially with their attack.

An unconverted try to Tom Rodwell in the 69th minute was cancelled out by a converted try to Brad Schneider in the 75th minute. The try capping a fine game by the Panthers half, who finished the game with a try and five conversions from seven attempts for a personal haul of 14 points, as the Panthers ran out 38-10 winners.

Key Points

• The game’s kickoff was brought forward nearly two hours to avoid players being subjected to high 30 degree plus temperatures. 
• Fullback prospect Jaxon Edgar made his NSW Cup debut on the ground he called home as a Penrith Brothers junior.
• Trent Toelau’s early return from injury meant new recruit Blaize Talagi had to settle for playing right centre in front of NRL coach Ivan Cleary.
• The Roosters were forced to activate their 18th man Tyler Moriarty just before halftime after Jaxson Allen was ruled out of the game having failed his HIA.

Key play

For the last 60 minutes, the scoreline read Penrith 16 Roosters 10 but the devastating opening 20 minutes when the Panthers scored four unanswered tries to lead 22-0 ultimately was the difference between these two sides as the visitors struggled to handle the oppressive conditions early on.

Next Up

The Panthers will be looking for back-to-back wins when they travel to Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace to take on the Newcastle Knights next Sunday. 

The Roosters will be looking to bounce back next Friday night when they travel to Go Media Stadium, Auckland and take on the New Zealand Warriors.

St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs 

Match Summary

Rumble hat-trick pushes Dragons past Rabbitohs

by Joel Beatton (dragons.com.au)

St George Illawarra made it two-from-two to start the year taking down South Sydney 30-18 at WIN Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ben Rumble stole the show notching a trio of tries as the Dragons found continued success down the right-hand corridor.

The Dragons were put under pressure early with South Sydney knocking on the door multiple times only to be denied by the Red V cover.

The hosts got on the board first through Rumble who was on the end of a right-side shift consisting of some astute Cody Ramsey and Hayden Buchanan playmaking.

The Red V found more success down the right edge moments later with halfback Jonah Glover slipping into space from 40 out and handing the ball off to a supporting Buchanan who zipped away untouched to score behind the posts and make it 10-0.

Buchanan found himself in the thick of it again soon after showcasing another nice set of hands to put Rumble over untouched in the right corner a quarter of the way into proceedings.

South Sydney managed a hit-back half-an-hour in through Carson Kaho who scooped up a Rabbitohs bomb to cross.

They nabbed another try prior to the break via Lewis Dodd to bring it back to 16-12 heading into the sheds.

Rumble’s superb afternoon continued with the athletic winger steaming through to reel in a spilt bomb and grab his third try of the afternoon as the Dragons lead grew back out to double figures.

South Sydney refused to go away with Kaho pouring through the jump on a deft grubber and bring his side back within a try.

Dylan Egan, who was not available for the side’s season opener as a result of being named replacement player for the NRL squad, managed to up his side’s buffer with a quarter of the clash to play surging through a hole off a sharp Lyhkan King-Togia ball to slam it down.

Sione Finau followed it up soon after cruising over in the northwestern corner off a pretty Nathan Lawson tip-on to make it a 12-point game which proved enough with Willie Talau’s men coming away with the competition points.

Newtown Jets v Newcastle Knights 

Match summary 

Newtown leave it late in an emphatic win over Newcastle

by George Alakiki

The Newtown Jets have continued their premiership defence in style with a nail biting last second win over the Newcastle Knights in front of a buzzing home crowd at Henson Park, as halfback Niwhai Puru orchestrated the team to an emphatic 23-22 win.

It was the home team who struck first as prop and Hunter region junior Lachlan Crouch crossed over for his debut try with a simple hit and spin move in just his second game in reserve grade, before Tavita Taumoepenu landed in a similar spot to make it 12-0.

A third Knights error by Logan Aoake almost led to the Jets’ third, but the winger made amends shortly after when he snatched the ball out of the air and ran the length of the field for Newcastle’s first points following a poor long range pass from Puru (12-6).

The late omission of lock Thomas Cant proved a sore spot for the Knights as the Jets terrorised the red and blue through the middle of the park, and a third four pointer came through interchange Brad Fernley (18-6).

Tempers flared as teams both saw players sent to the bin just before the break after repeated altercations between the Jets’ Eli Clarke and Newcastle’s Riley Jones, with Clark and the Jets’ claiming eye gouging by Jones. 

But it was the Novocastrians who struck early in the second half with two tries in quick succession to bring the margin to within two points.

A cutout from five-eighth Will Price exposed the right side defence to give Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana his first of the season, before a scramble on the Jets goal line from right to left saw a last ditch kick batted back to Jacob Davies (18-16).

The Jets were barely able to make it out of their half as the Knights continued to pile on the pressure, and they took the lead for the first time with one from the Jets first-half playbook in the form of a short ball to Jack Welsh (22-18).

The Jets finally found the leveller in winger Kristian Dixon’s corner but Puru’s scuffed goal kick set up a grandstand finish with just over three minutes left on the clock.

A last ditch attempt by Knights hooker Matthew Arthur to land a 40/20 ended horribly with the ball out on the full, giving Newtown a fresh set right on the knights 30m line in the final seconds. 

With the game on the line, the ball landed to star half Puru, who iced the one pointer on the buzzer to clinch a memorable game for the Jets at the death.

Talking points

• The Knights continue to prove they are their own worst enemy in regards to their completion rates in the first 40. The errors piling up not not only led to points for the Jets but diffused their own good chances of putting four-pointers on the board on multiple occasions.
• Newtown hooker Jayden Berrell flew under the radar but was lethal as he exposed the Knights middle with two short balls for the Jets’ first set of points.
• The Jets got the job done without star fullback Liam Ison and captain Billy Burns, proving they have the depth, grit and determination early in the year to be serious contenders for a second straight premiership.

Key moment

Niwhai Puru was ice cool when it mattered most, single handedly clinching the two points for his team with a calm drop kick over the black dot, sending the Newtown faithful in a roar almost louder than the ensuing final siren.

What’s next?

The Jets will look to make it three from three to start the season when they take on the Rabbitohs at Sharks Stadium next Saturday, while the Knights will head back for their first home game at Lakeside Sporting Complex to face the Panthers.

Parramatta Eels v Western Suburbs Magpies

Match summary

Parramatta powers past Magpies in season opener

by Claire Stegbauer

The Parramatta Eels made a confident start to their season with a 20-10 win over the Western Suburbs Magpies, claiming victory at a scorching Ringrose Park.

Parramatta took control early and never lost their lead, with the Western Suburbs unable to mount a successful comeback after halftime.

The game opened with multiple penalties, setting the tone for a scrappy contest. But the Eels capitalised early. Joash Papalii broke through on the right edge, charging 50 metres downfield and earning his side a repeat set, setting up Haze Dunster in the corner (9') 4-0

Just one set later, Parramatta struck again. A well-orchestrated play by Josh Lynn, with Bryce Cartwright heavily involved, saw them cross the line for another unconverted try, extending the lead to 8-0.

The Eels dominance through the middle kept them in control, while the Magpies struggled to execute.

Western Suburbs fought back with multiple attacking sets on Parramatta's line, but deep kicks and solid defensive pressure from the Eels forced errors.

The Magpies finally hit back in the 27th minute, with Alex Lobb cutting the deficit scoring out wide, but a missed conversion left them trailing 8-4. Soon after, Charlie Guymer was forced off for an HIA in the 25th minute

Parramatta quickly regained momentum, with Dean Hawkins barging over. Joash Papalii slotted the only successful conversion of the half, extending the lead to 14-4.

Fatigue set in under the heat. The final minutes became an arm-wrestle, with both sides pressuring the try-line but unable to break through before halftime.

The Eels had momentum early in the second half with everything going their way, gifting them opportunities on the Magpies' line, but Western Suburbs' defence stood firm. Parramatta centre Josh Feledy nearly broke through but was pulled down just metres from the line.

With the 38-degree heat taking its toll, the game slowed, but the Magpies found their second wind through winger Alex Lobb. He proved a constant threat with safe hands under the high ball and multiple line-breaks. Centre Solomona Faataape burst through the middle, only for a wayward pass to cause a missed try-scoring chance.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Magpies built pressure, forcing errors from a tiring Eels side. They finally capitalised when hooker Tristan Hope took advantage of a slow-moving ruck, powering over on the left edge to bring the Magpies within one converted try of a comeback. Lobb added the extras, making it 14-10.

As both teams dug deep for a final push, Heath Mason nearly sealed it for the Magpies, but a last-ditch tackle denied him. The Eels responded with their best attacking set of the half, forcing a goal-line dropout. The Magpies kicked long, but Meni Luke iced the game with a buzzer-beating try left of the posts. Joash Papalii’s conversion secured a 20-10 win for Parramatta.

Talking points

• The Eels started their season with a confident win following a bye in Round One. This victory sets them up well as they look to build momentum for the rest of the season
• It was another tough loss for the Magpies leaving them struggling at the bottom of the ladder, and looking to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.

Key moment

A crucial break from the Eels' fullback, Joash Papalii, ignited the game early. He burst through on the right edge, charging 50 metres downfield and earning his side a repeat set. This momentum shift led to Haze Dunster finishing off the play in the corner just minutes later, putting the Eels ahead 4-0 in the ninth minute.

What's next?

The Magpies will now turn their attention to their next match against North Sydney Bears at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday 22 March. With both teams looking to make up ground on the ladder, this clash is set to be a crucial encounter for the Magpies (13th) and the Bears (10th).

The Eels will face off against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 23 March. The fourth-placed Eels will be looking to maintain their strong form early in the season, while the Bulldogs (11th) will be aiming to get back on track after a challenging start.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v North Sydney Bears 

Match summary

Bulldogs overpower Bears in high-scoring NSW Cup clash

By Anthony Eltarraf

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs secured their first win of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup 2025 season with a dominant 46-28 victory over the North Sydney Bears at Belmore Sports Ground.

Determined to bounce back from their Round One defeat, the Bulldogs wasted no time asserting their dominance, opening the scoring just three minutes into the match. A well-executed short-side play saw Jethro Rinakama dive over in the corner, setting the tone for the afternoon.

The hosts extended their lead soon after as Jordi Mazzone went over on the opposite flank, courtesy of a pinpoint cutout pass from Blake Taaffe.

Despite the Bulldogs’ early dominance, the Bears found a response through Bronson Garlick, whose deceptive dummy fooled three defenders, allowing him to race through untouched.

However, the Bulldogs quickly regained control, running in three consecutive tries to build a commanding 30-6 lead. Drew Hutchison finished off another left-side short play, Mazzone bagged his second in the corner doing well to get the ball down before going into touch, and Jonathan Sua provided the highlight of the half—picking up a loose ball, slicing through the defensive line, and sprinting 70 metres to score under the posts.

Just before halftime, the Bears clawed back slightly through Jake Toby’s individual brilliance. A grubber in behind the Bulldogs’ defence saw Toby regather to score, as the Bulldogs took a comfortable 30-12 lead into the break.

The second half continued in similar fashion, with the Bulldogs exposing the Bears’ edge defence once more. Taaffe exposed the visitors’ defence with a show-and-go to cross the line before converting his own try.

The Bears hit back with arguably the play of the game, as Toby launched a stunning long pass to Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa, who scored untouched in the corner. However, an unsuccessful conversion kept the margin at 36-16.

The Bulldogs refused to let up, adding two more tries through Jack Todd, who burst through the middle and evaded the fullback to score, and Alan Holten, who powered over from dummy half.

Late consolation tries from Garlick and Nathaniel Roache narrowed the scoreline, but the Bulldogs’ dominance had already sealed a comprehensive 46-28 win.

Talking points

• Blake Taaffe had a field day at Belmore, picking up 18 points himself through a try and two try assists, while converting seven from eight tries.
• The Bears’ edge defence struggled to deal with the Bulldogs’ attack, conceding six tries in wide channels.
• Canterbury-Bankstown’s forward pack laid a solid foundation, providing their playmakers with the space to dictate the game.

Key moment

The Bulldogs looked dominant throughout much of the match, however the game felt out of reach for the Bears when Jonathan Sua capitalised on a loose ball on his own 30 metre line and sliced through a broken line before showcasing his speed as he sprinted 70 metres to score.

What’s next?

The Bulldogs will look to continue their momentum when they face the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium in a traditional rivalry clash. Meanwhile, the Bears remain on the road as they take on the Western Suburbs Magpies at Lidcombe Oval.