The Storm are well and truly in a rut, losing three straight games for the first time in seven years.
Playing at home at AAMI Park against the inconsistent Raiders, the Storm scored early and then appeared to get arrogant.
They seemed to think they would just have to go through the motions to get back on the winners’ list – but the Raiders had other ideas.
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They out-enthused the Storm and simply wanted it more, scoring a memorable 20-16 win.
The serious knee injury to Ryan Papenhuyzen only adds to Melbourne’s woes and Craig Bellamy will have to weave all his magic to get his team back on premiership track.
Long road back for Tigers
The inequality of the NRL was never more clearly on show than at CommBank Stadium yesterday.
The Panthers gave their best seven players a day off – yet were still too good for the poor old Tigers.
If the Tigers can’t beat the Panthers with seven Origin players missing, they never will.
The Tigers did try – but poor execution, awful game management and basic errors proved their undoing.
The loss – the club’s sixth on the trot – showed just how much work Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall have ahead of them over the next few years – there is no quick fix for this mess.
Panthers backs lead the way
Full marks to the depleted Panthers who came from behind to snatch the win over the Tigers.
A remarkable performance by the Panthers’ back five paved the way for the 18-16 win.
Amazingly, all five ran for over 140 metres to ensure the Panthers dominated field position.
Fullback Dylan Edwards, as he invariably does, led the way with a mammoth 242 metres, followed by Charlie Staines (196), Robert Jennings (165), Izack Tago (143) and Taylan May (140).
Ramien leads Sharks charge
There are few centres in as devastating form as Cronulla’s Jesse Ramien as we head into the business end of the season.
Powerhouse runner Ramien followed up his hat trick against Melbourne last round with two tries against the Sharks in Townsville on Friday night.
And not just any two tries – Ramien bagged the first two tries of the night to put the Sharks on track for their impressive 26-12 win over the Cowboys.
Ramien is a handful when he is given time and space – and that’s exactly what Sharks playmakers Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan are providing him with.
The nuggety centre is in career best form and Cronulla will be going his way plenty more times in coming weeks.
The Sharks have now come up with five wins in a row and are peaking at the right end of the season.
Parramatta’s Fijian flyer back to his best
It’s taken him a few weeks to find his flying feet after major knee surgery, but Maika Sivo is back!
The Fijian ace had the fans chanting his name for the first time this season after an eye-catching performance in the 28-18 win over the Warriors.
Sivo ran for 183 metres, scored one try and had a superb try assist in his best performance since returning from his knee operation.
In a display that would have done wonders for his confidence, Sivo showed glimpses of his old power and speed as he ran 40 metres and crashed over the tryline.
After conceding the first try for nine games straight, the Eels were always in command in this one as they notched rare back-to-back wins.
Career-best for Radley
With the injury-ravaged Roosters down to just one sub in the second half against the Dragons, Victor Radley decided he had to step up… and how.
Radley played the full 80 minutes and ran for a career high 213 metres – an unbelieveable tally for a middle forward.
Down 14-12 at halftime, the Roosters stormed home with 42 points in the second half, putting the Dragons to the sword despite having just one man on the bench.
On a lighter note, it was an unusual day for Radley on another front – he got through 80 minutes without being sin binned or put on report!
Dark times for Dragons
It was a black day for the Dragons at Gosford, conceding the second most points in the history of the St George Illawarra club.
The Roosters – despite three early injuries – piled 54 points on the hapless Dragons, including seven second-half tries when their players should have been running out of gas due to lack of replacements.
And for long-suffering Dragons fans, it wasn’t a one-off – in 2022 the team has conceded three of the 20 highest scores against them since the joint venture was formed.
Unsung hero’s moment in the spotlight
Andrew Davey is one of those quiet achievers that every club needs – but the veteran forward produced the game of his life for Manly in the 42-12 thrashing of Newcastle on Saturday night.
Davey scored a try himself, made a huge break to put winger Jason Saab over and ran for 131 metres.
Davey came to the NRL late in his footballing life but is proving a very valuable man in the Sea Eagles’ finals challenge.
What’s up at the Knights?
There’s something clearly wrong at Newcastle.
The Knights have a team full of Origin and Test players, now have most of their injured contingent back yet are dead and buried in the finals race.
With it all to play for against traditional rivals Manly, the Knights crumbled to a 42-12 defeat and have the look of a team that isn’t happy on or off the field.
Another milestone for Reynolds
Adam Reynolds led the Broncos to a gritty 16-12 win over the Titans on Saturday night – and keeps breaking records.
Reynolds became just the eighth player in the game’s history to pass the 2000 points mark during the game.
And ironically, the goalkicking sharpshooter achieved the milestone not with a goal but with a try under the posts.
The try, running onto a fine Tyson Gamble pass, ultimately proved the difference between two very committed teams in a high quality Queensland derby.
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