League: Favourites upset as points table tightens up

Seven of eight of the bookies' and punters' favourites were overturned in the 19th round of the NRL as the points table squashes further.

Points differential is likely to decide the fate of some sides, with five teams level on 22 points after the weekend.

The Raiders round out the top eight after they over-turned second-placed Parramatta 26-18 yesterday, the Sea Eagles are also on 22 points but are slipping away after a ripping start to the season, yesterday copping a 36-10 thumping from the Dragons that destroyed their record at home.

The Sharks are third after beating Newcastle in the last minute of the season's third overtime game.

Competition leaders Brisbane were the only expected winners at the weekend and they had to come from a 10-15 halftime deficit to beat the Melbourne Storm 28-15 at home yesterday. The Warriors cling to a playoff hope after beating the Roosters and Penrith crashed at home and their hopes were finally burned by the Bulldogs.

Forward blast

The Storm led 15-10 at halftime at Suncorp Stadium yesterday thanks to a 7-2 penalty count but could not sustain a forward blast in the second half, Brad Thorn scoring in traffic, Shane Webcke making a bust that put halfback Brett Seymour over and utility Berrick Barnes running from dummy-half to score by the posts.

Darren Lockyer nailed only two from six kicks at goal.

Fortress crumbles

The Dragons blew Manly's "fortress Brookvale" record out of the water with a 36-10 win, after leading 24-0 after 30 minutes. Wes Naiqama kicked six-from-six. Michael Monaghan's kicking game producing tries for fullback Brett Stewart and wing Chris Hicks. But when Dragons prop Luke Bailey busted Manly opposites Brent Kite and Kylie Leuluai to score under the bar it was a done deal.

Three-try burst

The Raiders and the Eels were close to level until three-quarter time at Canberra when the home side rattled on three tries to take an unassailable lead. Eels hooker Mark Riddell made it respectable in the last minutes but they were well beaten.

Golden try

Former Warrior Vince Mellars scored in the last minute of golden-point extra time to give the Sharks their second win in their last 10 games on Saturday night, 30-26 over the luckless Knights.

There were lots of errors early as Newcastle ran out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter, the Sharks fighting back to 14-10 at the break. They traded tries before Andrew Johns sent the game into overtime with a penalty that levelled the scores at 26-all.

Souths head north

Souths beat North Queensland for the first time in six years and it was the Cowboys second loss at home this year.

It was a mistake-riddled game. Cowboys wing Neil Sweeney went to hospital in a neck brace after being driven back to the in-goal in a controversial play but he was not thought to be badly injured.

Rabbitohs hooker Shane Walker said the back-to-back wins were more a reflection of reserve-graders taking their chance than his team-mates wanting to show they could play after the reluctance of others to join them despite the money on offer.

Penrith stumble

Penrith were denied a last grasp at a playoff place when they stumbled 16-18 at home to the Dogs on Friday.

Dogs Fullback Trent Cutler left on a stretcher with a broken ankle, usual number one Luke Patten also out after breaking his against the Warriors. Prop Mark O'Meley is on report and likely to be charged for a high shot on opposite Ben Ross, who signed with the Sharks at the weekend for four years.