League: NRL round 18 wrap up

Reigning premiers Wests Tigers kept in touch with the NRL's top eight with a hard-fought 22-10 victory over Cronulla at Shark Park yesterday.

The Tigers have now played the Sharks twice this season without star playmaker Benji Marshall and come up trumps on both occasions, winning 42-16 at Campbelltown in round six.

Ben Galea opened the scoring for the Tigers just four minutes in, with Brett Hodgson converting.

The rest of the half became an arm-wrestle until Kevin Kingston crossed in the 28th minute.

Luke Covell's conversion and a penalty goal gave the Sharks an 8-6 lead at the break, but after that they were overpowered by their opponents.

Tries to Shane Elford, Daniel Fitzhenry and Dean Collis snapped a two-match losing streak for Wests and put them two points behind eighth-placed Newcastle in the standings.

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Dragons wear down plucky Rabbitohs

St George Illawarra made it seven wins on the trot, but not before surviving a performance with attitude from probable NRL wooden spooners South Sydney in Wollongong yesterday afternoon.

Twelve tries were racked up in a high-scoring affair at Kogarah Oval, the Dragons bagging seven of them to run out 38-28 winners.

The Rabbitohs gifted their opponents three tries with simple errors and were it not for their poor ball handling and loss of mental aptitude at times, they could easily have recorded an upset win.

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Eels spoil Joey's record night

The Parramatta Eels spoiled Andrew Johns' celebrations in becoming the greatest point scorer of all-time, thrashing the Newcastle Knights 46-12 at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Eels were terrific in both attack and defence, running in nine tries to Newcastle's two, including four to rookie winger Jarryd Hayne.

The only sour note for the Eels was an injury to half-back Tim Smith, who played no part in the second half after suffering a suspected broken collarbone.

The Knights, conversely, were woeful in defence and never really looked like challenging the Eels.

The only real highlight for the Knights was Johns' achievement in surpassing Eels coach Jason Taylor's all-time scoring record.

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Sea Eagles too strong for Roosters

The Manly Sea Eagles consolidated their place in the top eight with a 33-16 win over the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday.

The Sea Eagles led 14-0 at half-time and were never seriously challenged by the Roosters, who have now lost their past six matches.

Manly scored five tries to the home side's three, including one to half-back Brett Orford who finished with a perfect scoresheet - kicking five conversions, a penalty goal and field goal.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Sea Eagles, who move to 20 points on the NRL ladder.

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Panthers battle past Raiders

The Panthers defeated the Canberra Raiders 24-12 at Penrith stadium on Saturday night.

The home side led 10-0 at half-time and maintained their momentum in the second half to take the points.

The Panthers ran in four tries to the visitors' two, while winger Michael Gordon finished with three goals.

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Storm outplay Broncos

The Melbourne Storm beat the Brisbane Broncos 10-4 at Melbourne's Olympic Park on Friday night.

First points went to the Storm when Cameron Smith booted a penalty goal, thanks to a high shot on half-back Cooper Cronk by Broncos second rower Brad Thorn.

Storm winger Steve Turner was the first to cross for a four-pointer in the 28th minute, giving the Storm a six-point lead at half-time.

After the break, the task did not get any easier for the Broncos.

Ryan Hoffman was over for the Storm in the 57th minute and the game looked likely to finish without the visitors bothering the scoreboard.

But a try to Brisbane lock Greg Eastwood seven minutes from full-time ensured that was not to be.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA