Rugby league: Big-spenders on top as transfer-fever takes its toll

By PETER JESSUP and NZPA

The expiry of the anti-tampering deadline and frantic player trading appeared to have as much impact on the weekend NRL round as did the State of Origin hangover.

The big-spending Eels confirmed the signing of Cowboys lock Glenn Morrison, Newcastle wing Timana Tahu, Roosters prop Chad Robinson and Souths prop Paul Stringer before the game, and seemed to use that as a spur to get over the champion Roosters 26-12.

They were 12-0 up after five minutes after consecutive bombs from Michael Witt to wing Luke Burt.

It worked so they did it a third time, giving Burt his triple and completing a miserable half for Shannon Hegarty, who last week signed with Souths.

Eels wing Matt Petersen scored in the 29th and 79th minutes.

But the big praise went to second rower Nathan Hindmarsh, playing three days after a great performance in Origin III.

"I don't know what he's on, but it's high-octane," said coach Brian Smith.

Smith's only worry was Lee Hopkins' being put on report for going high on Craig Fitzgibbon.

In Canberra, Raiders coach Matt Elliott admitted some of his side had their minds elsewhere as they struggled to a 32-28 win over injury-plagued North Queensland.

"I can tell you it's been a personal distraction ... I spend most of my time with the group so I consider that if it's a distraction to me, they're thinking about it as well," he said of the mid-season player transfer news.

The Raiders have also lost prop Luke Davico to Wigan for two years, and Manly are chasing hard after centre Joel Monaghan.

Davico said there had been a lot of uncertainty among the players since June 30. They were not sure what to say to each other and were hearing conflicting stories about what their team-mates were doing.

"There's a tinge of sadness and a bit of anxiety amongst everyone," he said.

"At the same time, I think in the run towards the semis we're going to be a lot closer together because this is the last time a lot of our players who have been here a long time will be together."

The Raiders scored two tries in three minutes early in the first half to lead 14-2.

But five minutes into the second 40, the lead was down to 20-14.

The Raiders scored two quick tries to go back out to 32-14 and again looked to be home.

But they then conceded three quick touchdowns and set up an uncomfortably close finish with Reuben Wiki covering their last kick in goal.

Elliott said the team would be better off without all the rumour and speculation and suggested player transfers should be conducted in secret.

The behaviour of a lot of people around the trading period was disappointing, he said.

Paul Rauhihi was good for the Cowboys. But without injury-hit king-pins Kevin Campion, Matt Sing and Paul Bowman, the side looks to be finished for the season.

The Dragons may also be in trouble. Trent Barrett dislocated a shoulder and Shaun Timmins was concussed in their 14-28 loss to Brisbane.

Mark Gasnier is out for a month after injuring his shoulder in Origin III.

The Broncos clearly had the better experience of the back-up required after Origin and scored five tries - including two from replacement wing Craig Frawley - to three.

Manly went a step closer to avoiding their first wooden spoon with a 26-18 victory yesterday over Wests Tigers in an error-riddled NRL encounter at Brookvale Oval.

Centre Albert Torrens bagged a brace of tries for the Sea Eagles, whose win lifted them above the Warriors on points for-and-against.

The Bulldogs beat Melbourne 25-18 and Souths beat the Panthers 30-6.