Rugby League: Bulldogs, Broncos on top in NRL

8.25pm

The Canterbury Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos lead the National Rugby League competition after Penrith and Canberra lost at the weekend.

The four teams had been equal after last weekend's matches, but the Bulldogs and Broncos rose to 10 points after their respective wins over the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Bulldogs shade the Broncos on points differential, but the Broncos might lose two competition points for fielding a 14th man against West Tigers, pending an appeal later this month against an NRL judiciary decision.

The upsets of the weekend were St George Illawarra's hammering of the Panthers, 44-18, at WIN Stadium today and the Cronulla Sharks' 28-24 mauling of the Raiders yesterday.

The Bulldogs made most of the play against the Warriors at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday night, but lacked finishing polish.

Although the 24-18 might suggest a close match, it was a largely one-sided in favour of the Bulldogs, until the Warriors hit back with two tries late in the match.

It was the Warriors' fifth loss in six matches and they will probably relish a break next weekend when they have the bye.

The Sharks put the horrors of the last fortnight behind them in pasting the Raiders at Toyota Park.

A revitalised Brett Kimmorley led the way for the Sharks, calling all the shots, and David Peachey scored two tries.

Raiders forward Ruben Wiki was put on report for a high tackle on Jason Stevens during the game, placing him in doubt for New Zealand's test against Australia in Newcastle on Friday night. He will find out tomorrow if he is to be charged by the NRL's match review committee.

Another New Zealand test player, Penrith's Joe Galuvao, will be sweating for the same reason. He was reported for a high tackle on St George Illawarra five-eighth Trent Barrett in the 15th minute of their match today at WIN Stadium today.

Centre Matt Cooper scored four tries for the Dragons in their 44-18 rout against a surprisingly lacklustre Panthers.

Barrett limped off with a hamstring injury in the final stages, while worse off was South Sydney veteran Adam MacDougall, whose season ended when he snapped his achilles tendon during his side's hiding by the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park last night.

Storm winger Jake Webster scored a hat-trick of tries in the 50-4 win, while replacement Danny Williams celebrated his 200th game for the club with two tries and a conversion.

The Broncos looked to have a comfortable victory secured over the Cowboys in Townsville last night, leading 18-4 with 18 minutes to go, but former Warriors forward Kevin Campion crashed over after Broncos winger Craig Frawley lost the ball in a tackle.

Josh Hannay converted and kicked a penalty five minutes later to put the Cowboys in sight of a win.

But Frawley made up for his error with a big tackle on fullback Matt Bowen just as Bowen was about to score, spinning him in the tackle and holding him up.

Broncos five-eighth Darren Lockyer kicked a field goal with two minutes to go to seal a 19-12 win.

The Sydney Roosters won an exciting match in Newcastle today, beating the Knights 32-22.

The Knights, who lost backrower Ben Kennedy with a torn hamstring in the seventh minute, showed plenty of pluck in fighting back after the Roosters took a 24-16 lead with 12 minutes to go.

Halfback Kurt Gidley scythed through four defenders to score a converted try and cut the deficit to just 24-22 with just five minutes left.

But a Michael Crocker penalty and Anthony Minichiello try down the right sideline at fulltime clinched victory for the Roosters.

The Parramatta Eels came away from Brookvale Oval with a 32-26 win over the Manly Sea Eagles today.

The Eels scored six tries to four, but Manly had a chance to win with two minutes to go.

Albert Torrens touched down, but a touch judge ruled the final pass to him was forward. David Vaeliki scored almost immediately to seal the match for the Eels.

- NZPA

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