Rugby League: Defending NRL champs fail to fire

SYDNEY - Cronulla and defending champions Melbourne were the teams eliminated when the National Rugby League's first weekend of playoffs ended yesterday.

The upshot of the four qualifying finals is that title favourites Brisbane and Newcastle will have byes as they await the winners of the semifinals.

Those matches, both at the Sydney Football Stadium, will feature Parramatta against Penrith on Saturday night, and Canberra facing the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

In the only fixture yesterday, Brisbane pulled off a come-from-behind 34-20 win over the Sharks, who had looked on course for a big upset.

The Sharks led 20-6 at halftime and were still up 20-18 during the final quarter when, in a key moment, centre Russell Richardson was unable to ground the ball for a try that could have sealed victory.

Instead, the Broncos, who played some dazzling football in the second half, shook off that scare to grab the lead and win going away.

In skipper Kevin Walters' final home game before retirement, Brisbane scored six tries to four, with Gorden Tallis and Ben Ikin each getting a brace.

Second-rower Brad Thorn, who is also expected to leave the Broncos for a possible switch to rugby in New Zealand, described the afternoon as an emotional one.

"It took a lot of character to come back," he said. "The Sharks came here to play. They had nothing to lose. They put their bodies on the line and you have to take your hats off to them. But in the second half, we got stuck in and it paid off."

The big beneficiary of Brisbane's victory was Penrith, who lost to Canberra on Friday night and would have been eliminated if the Sharks had won.

Canberra produced a superb performance to come from 6-16 down to defeat the Panthers 34-16 in a thrilling contest at Bruce Stadium.

But the Raiders face an anxious wait to see if four of their players will be charged today after two spear tackles on Penrith and Kiwis forward Tony Puletua.

The incidents were placed on report with the players concerned being David Furner and Andrew McFadden (in the first challenge), and Jason Croker and Simon Woolford.

On Saturday night, Parramatta survived a first-half dearth of possession to upset the Sydney Roosters 32-8.

Parramatta, the NRL's youngest team with an average age of 22 and a youngster as skipper in Kiwi forward Nathan Cayless, were expertly guided home by veteran Jim Dymock after trailing 0-8 early on.

Parramatta overcame early errors to steady their ship and score 32 unanswered points, including five tries, two to man-of-match winger Pat Richards, and one to New Zealand centre David Vaealiki.

That result heralded the end for premiers Melbourne, who earlier in the day had been defeated 16-30 at Newcastle and so needed the two teams that qualified below them, Parramatta and Cronulla, to lose as well.

Newcastle put on a barnstorming second half performance in wet and slippery conditions at Marathon Stadium in their first playoff victory since winning the 1997 premiership.

Halfback Andrew Johns was back at his best as the Knights controlled possession in the second half on the way to scoring a total of five tries to three, with young winger Timana Tahu, who has been targeted by the Kiwis, among those to cross.

For Melbourne, Kiwis hooker Richard Swain was again hardworking, topping the tackle count with 37.

For Johns it was just another important game he knew his team had to win, although it lacked the feel of the semifinal football he loves so much.

Johns, who won the halfback battle with test incumbent Brett Kimmorley, said the playoffs would not start for the Knights until they step on to Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday week to take on the winner of the Canberra v Sydney Roosters match.

Said Johns, "It doesn't feel like semifinals footy until you get to the football stadium."

- NZPA