Rugby League: Cayless stirs it up in torrid Eels-Cowboys clash

By PETER JESSUP AND NZPA



Kiwi captain Nathan Cayless looks to be in big trouble after the Eels' spiteful 22-20 loss to North Queensland.

The Eels skipper was put on report for a swinging arm high on Cowboys centre Josh Hannay, who was concussed and taken from the field. He was taken to hospital for spinal checks and is to have further medical tests today.

Hannay made the difference in a four-try-apiece game, kicking three goals to Luke Burt's two for the Eels.

Travis Norton got the first touchdown two minutes into the game off a bomb from Nathan Fien and the Cowboys led 20-6 at the break despite the loss of Hannay.

Mid-second half and with the Eels back to 16-20 after two quick tries, Cayless appeared to charge at Norton, the Cowboys skipper, with a raised arm.

That sparked a forwards brawl, after which prop Paul Rauhihi and Eels opposite Craig Stapleton were sin-binned by referee Jason Robinson. Fien was also put on report for a high shot on Justin Tsoulos.

Hannay, playing his 100th NRL game, was to have joined the Queensland State of Origin side in camp today but is now in doubt.

New South Wales look like losing the services of prop Josh Perry, who is to have x-rays today on a suspected arm fracture. Souths players Willie Manu and Owen Craigie are on report for a high tackle that left Perry concussed during the Knights' 24-8 win over the Rabbitohs.

Knights bench player Adam Knight is on report for a high shot and Souths fullback Luke MacDougall for lifting in a tackle.

St George prop Jason Ryles played himself back into Origin contention with a strong display in his first game for 10 months after shoulder surgery as the Dragons slayed the Sharks 42-12 in front of a record Cronulla crowd of 23,302.

Mark Gasnier crossed in the second minute, Tony Jensen in the eighth and fullback Ben Hornby scored the first of his three tries mid-first half to give the visitors an unassailable lead.

It was 24-6 at the break, so when Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley threw a long pass early in the second to Dragons wing Nathan Blacklock, who ran unopposed to score, it was all over bar the shouting.

Wests Tigers captain Scott Sattler played an inspirational game on his old turf at Penrith, lifting the visitors to push the Panthers all the way before conceding 20-22.

The Tigers scored first through centre John Wilson, but Panthers wing Amos Roberts gave them the lead with two tries in reply, the first off quick hands from Rhys Wesser and Luke Lewis, the second a 70m cross-field sprint during which Sattler tailed him all the way.

Roberts said afterwards that he had memories of Sattler's grandfinal-saving tackle when he brought down Roosters wing Todd Byrne in a similar play and that spurred him to change up a gear when he saw the old lock coming across in cover.

Kiwi second-rower Joe Galuvao scored a 65th-minute try his coach John Lang reckoned no one else could have made when he carried five tacklers over. Tigers debutant Luke Duffy picked up a grubber from Ronald Prince to make it 20-22 with five to go but Brett Hodgson couldn't nail the sideline conversion.