The Melbourne Storm affirmed their clear position at the top of the National Rugby League ladder after 19 rounds, with a 24-16 win over Newcastle yesterday.
Try-scoring phenom Billy Slater grabbed his ninth try in six games in the match.
For Melbourne, it was their seventh straight win and left
them six points clear of the chasing field.
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The Bulldogs beat St George-Illawarra 22-16 in a classic game of rugby league on Friday night. The victory elevated them to second place.
In a contest seen by many as a potential Grand Final match-up, the lead changed hands several times as each side took turns gaining the ascendancy.
Standoff Daniel Holdsworth scored two tries, including the match winner 11 minutes from fulltime in the Bulldogs' third win in consecutive games.
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Brisbane, who had were previously second, had a bye and dropped to third while St George fell back to fourth.
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Winger Michael Robertson scored three tries for Manly, who beat South Sydney 26-20 to hold fifth place. Robertson scored in the eighth, 32nd and 35th minutes to contribute to Manly's 16-10 halftime lead.
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The Sydney Roosters beat the Cronulla Sharks 38-32 yesterday but the Sharks held onto sixth place, while North Queensland stayed seventh in spite of an 8-17 loss to Penrith yesterday.
Newcastle remain eighth, and on the fringe of the playoffs while Penrith are ninth.
Winger Jarryd Hayne scored twice for Parramatta, who beat the New Zealand Warriors 20-12, effectively ending the Warriors' playoff hopes.
