Brisbane Broncos 12 lost to Melbourne Storm 60

Who said the Storm were in decline? Craig Bellamy actually, in slightly different words, when he wasn’t sure if he could turn around a four-game slump last month. Melbourne haven’t lost since.

Harry Grant is thriving around the ruck and Nelson Asofa-Solomona is giving edge defenders nightmares – Bellamy must be tempted to keep him out wide even with Felise Kaufusi due back against the Roosters.

Brisbane are in free fall and simply don’t seem to have another gear in them. Need a big shift in defence to be anything more than week one finals fodder.
Dan Walsh

Parramatta Eels 42 bt Canterbury Bulldogs 6

Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses starred for the Eels. They are capable of putting in an all-star effort, but like coach Brad Arthur conceded after the game, his halves - and all the Eels - need to turn on the magic every single week.

At their best, the blue and golds will trouble the big guns. Reed Mahoney is all class, as are the halves, while Shaun Lane continues to trouble sides on that left edge.

The Dogs were impatient and have officially run out of steam. They will get flogged by Cronulla, but some chance of dusting Manly who are in similar free fall.
Christian Nicolussi

Manly Sea Eagles 6 lost to Cronulla Sharks 40

Momentum is everything at this time of year, and Cronulla have plenty of it.

The Sharks came to a ground where they have had little joy and kept Manly scoreless until the last three minutes. Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan were superb, playing behind a dominant forward pack. With upcoming games against the Bulldogs and Knights, Craig Fitzgibbon’s men will roll into the finals with plenty of confidence.

As for the Sea Eagles, they haven’t won since the inclusivity jersey debacle and didn’t turn up for Kieran Foran’s last game at Brookvale. Worrying signs.
Adrian Proszenko

Sydney Roosters 72 bt Wests Tigers 6

The Roosters have won six on the bounce and have genuine superstar attacking talent all over the park. They can win the whole thing from outside the top four.

They were all lining up to score against the Wests Tigers from the opening whistle. Nat Butcher has found his home at right back row. Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Lindsay Collins will return next week. You can’t rap these guys enough.

The Tigers, meanwhile, had their best moment at the post-match press conference when James Tamou was man enough to front up and apologise for abusing referee Ben Cummins. Plenty of others wouldn’t have been so quick to admit they were wrong. It will be a long final fortnight for the joint venture.
Christian Nicolussi

St George Illawarra Dragons 46 bt Gold Coast Titans 26

A return to the old days of the National Youth Competition, where attack was often scintillating and defence optional.

The Dragons will feel a little better about themselves as they try to add respectability after missing the finals again. In keeping with the theme of the game, they bizarrely played their best football after Francis Molo was sent off while they led by just four. The young brigade of Junior Amone, Jayden Sullivan and Mat Feagai all impressed at stages, while Jack de Belin is slowly getting back to the player the Dragons want him to be.

The Titans? Their season has been over for some time. Fumbling their way through the last 20 minutes when a man up says it all.
Adam Pengilly

Newcastle Knights 22 lost to Canberra Raiders 28

This finals tightrope the Raiders have been walking will last another week, at least, as a second-half comeback kept their top eight hopes alive.

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They now have a window where - if they can beat the struggling Sea Eagles and Tigers in the last fortnight, and either the Rabbitohs, Roosters or Broncos lose their last two matches - they’ll be in the play-offs. It hasn’t been pretty, but they’re still throwing punches. In Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine, the Raiders have genuine grunt through the middle and might just do enough to sneak into the finals.

The Knights were much better than previous weeks, but “much better” doesn’t mean two competition points. Read Titans.
Adam Pengilly

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