Phins fly past sluggish Eels
2 hours ago | Andy P
IN PICTURES: NRL Round 5
The best bits from the weekend's NRL action with thanks to Getty Images.
On Thursday night, the Bulldogs stunned the competition with a gritty 10-7 win over Brisbane at a wet ANZ Stadium. A silky second half from five-eighth Josh Reynolds guided the blue and whites to victory after a first half slider from Sam Thaiday initially put the Broncos ahead. Poor Brenko Lee got a bit of a mouthful, too.
Friday saw the Tricolours and Silvertails battle it out at ANZ Stadium, with the Roosters' undefeated record tumbling at the hands of an invigorated Sea Eagles side. The hosts started stronger but it was a late try to Manly star Dylan Walker that delivered the visitors an 18-12 victory.
Later the same evening, the Cowboys comfortably accounted for the Rabbitohs 20-6 as Townsville recovered from the impact of Cyclone Debbie earlier in the week.
Saturday kicked off in the Shire, with reigning premiers Cronulla surviving a scare from reigning wooden spooners Newcastle to record a 19-18 win at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Chris Heighington's 300th NRL match coincided with the Sharks' 50th anniversary match on a big afternoon for the club - one they almost bottled until James Maloney secured the one-point victory in the dying minutes.
Super Saturday moved on to the nation's capital where Canberra proved too good for a struggling Parramatta side, the Green machine 30-18 winners in front of the biggest crowd of the weekend.
A trip down to Melbourne wrapped up Saturday's action, with the Storm producing a clinical performance to keep Penrith winless at AAMI Park. The home side secured a 28-6 win, marked with some outstanding defence in the face of relentless pressure from the Panthers' attack.
Sunday kicked off across the Tasman with the two enigmas of the NRL this season - the Warriors and Titans - facing off. The two were nearly inseparable in the late stages until an unusual passage of play saw Ryan Hoffman break the 22-all deadlock with a late try... after having attempted a field goal himself moments earlier. The hosts came away 28-22 winners to bag their second victory of the 2017 campaign in Kieran Foran's debut for the club.
Round 5 wrapped up where it began - at ANZ Stadium. The Dragons new-found form meant the tepid Wests Tigers attack was never an issue as the Red V cruised to a 28-6 win on a gloomy Sunday evening. A Jason Nightingale hat-trick went unmatched by the Tigers' weary defence as the Dragons made it 4 from 5 in 2017.