NRL Round 12: Dragons End Long Wait, Sharks Hold Firm, Panthers Edge Warriors

Edward Briggs

Round 12 produced a mix of statement victories, tense finishes and one of the stories of the season, with St George Illawarra finally breaking through for their first win of 2026. Elsewhere, Cronulla overcame adversity to hold off Manly, Newcastle continued its surge up the ladder, and Penrith reclaimed top spot after surviving a late Warriors fightback.

Cronulla Sharks 28 – 22 Manly Sea Eagles

The Sharks overcame injuries and a spirited Manly comeback to secure a hard-earned victory at Ocean Protect Stadium.

Missing several key players before kick-off and then losing Blayke Brailey to a suspected forearm fracture during the second half, Cronulla looked in complete control early thanks to the brilliance of Brayden Trindall. The five-eighth opened the scoring with a penalty goal before setting up a dominant first half that saw Niwhai Puru and Billy Burns cross, with Burns grabbing a double from two near-identical Trindall kicks.

Leading 22-4 at the break, the Sharks appeared home before Manly mounted a charge. Ben Trbojevic, Jason Saab and Jamal Fogarty all crossed as the visitors cut the margin to four points. Trindall’s outstanding solo try proved crucial, while a late Mawene Hiroti penalty goal gave Cronulla enough breathing room to withstand the final assault and claim a valuable 28-22 win.

Newcastle Knights 28 – 22 Parramatta Eels

Dylan Lucas strengthened his State of Origin credentials as Newcastle recorded a fourth consecutive victory with a gritty win over Parramatta.

Lucas wasted little time making an impact, crashing through for the opening try before later producing the game’s defining moment with a long-range second-half effort. The Eels repeatedly fought back through Brian Kelly, Dylan Walker, Jordan Samrani and Isaiah Iongi, refusing to let the Knights pull away.

Harrison Graham’s first try for Newcastle and Fletcher Hunt’s late four-pointer ultimately proved decisive. Parramatta had one final chance to steal the result, but Mat Croker’s try-saving tackle on Kitione Kautoga ensured the Knights held on for a deserved six-point victory.

Wests Tigers 22 – 16 Canterbury Bulldogs

The Tigers survived a furious late Bulldogs comeback to secure an important victory at CommBank Stadium.

Wests dominated the opening hour, with Jeral Skelton scoring twice and Faaletino Tavana and Jahream Bula also crossing as the home side established a commanding 16-0 lead. Canterbury finally responded through Jacob Kiraz before halftime and carried that momentum into the second half when Enari Tuala crossed in the corner.

The match featured several controversial moments, including a disallowed Josh Curran try and an earlier bunker decision denying Stephen Crichton. Lachlan Galvin’s late try brought the Bulldogs within six points, but desperate defence from the Tigers in the closing minutes preserved a 22-16 win that was built on their strong first-half performance.

Melbourne Storm 18 – 4 Sydney Roosters

Melbourne produced a disciplined display in difficult conditions to defeat the Roosters at AAMI Park.

The wet weather ensured points were at a premium, with Harry Grant eventually breaking the deadlock after sustained Storm pressure. Billy Smith replied for the Roosters, but Sam Walker’s missed conversion left Melbourne holding a narrow halftime lead.

The Storm gradually tightened their grip after the break. William Warbrick crossed to extend the advantage before Moses Leo delivered the decisive moment, scooping up a loose ball and racing 90 metres untouched. Melbourne’s defence then slammed the door shut, restricting the Roosters to just four points in a performance built on patience, field position and defensive resilience.

St George Illawarra Dragons 30 – 26 Brisbane Broncos

The Dragons finally celebrated their first victory of the season, stunning the reigning premiers at Suncorp Stadium.

Entering the match with 11 consecutive defeats to begin 2026, St George Illawarra showed no signs of lacking confidence. Valentine Holmes and Daniel Atkinson helped establish a 14-2 halftime advantage before Brisbane briefly threatened a comeback through a Jesse Arthars intercept try.

Rather than panic, the Dragons responded emphatically. Tries to Mat Feagai, Holmes and Setu Tu transformed a six-point lead into a commanding 30-8 advantage midway through the second half. The Broncos mounted a late rally through Josiah Karapani, Xavier Willison and Arthars, but the visitors held firm to claim a memorable first win of the year and Dean Young’s first victory since returning as interim coach.

Canberra Raiders 26 – 12 North Queensland Cowboys

Canberra’s Origin stars backed up in style as the Raiders comfortably accounted for North Queensland at GIO Stadium.

The home side dominated the opening half, with Sebastian Kris, Kaeo Weekes, Tom Starling and Ethan Strange all playing key roles in establishing an 18-6 halftime lead. Weekes benefited from a fortunate bounce for one try, while Strange was a constant threat on the edges.

The Raiders never looked troubled after the break. Kris grabbed his second try, Xavier Savage crossed late, and the Cowboys were left chasing the game throughout. A late Heilum Luki try narrowed the margin, but Canberra’s control and attacking polish ensured a convincing 26-12 victory.

Penrith Panthers 20 – 18 New Zealand Warriors

Penrith survived a stirring Warriors comeback to reclaim top spot in a thrilling finish at CommBank Stadium.

Casey McLean starred early, scoring twice as the Panthers built a 16-6 halftime lead. Paul Alamoti also crossed before the break as Penrith appeared to have control against one of their biggest rivals.

The Warriors responded brilliantly after halftime. Taine Tuaupiki finished a sweeping movement before Alofiana Khan-Pereira capitalised on a Penrith error to give the visitors an 18-16 lead. The match swung repeatedly before Alamoti scored his second try with ten minutes remaining to put the Panthers back in front.

New Zealand had opportunities to steal the result late, including a possible Jackson Ford try that was ruled out and a final attacking set deep in Penrith territory. The Panthers, however, held their nerve to secure a narrow 20-18 victory and return to the top of the ladder.