NRL Round 7: Tigers Respond, Roosters Run Riot, Souths End Melbourne Hoodoo

Edward Briggs

Round 7 delivered a mix of statement wins, high-scoring thrillers and one of the most one-sided ANZAC Day clashes in recent memory. Several sides bounced back from recent setbacks, while others continue to search for answers.

Wests Tigers 33 – 14 Canberra Raiders

Adam Doueihi produced a man-of-the-match display as the Tigers responded to last week’s heartbreak with a strong win at Leichhardt Oval. Early tries to Luke Laulilii and Doueihi set the tone, but Canberra stayed in the fight, capitalising on an Apisai Koroisau sin bin through Matthew Timoko and Kaeo Weekes to take a narrow lead into the break.

The second half belonged to the Tigers. Doueihi crossed for his second, Jarome Luai and Jahream Bula combined to unlock the Raiders’ defence, and Laulilii grabbed a double down the left edge. A late field goal from Doueihi and a powerful finish from Royce Hunt sealed a dominant second-half performance.

North Queensland Cowboys 46 – 34 Cronulla Sharks

In one of the most entertaining games of the season, the Cowboys outlasted the Sharks in a 12-try shootout. Siosifa Talakai’s quickfire double helped Cronulla surge early, but Murray Taulagi’s hat-trick kept North Queensland in front.

The Sharks refused to go away, with KL Iro also bagging three tries as the margin tightened to just two points midway through the second half. A crucial 40/20 from Scott Drinkwater shifted momentum late, setting up Tom Dearden’s try before Heilum Luki sealed the result with a long-range effort in the dying moments.

Brisbane Broncos 32 – 12 Canterbury Bulldogs

Brisbane turned in a controlled, clinical performance in wet conditions at Suncorp Stadium to defeat Canterbury. The Broncos dominated the first half, running in four tries to lead 20-0 at the break, with Adam Reynolds pulling the strings throughout.

The Bulldogs showed some fight after Preston Riki was sin-binned, with Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin helping cut the margin, but they were always chasing the game. Brisbane’s defensive composure held firm before Xavier Willison’s late try ensured a comfortable 20-point win.

Sydney Roosters 62 – 16 St George Illawarra Dragons

The Roosters produced a ruthless performance on ANZAC Day, dismantling the Dragons in a record-breaking 62-16 victory. Sam Walker starred with 26 points, scoring twice and adding nine goals to claim the Ashton-Collier Medal.

Early pressure and ill-discipline from the Dragons, including two sin bins, allowed the Roosters to pile on points before halftime, taking a 34-4 lead into the break. The second half brought no relief, with tries flowing through James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Angus Crichton as Sydney recorded their biggest ANZAC Day win over their rivals.

New Zealand Warriors 20 – 18 Dolphins

The Warriors edged a scrappy contest in Wellington, holding off the Dolphins 20-18 in a game dominated by momentum swings and errors. Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored early, but the Dolphins responded through Herbie Farnworth and a Jamayne Isaako double to lead 18-6.

The Warriors clawed back through Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and a second for Khan-Pereira, before taking the lead in a tense second half. A late sin bin to Tom Flegler proved costly, and despite a missed two-point field goal attempt from Isaako, the Dolphins couldn’t find a way through.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 48 – 6 Melbourne Storm

South Sydney snapped a 20-game losing streak in Melbourne in emphatic fashion, thrashing the Storm 48-6. The Rabbitohs dominated from the outset, racing to a 24-0 halftime lead with Alex Johnston scoring twice off the back of Latrell Mitchell’s creativity.

The second half brought more of the same, with Tallis Duncan completing a hat-trick and Campbell Graham adding a double. Melbourne managed just a single late try, as the Storm slumped to a heavy defeat in a performance that never threatened to match Souths’ intensity.

Penrith Panthers 44 – 12 Newcastle Knights

Penrith returned to their dominant best, powered by a rapid first-half hat-trick from Dylan Edwards. Newcastle’s handling errors invited pressure, and the Panthers capitalised ruthlessly, building a 24-6 halftime lead.

The Knights showed brief resistance through Dylan Brown, but Penrith’s class prevailed. Brian To’o crossed twice in quick succession, while Izack Tago’s late intercept put the finishing touches on a commanding 32-point win.

Manly Sea Eagles 33 – 18 Parramatta Eels

Manly climbed the ladder with a convincing win over Parramatta on the northern beaches, led by a masterclass from Jamal Fogarty. After a tight first half, highlighted by Fogarty’s late field goal for a 7-6 lead, the Sea Eagles blew the game open early in the second period.

Lehi Hopoate, Reuben Garrick and Fogarty himself all crossed in a devastating 10-minute burst that put the result beyond doubt. Parramatta managed a late response through Mitchell Moses and Luca Moretti, but the damage had long been done as Manly secured a 33-18 victory.