Upsets Galore in NRL Round 4

Edward Briggs

Round 4 felt like a turning point in the early season, with several favourites brought back to earth and underdogs stepping up across the weekend. The Tigers stunned the previously unbeaten Warriors, the Cowboys knocked off the Storm, and the Roosters piled on points in hostile territory. It was a round that showed just how unpredictable this season is shaping up to be.

Sydney Roosters 33 – 16 Manly Sea Eagles

Daly Cherry-Evans returned to 4 Pines Park to a chorus of boos, but it was the Roosters who had the last laugh with a strong second-half performance. Manly struck inside the opening minute through Tom Trbojevic, but the Roosters responded through a double to Mark Nawaqanitawase.

Tolutau Koula produced a stunning 80-metre solo try to give Manly a halftime lead, but it all unravelled after the break. Three tries in six minutes - to Robert Toia, Connor Watson and a Daniel Tupou penalty try - blew the game open. Errors and missed chances hurt Manly late, while Toia sealed the win with his second.

Wests Tigers 32 – 14 New Zealand Warriors

The Tigers produced one of the upsets of the season, overturning a 10-0 deficit to dominate the Warriors in Auckland. Early tries to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jacob Laban had the hosts in control, but Adam Doueihi turned the game.

Doueihi was central to everything, setting up multiple tries and slicing through the defence himself, while Kai Pearce-Paul and Royce Hunt capitalised on growing pressure. The Warriors were left scoreless for a 50-minute stretch, and despite a late double to Nicoll-Klokstad, the Tigers ran away with a statement win.

Brisbane Broncos 26 – 12 Dolphins

The Broncos backed up last week’s resurgence with a fast-paced win over the Dolphins in Brisbane. Kotoni Staggs opened the scoring with a remarkable finish, before Adam Reynolds added a clever solo try to give the hosts control.

The Dolphins stayed within reach through Jamayne Isaako and a Jake Averillo intercept, but Brisbane’s class showed late. Reece Walsh and Gehamat Shibasaki crossed in the second half, before Staggs sealed the result with a long-range effort. Despite the frantic nature of the contest, the Broncos were able to manage the chaos better when it mattered.

Newcastle Knights 24 – 16 Canterbury Bulldogs

The Knights held off a spirited Bulldogs comeback to secure a hard-fought win at Accor Stadium. Newcastle dominated the first half, with Dominic Young, Sandon Smith and Dylan Lucas building a 16-0 lead.

Canterbury surged back into the contest after halftime, with Matt Burton scoring twice as they controlled possession and territory. But Young proved the difference, restoring the lead before sealing his hat-trick with a decisive intercept try. The Bulldogs pushed late but couldn’t convert their dominance into enough points.

Penrith Panthers 48 – 20 Parramatta Eels

Penrith continued their unbeaten start with a blistering win over Parramatta in the Western Sydney derby. Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i and Blaize Talagi powered the Panthers to an early 18-0 lead, setting the tone for a dominant night.

Nathan Cleary controlled proceedings, while Thomas Jenkins continued his remarkable scoring run with another double. Parramatta showed glimpses through Josh Addo-Carr and Bailey Simonsson, but errors and injuries - including a suspected ACL to Matt Doorey - compounded a tough night as Penrith ran away with it.

North Queensland Cowboys 28 – 24 Melbourne Storm

The Cowboys produced one of the performances of the round, coming from behind to stun the Storm in a thrilling contest. Melbourne looked in control early, with Will Warbrick scoring four tries, but couldn’t close the game out.

North Queensland surged late, with tries to Sam McIntyre, Heilum Luki and Braidon Burns turning the game on its head in the final 10 minutes. Scott Drinkwater and Jake Clifford were key throughout, while the Cowboys’ defence held firm under late pressure to secure a memorable win.

Cronulla Sharks 34 – 22 Canberra Raiders

The Sharks came out on top in a chaotic, high-scoring clash in Canberra. Early sin-bin trouble for the Raiders proved costly, with Cronulla racing to an early lead through Teig Wilton and KL Iro.

Canberra fought back through Kaeo Weekes and Savelio Tamale, levelling the scores in a seesawing contest. But errors at the back proved decisive, allowing Sam Stonestreet and Jesse Colquhoun to cross late before Nicho Hynes sealed the result with a penalty goal.

Gold Coast Titans 22 – 14 St George Illawarra Dragons

The Titans secured their first win of the season, powered by a dominant performance from Arama Hau. The Dragons started strongly through Tyrell Sloan and Damien Cook, but errors and missed chances proved costly.

Phillip Sami’s 80-metre intercept turned the momentum, while Jayden Campbell and Hau combined effectively in the second half, with the backrower scoring twice. Late discipline issues from the Dragons allowed the Titans to close out a deserved victory.