Check out what happened in Suncorp Stadium’s Magic Round (and women’s Origin Game 1) in the National Rugby League competition.
Review
Embed from Getty ImagesCanterbury-Bankstown (16 points, +94) stayed on top of the ladder at the end of Magic Round.
They’re two points ahead of Canberra (14, +60) and the NZ Warriors (14, 0), and four points ahead of Melbourne (12, +76). Brisbane (10, +54), Cronulla-Sutherland (10, +49), Manly Warringah (10, +36), and the Wests Tigers (10, +20) rounded out the top eight.
And the Anzac Round chaos (18 sin bins) wasn’t repeated in Magic Round, with the majority of head contact penalties put on report.
Jacob Kiraz scored a hat-trick in the Bulldogs’ win over the Gold Coast (and Canterbury’s first Magic Round win). The Bulldogs led 12-0 after 13 minutes and were never headed from there, despite the Titans getting within four points late in the first half. Canterbury put the game away with a three-try, 10 minute burst after half-time, including Kiraz’s second and third tries.
Canberra closed Magic Round with a Golden Point win over Melbourne. In an eventful Golden Point period, Stefano Utoikamanu and Josh Papalii were sin binned in the 83rd minute. Jamal Fogarty missed the field goal late in the first period, but Canberra got the goal line drop out. Canberra then got a dangerous tackle penalty (Trent Loiero on Hudson Young), with Fogarty kicking the penalty goal. Melbourne raced to a 14-0 lead after 16 minutes, but Canberra closed the margin to two points by half-time. With Melbourne leading 18-12 in the final minutes, a Papenhuyzen field goal was denied after a penalty against Loiero, then Kaeo Weekes tied the game with wonderful chip-and-chase try (and Fogarty converting).
The NZ Warriors stayed in the top four after surviving a second half fightback from North Queensland. The Warriors looked like cruising to their third straight win when they led 30-12 early in the second half. But the Cowboys – after scoring 44 straight points against the Gold Coast last weekend – scored three tries in seven minutes to get within four points. Murray Taulagi looked to have tied the game, after scoring in the left corner with 15 minutes left, but Luke Metcalf tackled him into touch. It continued Metcalf’s excellent game, scoring 18 points (two tries and five goals).
Cronulla-Sutherland stayed in touch with the top four after beating Parramatta. The Sharks rebounded from last Sunday’s Golden Point loss, with Samuel Stonestreet scoring two of their five tries. The Sharks led 22-6 after 58 minutes before Josh Addo-Carr (scoring his second try) and Dylan Brown got Parramatta within four points.
The Wests Tigers returned to the top eight after beating St George Illawarra. Charlie Staines scored two tries as the Tigers led 20-10 after 31 minutes. Then came the “12 point play” on half-time: Jaydn Su’A took advantage of a three-man overlap to cross the tryline, but he fumbled the footy and Jahream Bula picked it up and ran 105 metres untouched to give Wests a 26-10 lead. Jacob Liddle scored two tries in three minutes to get the Dragons (though they resembled the Illawarra Steelers in their red and white alternate jerseys) within four points with 23 minutes left. Valentine Holmes finished with 12 points (a try and four goals).
Mark Nawaqanitawase, Victor Radley, and Robert Toia scored two tries each in the Sydney Roosters’ win over The Dolphins. The final margin didn’t reflect the Roosters’ dominance as they led 32-8 after 51 minutes. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored two tries as the Dolphins threatened an unlikely comeback in the second half. It was Nawaqanitawase’s first try double (in his eighth NRL game) after crossing codes from rugby union last year.
Fletcher Sharpe scored a 21st birthday hat-trick as Newcastle piled on the points against South Sydney. The Knights scored just 36 points in their last five losses – and they nearly matched that total in 80 minutes. Though Bradman Best’s try was arguably the try of the game: on Newcastle’s 30 metre line, Kalyn Ponga fired a cut-out pass to Best on the left-hand sideline; Best ran 20 metres, passed back inside to Ponga, who ran another 30 meters before passing back to Best.
Penrith kept their season alive with a win over Brisbane. It takes them off the bottom of the ladder, while Brisbane missed a chance to enter the top four. Nathan Cleary scored 16 points (a try and six goals) and his try on half-time was a duplicate of his match-winning try in the 2023 Grand Final. With Penrith leading 20-8 at the break, Thomas Jenkins scored two second half tries to put the game away.
Women’s Origin Game 1
NSW won the first women’s Origin to kick off Magic Round. After losing last year’s series, the Blues got on off to a strong start in front of 26,022 fans, scoring three second half tries to build on a 14-12 half-time lead. Jayme Fressard scored a double for NSW. Queensland will need to beat NSW twice in “enemy territory” to retain the Origin shield, with Game 2 at Allianz Stadium and Game 3 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesResults
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 28 defeated Parramatta Eels 18 (Suncorp Stadium, 2/5/2025, 18:00)
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 17. Thomas Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Daniel Atkinson
Players cut from final squad: 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 21. Hohepa Puru
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 17. Sam Tuivaiti 22. Jordan Samrani 19. Joash Papali’i
Players cut from final squad: 16. Matt Doorey 18. Ryan Matterson 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Bryce Cartwright
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Chris Butler
Sydney Roosters 36 defeated Dolphins 26 (Suncorp Stadium, 2/5/2025, 20:00)
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Egan Butcher 18. Ethan King
Players cut from final squad: 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Chad Townsend 21. Dominic Young 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 10. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 13. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 16. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Tom Gilbert 15. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Harrison Graham
Players cut from final squad: 8. Felise Kaufusi 14. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Kenny Bromwich 22. Max Feagai
Referee: Grant Atkins
Bunker: Kasey Badger
South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 lost to Newcastle Knights 30 (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 15:00)
Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Euan Aitken 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 19. Lewis Dodd 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Jai Arrow 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Davvy Moale 17. Fletcher Myers 18. Thomas Fletcher
Players cut from final squad: 6. Jack Wighton 20. Joshua Schuster 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Nazareth Taua
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Adam Elliott 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant
Players cut from final squad: 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Tyrone Thompson
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Bunker: Ashley Klein
New Zealand Warriors 30 defeated North Queensland Cowboys 26 (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 17:30)
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 5. Adam Pompey 23. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Marata Niukore 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Bunty Afoa 20. Samuel Healey 14. Te Maire Martin
Players cut from final squad: 4. Ali Leiataua 18. Tanner Stowers-Smith 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Eddie Ieremia
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Zac Laybutt
Players cut from final squad: 19. Karl Lawton 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Thomas Mikaele
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Chris Butler
Wests Tigers 34 defeated St George-Illawarra Dragons 28 (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 19:45)
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 5. Brent Naden 23. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar
Players cut from final squad: 4. Starford To’a 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lyhkan King-Togia 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Jack de Belin 16. Emre Guler 17. Luciano Leilua 19. Nathan Lawson
Players cut from final squad: 18. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 20. Blake Lawrie 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Bunker: Kasey Badger
Gold Coast Titans 18 lost to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 38 (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 13:50)
Titans: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 18. Tony Francis 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 12. Beau Fermor 14. Klese Haas 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Chris Randall 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Arama Hau 17. Josiah Pahulu 21. Tukimihia Simpkins
Players cut from final squad: 5. Jojo Fifita 19. David Fifita 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 22. Allan Fitzgibbon
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe 19. Lipoi Hopoi
Players cut from final squad: 20. Blake Wilson 21. Jake Turpin 22. Luke Smith 23. Drew Hutchison
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Chris Butler
Penrith Panthers 32 defeated Brisbane Broncos 8 (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 16:05)
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 14. Trent Toelau 16. Lindsay Smith 12. Liam Martin 15. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Isaah Yeo 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer 19. Luron Patea 20. Casey McLean
Players cut from final squad: 11. Scott Sorensen 18. Daine Laurie 21. Billy Scott 22. Jack Cole
Broncos: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 16. Brendan Piakura 13. Kobe Hetherington 12. Jordan Riki 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Tyson Smoothy
Players cut from final squad: 19. Martin Taupau 20. Josiah Karapani 21. Jock Madden 22. Benjamin Te Kura
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Kasey Badger
Melbourne Storm 18 lost to Canberra Raiders 20 – Golden Point (Suncorp Stadium, 3/5/2025, 18:25)
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan 18. Ativalu Lisati
Players cut from final squad: 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi
Players cut from final squad: 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Grant Atkins
BYE: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Match Review
Braydon Trindall (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
Zach Dockar-Clay (Sydney Roosters), Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $750 fine.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins), Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys), Grade 2 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 2 matches.
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1800 fine.
Jacob Preston (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Grade 1 Crusher Tackle. Outcome: Guilty at Panel – 4 matches.
Sebastian Kris (Canberra Raiders), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1800 fine.
