Penrith Panthers 26 – 16 Wests Tigers
Penrith leapfrogged the Tigers into 5th spot with a 10-point victory at Leichhardt.
Penrith 26 (R Smith 2, C Lawson, K Mai, T Tonga tries; K Russell-Smith 3 goals) def. Wests Tigers 16 (J Anjoul, K Picken, M Tannous tries; Z Camroux 2 goals) at Leichhardt Oval.
Stat sheet
Wests Tigers: Michael Tannous – 35 tackles; Tukimihia Simpkins – 93 run metres
Penrith: Hohepa Puru – 36 tackles; Ilai Tuia – 161 run metres
Canterbury Bulldogs 38 – 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Bulldogs put seven tries past the Rabbitohs at Belmore to keep their faint finals hopes alive.
Canterbury 38 (E Clark, B Clarke, H Hayes, B Hayward, J Mazzone, J O’Neill, J Su’A tries; B Hayward 5 goals) def. South Sydney 12 (K Bray, I Vailalo tries; T Munro 2 goals) at Belmore Sports Ground.
Stat sheet
Canterbury: Brandon Clarke – 34 tackles; Jordi Mazzone – 136 run metres, 2 line breaks
South Sydney: Jaxson Rahme – 29 tackles; Zane Bijorac – 185 run metres
Debuts: Eric Vaafusuaga* (Canterbury)
*Previously played Colts
St George Illawarra Dragons 20 – 18 Sydney Roosters
After leading 20-0, the Dragons held off a second half comeback to snap the Roosters nine-game winning streak.
St George Illawarra 20 (D Grant, A Lobb, B Wallace, R Wooden tries; S Hooper 2 goals) def. Sydney 18 (X Chatfield-Mooka, Z Montgomery, S Vaenuku tries; H Savala 3 goals) at Central Coast Stadium.
Stat sheet
Sydney: Michael Coleman – 38 tackles; Jack Stringer – 166 run metres
St George Illawarra: Toby Couchman – 33 tackles; Callum Gromek – 160 run metres
Debuts: Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney)
Parramatta Eels 40 – 6 Cronulla Sharks
Parramatta’s dominant 26-0 first half laid the platform for their big 34-point win over the Sharks.
Parramatta 40 (C Fenning 2, J Colovatti, R Jones, M Komolafe, E Sanders, J Skinner, T Williams tries; C Fenning 4 goals) def. Cronulla 6 (K Ball try; T Wilton goal) at Kellyville Park.
Stat sheet
Parramatta: Brock Parker – 21 tackles; Matt Komolafe – 179 run metres
Cronulla: Sam Healey – 38 tackles; Sam Stonestreet – 135 run metres
Debuts: Mac Puafisi (Parramatta)
Manly Sea Eagles 30 – 12 Newcastle Knights
Manly’s 18-point win over Newcastle, their fourth straight, puts them just two points outside the top five.
Manly 30 (S Aukusitino 2, G Chan Kum Tong, S Fainu, J Humphreys tries; J Humphreys 4, C Thompson goals) def. Newcastle 12 (J Johnson, L Sutton tries; T Cant 2 goals) at 4 Pines Park.
Stat sheet
Manly: Samuela Fainu – 24 tackles; Sanele Aukusitino – 184 run metres, 3 line breaks
Newcastle: Riley Jones – 42 tackles; David Armstrong – 137 run metres; James Johnson – 2 tackles
Canberra Raiders 24 – 12 Victoria Thunderbolts
Sione Vuki scored a hat-trick in the Raiders 12-point win over Victoria, keeping them firmly in the finals hunt.
Canberra 24 (S Vuki 3, A Mariota tries; B Schneider 3, S Vuki goals) def. Victoria 12 (C Geyer 2 tries; S Faalogo 2 goals) at AAMI Park.
Stat sheet
Victoria: Cole Geyer – 42 tackles, 2 line breaks; Sualauvi Faalogo – 201 run metres
Canberra: Ata Mariota – 34 tackles, 190 run metres; Sione Vuki – 3 line breaks
Debuts: Livai Kaloutolu, Brad Schneider, Jayden Clarkson (Canberra)
Round 17 Highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/07/18/jersey-flegg-cup-highlights-round-18/
Click HERE for the Jersey Flegg Cup ladder
| Top Try Scorers | Top Point Scorers |
| 15 Jack Mossman (Sydney) | 142 Ryan Rivett (Cronulla) |
| 12 Sanele Aukusitino (Manly) | 108 Hugo Savala (Sydney) |
| 11 Isaiah Iongi (Penrith) | 84 Niwhai Puru (Penrith) |
| 10 William Fakatoumafi (Penrith) | 80 Sam Hooper (St George Illawarra) |
| 10 Jacob Preston (Sydney) | 78 Thomas Cant (Newcastle) |
| 10 Jordan Samrani (Cronulla) | 78 Jack Mossman (Sydney) |
| 10 Ethan Sanders (Parramatta) | 76 Corey Fenning (Parramatta) |
| 9 Sualauvi Faalogo (Victoria) | 76 Jonah Pezet (Victoria) |
| 9 Matt Komolafe (Parramatta) | 71 Jamie Humphreys (Manly) |
| 9 Thomas Rodwell (Cronulla) | 70 Eli Clark (Canterbury) |
Round 19
Friday, July 22
Newcastle v St George Illawarra – McDonald Jones, 5:30pm
Saturday, July 23
Canberra v Canterbury – GIO, 11am
South Sydney v Victoria – Accor, 3:30pm
Sunday, July 24
Manly v Penrith – HE Laybutt, 1pm
Sydney v Cronulla – Waverley, 3pm
Parramatta, Wests Tigers – BYE
18TH MAN 