The Knights and Dragons got their seasons underway in Round 2, the Rabbitohs snapped a long losing streak and the Roosters and Sharks put the competition on notice in a big weekend of action.
Cronulla Sharks 34 – 14 Parramatta Eels
It was another big win for the Sharks in Round 2, who followed up their 18-point win with a dominant 20-point victory over the Eels
Cronulla 34 (H O’Kane 2, C Fuz, B Hosking, B Lavender, M Waitere tries; M Riolo 4, C Fuz goals) def. Parramatta 14 (B Newlands, T Williams, N Wrathall tries; R Lack goal) at New Era Stadium. Referee: M Ford. Half time: Cronulla 22-4.
Stat sheet
Parramatta: Jock Brazel – 33 tackles; Turoa Williams – 116 run metres
Cronulla: Blake Hosking– 27 tackles; Lachlan Crouch – 138 run metres; Max Riolo – 2 try assists
Debuts: Lachlan Mears-Crabbe, Tyson Chase* (Parramatta)
*Previously played Colts
Canterbury Bulldogs 32 – 10 St George Illawarra Dragons
Canterbury gave the Dragons a tough welcome to 2023 with 22-point win in Wollongong. The Bulldogs led 32-0 before the Dragons scored in the 59th minute.
Canterbury 32 (E Clark 2, T Nean 2, H Hayes, L Smith tries; E Clark 4 goals) def. St George Illawarra 10 (R Hodgson, C Roberts tries; D Courtney goal) at Collegians Sports Centre. Referee: D Wells. Half time: Canterbury 14-0.
Stat sheet
St George Illawarra: Ryan Barbuto – 28 tackles; Cooper Roberts – 154 run metres
Canterbury: Lachlan Vale – 21 tackles; Noah Johannssen – 126 run metres; Eli Clark – 2 line breaks; Reuben Moyle – 2 try assists
Debuts: Dane Courtney, Brock Sepulveda, Ben Rumble, Ryan Hodgson, Ryan Barbuto, Matthew Noakes (St George Illawarra)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 17 – 16 Penrith Panthers
The Rabbitohs 11-game losing streak came to an end in dramatic fashion with a one-point victory over the reigning premiers. Joseph Nohra’s first half field goal proved to be the game winner.
South Sydney 17 (C Kaho, D Leugaimafa, J Rahme tries; J Nohra 2 goals, field goal) def. Penrith 16 (L Ison, C Lawson, R Smith tries; R Smith 2 goals) at BlueBet Stadium. Referee: C Suters. Half time: South Sydney 11-10.
Stat sheet
Penrith: Aston Warwick – 34 tackles; Liam Ison – 169 run metres
South Sydney: Louis Grossemy – 31 tackles; Carson Kaho – 167 run metres
Debuts: Emmanuel Di Bartolo (South Sydney)
Melbourne Storm 34 – 20 Manly Sea Eagles
Melbourne got their first Flegg win as the Storm with a strong 14-point victory over Manly. They ran in six tries against a Manly side still searching for their first win.
Melbourne 34 (S Diaz, A Hinchey, M Jennings, T Petelo, K Russell-Smith, C Williamson tries; K Russell-Smith 5 goals) def. Manly 20 (C Brown, J Chan, B Ottmann, H Wilson tries; C Brown 2 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: P Eden. Half time: 10-all.
Stat sheet
Melbourne: Angus Hinchey – 19 tackles; Ammaron Gudgeon – 85 run metres, 2 try assists
Manly: Gordon Chan Kum Tong – 16 tackles; Fletcher Myers – 94 run metres
Debuts: Coby Williamson*, De’ontae Perese, Kobi Aiesi, Joshua Berryman (Melbourne); Tutonu Junior Wright (Manly)
*Previously played Colts
Wests Tigers 32 – 20 Newcastle Knights
Like the Dragons, the Knights were unable to open their season with a victory. The Tigers’ 16-point second half was too much for the visitors.
Wests Tigers 32 (J Feledy, B Hodges, J Kirk, M Tanner, H Tofaeono, J Tuipulotu tries; Z Camroux 4 goals) def. Newcastle 20 (J Afoa, F Forsythe, N Nailagoliva, L Pietzner tries; L Sutton 2 goals) at Leichhardt Oval. Referee: L Saldern. Half time: 16-all.
Stat sheet
Wests Tigers: Finnley Neilsen – 27 tackles; Cayne Nicholas – 135 run metres; Jaycob Anjoul – 2 try assits
Newcastle: Jack Cullen – 30 tackles; Oryn Keeley – 157 run metres
Debut: Tanous Sukkar, John Tuipulotu (Wests Tigers); Jahoiyakim Afoa*, Jhett Butler, Jack Cullen*, Freeman Forsythe, Logan Jones, Takarei Kuru, Jackson Shade, Aiden Shepherd (Newcastle)
*Previously played Colts
Sydney Roosters 48 – 16 Canberra Raiders
A dominant 32-point second half gave the Roosters their second win of the season and top spot on the ladder after two rounds.
Sydney 48 (I Guba 3, M Robinson 2, T Colley, T Fakaosi, H Savala, W Waqanisaravi tries; T Colley 4, H Savala 2 goals) def. Canberra 16 (J Billing, J Sandford, C Stewart tries; N Ryan 2 goals) at Raiders Belconnen. Referee: R Morey. Half time: 16-all.
Stat sheet
Canberra: Toby Thorburn – 34 tackles; Livai Kaloutolu – 154 run metres
Sydney: Max McCathie – 21 tackles; Tayson Fakaosi – 171 run metres; Owen Flaherty – 2 try assists
Debuts: Chevy Stewart, Arthur Brown (Canberra); Christian Abal, Kenny Saad (Sydney)
Round 2 Highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/03/13/jersey-flegg-cup-highlights–round-two/
Dragons v Bulldogs highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/03/11/nswrl-tv-highlights–jersey-flegg-cup-dragons-v-bulldogs—round-two/
Click HERE for the Jersey Flegg Cup ladder
| Top try scorers | Top goal scorers |
| 5 Isaac Guba (Sydney) | 28 Eli Clark (Canterbury) |
| 3 Matua Robinson (Sydney) | 20 Isaac Guba (Sydney) |
| 2 Josh Billing (Canberra) | 20 Max Riolo (Cronulla) |
| 2 Cameron Brown (Manly) | 18 Tyler Colley (Sydney) |
| 2 Eli Clark (Canterbury) | 18 Keagan Russell-Smith (Melbourne) |
| 2 Harry Hayes (Canterbury) | 16 Ryley Smith (Penrith) |
| 2 Matthew Hill (Melbourne) | 14 Cameron Brown (Manly) |
| 2 Liam Ison (Penrith) | 12 Zane Camroux (Wests Tigers) |
| 2 Cody Lawson (Penrith) | 12 Matua Robinson (Sydney) |
| 2 Kylan Mafoa (Manly) | 8 Josh Billing (Canberra) |
| Round 3 | |||||
| 18 March | St George Illawarra Dragons | v | Newcastle Knights | Ron Costello Oval | View |
| 18 March | Manly Sea Eagles | v | Parramatta Eels | HE Laybutt Sporting Complex | View |
| 18 March | Wests Tigers | v | Canterbury Bulldogs | Kirkham Oval | View |
| 18 March | Sydney Roosters | v | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Wentworth Park | View |
| 19 March | Canberra Raiders | v | Cronulla Sharks | GIO Stadium | View |
Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers – BYE
18TH MAN 