The Bulldogs, Sharks and Roosters all remain undefeated after three weekends of the Jersey Flegg, while the Dragons and Eels picked up their first victories of the season in Round 3.
Parramatta Eels 22 – 16 Manly Sea Eagles
The Eels were forced to overcome deficits twice to defeat Manly and record their first competition points in 2023. Debutant Lindsay Munro crossed twice inside 10 minutes to seal victory for Parramatta.
Parramatta 22 (L Munro 2, N Hicks, T Williams tries; R Lack 3 goals) def. Manly 16 (T Jarrett, L Tucker, J Uesele tries; B Metcalfe 2 goals) at HE Laybutt Sporting Complex. Referee: P Eden. Half time: Manly 12–6. Sin Bins: J Chan, K Mafoa (MAN), J Brazel (PAR)
Stat sheet
Manly: Caleb Navale – 29 tackles; James Uesele – 161 run metres
Parramatta: Brock Parker – 29 tackles, 177 run metres; Lindsay Munro – 2 line breaks, 1 try assists
Debuts: Kobe Fulton, Dion Yazdani, James Malauulu (Manly), Lindsay Munro (Parramatta)
St George Illawarra Dragons 30 – 26 Newcastle Knights
The Dragons almost threw away 20-point half time lead when the Knights took the lead in the 59th minute, before a late try to centre Johnson put them back in front for good.
St George Illawarra 30 (B Johnson 2, C Watchirs 2, R Pascoe tries; D Courtney 5 goals) def. Newcastle 26 (J Afoa, L Jones, H Reid, C Vea’ila, L Williams tries; J Afoa 3 goals) at Ron Costello Oval. Referee: M Ford. Half time: St George Illawarra 24–4. Sin Bin: C Perryman (SGI)
Stat sheet
St George Illawarra: Ryan Barbuto – 22 tackles; Ben Johnson – 145 run metres; Campbell Watchirs – 2 line breaks; Callum Perryman – 3 try assists
Newcastle: Takarei Kuru – 26 tackles; Braydon Guyan – 147 run metres
Debuts: Riley Pascoe (St George Illawarra); Harry Reid (Newcastle)
Canterbury Bulldogs 38 – 6 Wests Tigers
The Bulldogs flexed their muscle in Camden with a dominant 32-point win over the Tigers. Off-season recruit Samuel Inoke scored twice as his side jumped to the top of the ladder.
Canterbury 38 (S Inoke 2, D Ghantous, C Lawrence, M Lisala, S Moala, R Moyle tries; R Moyle 3, J O’Neill 2 goals) def. Wests Tigers 6 (C Fuatimau try; Z Camroux goal) at Kirkham Oval. Referee: R Morey. Half time: Canterbury 20–6.
Stat sheet
Wests Tigers: Bailey Hodges – 34 tackles, 124 run metres
Canterbury: Samuel Inoke – 19 tackles; Cameron Lawrence – 150 run metres
Debuts: Lachlan Woodger (Wests Tigers); Bryce Wilson (Canterbury)
Sydney Roosters 30 – 20 South Sydney Rabbitohs
A 20–0 half time lead set the Roosters up nicely for their third straight win to begin the season. Roosters’ winger Jordan Swann scored four in his first game of Flegg for 2023.
Sydney 30 (J Swann 4, B Alexander, P Steinwede tries; H Savala 3 goals) def. South Sydney 20 (T Fletcher, L Grossemy, D Hawe-De Thierry, C Kaho tries; J Nohra 2 goals) at Wentworth Park. Referee: B Mani. Half time: Sydney 20–0. Sin Bin: M McCathie (SYD).
Stat sheet
Sydney: Corey Ross – 23 tackles; Caleb Tohi – 174 run metres; Jordan Swann – 4 line breaks; Owen Flaherty – 2 try assists
South Sydney: Cruise Tweedie – 30 tackles; Louis Grossemy – 150 run metres; Dranza Hawe-De Thierry – 2 line breaks
Debuts: Lafi Tuinauvai (Sydney); Thomas Fletcher (South Sydney)
Cronulla Sharks 28 – 16 Canberra Raiders
The Sharks remain perfect in 2023 after a tough win over the Raiders in sweltering temperatures at GIO Stadium.
Cronulla 28 (C Barnes, T Boothroyd, C Fuz, S Healey, N Lester tries; M Riolo 4 goals) def. Canberra 16 (U Asomua, J Pokoney, T Rhea tries; N Ryan 2 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: L Saldern. Half time: Cronulla 18–12. Sin Bin: U Asomua (CAN).
Stat sheet
Canberra: Toby Thorburn – 34 tackles; Utuloa Asomua – 173 run metres; Chevy Stewart – 2 try assists
Cronulla: Blake Hosking – 32 tackles; Lachlan Crouch – 151 run metres; Cain Barnes – 2 line breaks
Debuts: Cain Barnes (Cronulla)
Round 3 Highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/03/20/jersey-flegg-cup-highlights–round-three/
Click HERE for the Jersey Flegg Cup ladder
| Top try scorers | Top point scorers |
| 5 Isaac GUBA (Sydney) | 28 Eli CLARK (Canterbury) |
| 4 Jordan SWANN (Sydney) | 28 Max RIOLO (Cronulla) |
| 3 Matua ROBINSON (Sydney) | 20 Isaac GUBA (Sydney) |
| 2 Jahoiyakim AFOA (Newcastle) | 18 Tyler COLLEY (Sydney) |
| 2 Utuloa ASOMUA (Canberra) | 18 Keagan RUSSELL-SMITH (Melbourne) |
| 2 Josh BILLING (Canberra) | 16 Ryley SMITH (Penrith) |
| 2 Cameron BROWN (Manly) | 16 Jordan SWANN (Sydney) |
| 2 Eli CLARK (Canterbury) | 14 Jahoiyakim AFOA (Newcastle) |
| 2 Cody FUZ (Cronulla) | 14 Cameron BROWN (Manly) |
| 2 Louis GROSSEMY (South Sydney) | 14 Zane CAMROUX (Wests Tigers) |
| Round 4 | |||||
| 25 March | St George Illawarra Dragons | v | Cronulla Sharks | Sid Parrish Park | View |
| 25 March | Melbourne Storm | v | Wests Tigers | Comely Banks Reserve | View |
| 25 March | Parramatta Eels | v | Penrith Panthers | New Era Stadium | View |
| 25 March | South Sydney Rabbitohs | v | Manly Sea Eagles | Accor Stadium | View |
| 26 March | Newcastle Knights | v | Canberra Raiders | McDonald Jones Stadium | View |
Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters – BYE
18TH MAN 