NRL Round 27: Live scores, SuperCoach news & analysis from Dragons vs Raiders, Bulldogs vs Cowboys & Panthers vs Titans
It’s been a huge Super Saturday of NRL games, as the Panthers and Cowboys secured home finals, while the Raiders came back to beat the Dragons. See all the SuperCoach winners and losers.
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It’s been a huge Super Saturday of NRL games, as the Panthers and Cowboys beat the Titans and Bulldogs respectively to secure home finals, while the Raiders came back to beat the Dragons. See all the SuperCoach winners and losers.
WINNERS
1. Heilum Luki (116pts) – The best player in a firing Cowboys team. A try, four line breaks and eight tackle breaks. Caused absolute chaos for the Bulldogs.
2. Kyle Feldt (101pts) – Scored his 150th NRL try and his 151st soon after.
3. Scott Drinkwater (101pts) – Pulled the strings to perfection. Scored himself a try, helped set up two others and was dangerous whenever he got involved.
4. Valentine Holmes (82pts) – Scored a try on a great night for North Queensland.
5. Tom Dearden (81pts) – It would be hard for any SuperCoach user not to put this guy in their side. What a game.
6. Dylan Edwards (93pts) – A try and 235m of running from the Panthers fullback.
7. Brian To’o (87pts) – A try and a line break in another energetic game.
8. Jayden Campbell (80pts) – Scored a try, had a line break and six tackle busts.
9. Jacob Liddle (120pts) – A try, three line breaks and 11 tackle busts for the Dragon.
10. Hudson Young (107pts) – A working class night for the Raider who scored a try, made a couple of line breaks and made 34 tackles.
LOSERS
1. Jacob Kiraz (23pts) – Played 80 minutes but it was bleak for the Bulldog, who also picked up a shoulder injury at the death.
2. Connor Tracey (28pts) – The fullback struggled to make any kind of impact.
3. Stephen Crichton (29pts) – Put on ice towards the end of the game ahead of the finals series.
4. Jonathan Sua (32pts) – A quiet night for the winger and one who could be benched by coaches.
5. Eli Clark (36pts) – Canterbury’s other winger struggled to influence the game.
6. Brian Kelly (29pts) – Made a couple of really poor errors on a tough night.
7. Tanah Boyd (16pts) – Failed to make the impact he would have liked.
8. Jarome Luai (31pts) – Not what SuperCoach users would have been expecting to get from the elite playmaker.
9. Ethan Strange (30pts) – A couple of errors and wasn’t very effective in offence.
10. Kaeo Weekes (35pts) – Missed tackles, missed goals and missed opportunity to score some decent SuperCoach points.
11. Tyrell Sloan (33pts) – Made some poor errors with the ball in hand.
MATCH REPORT: PANTHERS SURVIVE SCARE TO CLAIM SECOND SPOT
Hurry back, Nathan.
The Penrith Panthers look nothing like a premiership winning team after holding on 18-12 to the Titans at home on Saturday night.
They desperately need their champion halfback Nathan Cleary next week.
There’s been debate around whether the three-time defending premiers can win the competition without Cleary but that was put to bed last night.
The 21,525 fans who turned up were expecting an easy hit-out and a big win.
But there was a point when they wondered if they would be coming back to Penrith Park for a qualifying final a week later.
Penrith completed at just 68 per cent and were lucky the Titans only competed at 72 per cent.
There were 29 errors in the game that no doubt left Penrith fans concerned.
The big positive for Penrith is they got through unscathed on the injury front and will be full strength next week.
Brian To’o scored his 37th try at Penrith Park when he dived over in the seventh minute to get the Panthers rolling.
Jarome Luai got tackled a few times on the fifth tackle and things were clunky for the champions.
Luai started looking like a top halfback in the 50th minute when he put in a nice grubber for Luke Garner to score and give the home side a 10-point lead.
To’o appeared to score in the 60th minute but the on-field call of no try was given by the bunker.
Jarome Luai with the beautiful set up here! ðŸ˜
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 7, 2024
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To’o was the best Penrith player, running for 219m and often getting his team out of trouble to start the sets.
The Roosters, despite losing key players, will no doubt feel confident about breaking their Penrith hoodoo next Friday night.
The Tri-colours haven’t beaten Penrith since 2019 but won’t head west next weekend without a hope.
Not only does Penrith need Cleary back next week, they probably need him to be man of the match if they’re to win.
Which is huge pressure for the halfback given he’s had no football for nearly a month.
But if there’s a man to do it, it’s Cleary.
STICKING TO THE PLAN
Good on the Titans for not applying the tactics used by the Tigers and Eels 24 hours earlier in Spoon Bowl.
Both those teams just threw the ball around and weren’t concerned much about getting into a grind and defending.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira goes the length of the field and the Titans are right back in this! 💨
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 7, 2024
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Des Hasler’s men got into the grind and played like they were the ones getting ready for finals football.
It was a real professional display by a team who had nothing to play for.
Jayden Campbell stepped past three Penrith players to put the Titans on the board with some brilliance.
“Look at the step he puts on to beat Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards, two NSW players,” Fox Sports commentator Greg Alexander said.
Speedster Alofiana Kahn-Pereira scooped up a loose ball to run the length of the field to give his team a hope in the final 10 minutes.
FULLTIME: Panthers 18-12
It wasn’t convincing by any means but Penrith has beaten Gold Coast in the final regular season game.
They have locked in second place on the ladder in what is the fifth year in a row they have ended in the top two. They are likely to play the Roosters in week one of the finals.
75th minute: Panthers 18-12
Penrith has kicked a penalty goal to add two points to its total and ensure Titans need a converted try to draw things level with minutes to go.
Kieran Foran gave the penalty away after collecting Jarome Luai high.
68th minute: Panthers 16-12
Alofiana Khan-Pereira has stormed down nearly the length of the field to score a try and put the Titans right back in the game going into the final 10 minutes.
Brian Kelly put Dylan Edwards under enormous pressure when Penrith went searching for another try and it resulted in the ball going to ground. Enter Khan-Pereira.
The NRL’s leading try-scorer couldn’t be caught and Jayden Campbell converted the try to reduce the margin to just four points.
60th minute: Panthers 16-6
Moments after Brian Kelly dropped the ball in front of his own tryline in a move that nearly ended with a Penrith try, the Titans has come close to scoring at the other end.
Kelly stripped the ball from Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards and scored but it was denied by the bunker who said the ball was knocked on in the process.
Seconds after that Jaimin Jolliffe is put on report for a crusher tackle.
50th minute: Panthers 16-6
Luke Garner has pounched on a kick from playmaker Jarome Luai to score and give Penrith the biggest lead of the game.
It’s Luai’s 19th try assist from 21 games this season and Penrith look to be a completely differnt team early in the second half.
43rd minute: Panthers 10-6
Penrith have slipped back into the lead after Jacob Alick-Wiencke lost his footing in the defensive line.
Dylan Edwards was the man to take advantage and he broken through the gap to score for a Panthers team that looks a lot more energetic early in the second half.
HALFTIME: Titans 6-4
Gold Coast have come to play and Penrith have looked vulnerable to say the least.
It’s uncharacteristic from both sides who have essentially swapped roles.
35th minute: Titans 6-4
Jojo Fifita has let a try go begging. Tanah Boyd put up a high kick and Fifita was the only player to really contest the ball in the air but he failed to secure the footy and dropped it as a result over the line.
15th minute: Titans 6-4
Jayden Campbell has made a loose ball look like a set play and put Gold Coast in front in the process.
Kieran Foran passed it out the back and the ball hit the deck before Campbell beat three Panthers defenders with some slick footwork before strolling through under the posts.
It’s the first time Campbell has ever played at Penrith Park after growing up watching his father Preston play at the venue.
6th minute: Panthers 4-0
Brian To’o may be missing his headgear but his ability to find the tryline isn’t.
Penrith has punished Gold Coast after Alofiana Khan-Pereira lost the ball and have put pressure on early.
PANTHERS V TITANS LATEMAIL
Penrith will go into the game unchanged while backrower Arama Hau is set to make his debut for the Titans while Klese Haas will go to the bench.
Jayden Campbell will shift to fullback for Gold Coast while Tanah Boyd has come into the Halves. Keano Kini will miss the game with a cork while David Fifita is out with an ankle issue.
FULLTIME: Cowboys 44-6
North Queensland has demolished Canterbury to lock in a home elimination final in Townsville next week. It was a complete performance from the Cowboys who have sent a shot across the bow of rivals who may come up against them in the finals.
73rd minute: Cowboys 44-6
Jacob Kiraz looks to have injured his left shoulder after copping a knee from Holmes and seconds later the Cowboys score another try via Taulagi.
Tom Dearden provided a bullet pass to Taulagi down the left edge and the Cowboy strolled over untouched.
This is currently the Cowboys biggest win over the Bulldogs.
69th minute: Cowboys 38-6
Murray Taulagi has intercepted the ball on a Bulldogs attacking play to storm from his own 30m line to the tryline.
Just as Canterbury seemed to get its act together they put the ball on a platter for Taulagi who is part of a Cowboys team that will go into week one of the finals full of confidence. Meanwhile Kikau has been taken off as the Bulldogs attempt to keep him fresh for next week.
61st minute: Cowboys 32-6
Toby Sexton has managed to get Canterbury on the board! It’s a miracle.
Sexton put up a high ball and was able to contest the kick against Drinkwater and managed to collect the ball before putting it down.
59th minute: Cowboys 32-0
The mercy rule may be needed soon for Canterbury. Holmes has heaped more misery on the hapless Bulldogs. Scott Drinkwater was put under enormous pressure on his own 40m line but he was still loose and the defenders were caught out of position.
Holmes put a kick in for himself, regathered and strolled under the posts.
55th minute: Cowboys 26-0
Kyle Feldt has become just the 17th player in NRL premiership history to score 150 tries.
The Cowboys extended its lead further on the back of another linebreak from Luki.
The lead
Viliami Vailea produced a superb catch and pass before Feldt straightened up off his right foot and ducked inside to score.
HALFTIME: Cowboys 20-0
The flawless Cowboys have added another six points to the margin courtesy of a try from Scott Drinkwater.
North Queensland shifted the ball to the right and it was Jeremiah Nanai who left the Bulldogs defence stunned when he passed the ball back inside to a charging Drinkwater.
Holmes kicked his 21st conversion in a row and it’s hard to see Canterbury clawing its way back into this game.
28th minute: Cowboys 14-0
Heilum Luki has put North Queensland further in front and it’s hard to see how the Cowboys are going to stop them given how much momemtum they have.
North Queensland went sharply down the left-side where Tom Dearden drew two defenders and isolated Bulldogs playmaker with a rampaging Luki.
18th minute: Cowboys 8-0
Kyle Felt has scored the opening try of the game after initially putting North Queensland in position to attack the tryline on the back of an intercept and huge run.
Feldt took his side down the field and while he was caught on the initial break away, the set ended with him scoring in the right-hand corner.
12th minute: Cowboys 2-0
Valentine Holmes has put North Queensland in the lead after Viliame Kikau decided to clean up Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford 10m out from the tryline.
Clifford passed the ball and then was absolutely floored by Kikau who has been put on report.
If Kikau was that late to the tackle I’d hate to see how late he is to a meeting.
LATE MAIL: BULLDOGS, COWBOYS FINAL TEAMS
The final teams are in for the Bulldogs vs Cowboys clash, and there are a host of changes for both sides.
The Bulldogs have made some late changes, losing both wingers, with Jeral Skelton and Josh Addo-Carr ruled out. Eli Clark and Jonathan Sua replace them in the backline.
The Cowboys have suffered a late blow, with Jordan McLean ruled out. Sam McIntyre comes into the starting side, with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki joining the bench.
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 21. Eli Clark 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 23. Jonathan Sua 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran
Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 10. Jason Taumalolo 9. Reece Robson 14. Sam McIntyre 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter
Interchange: 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Griffin Neame 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue
RAIDERS SNATCH VICTORY FOR ONE IN A MILLION FINALS SHOT
The winner of Saturday’s Dragons and Raiders clash was always going to be rewarded with a one in a million shot at sneaking into next week’s finals, and so, mathematically, there was still something on the line at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Unfortunately, like both of their seasons, the game featured moments of individual brilliance and attacking flare, while oscillating between periods of awful defence and error ridden attack, the Raiders finally getting the win 26-24 in front of 11,189 fans.
The win for Canberra moves them into eighth spot on the ladder and Ricky Stuart’s team will collectively be praying for the Dolphins and Knights to play out an unlikely draw in the final match of this year’s regular season on Sunday afternoon, allowing the Raiders to sneak into the finals. A win for either the Dolphins or Newcastle will see them draw level with the Raiders, but lock down the last finals spot by virtue of their superior for and against record.
When the two teams review 2024, the focus will likely turn to defence, or lack of it, and so it was no surprise that this match at times resembled a game of touch footy, the combatants collectively missing 64 tackles and making 25 errors.
The Dragons set the tone early and it took less than 60 seconds for them to score via a piece of Zac Lomax brilliance. They rolled upfield from the opening kick off before a well placed Ben Hunt bomb was brilliantly taken on the fly by Lomax, who off loaded to a trailing Tom Eisenhuth to touch down under the sticks.
BIG RED PUTS IT DOWN!!! 🔥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 7, 2024
Corey Horsburgh gets over and the Raiders take the lead! 👀
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Inside ten minutes they were up 12-0 courtesy of a powerful dummy half scurry from new father Jacob Liddle, who beat a handful of hapless Raiders defenders in a 15m run. Liddle again split the Raiders line in the very next set and Jaydn Su’A scored from another Hunt kick to make it 18-0.
The Raiders though, did not give up, fighting back from a 24-10 deficit at halftime to score the second term’s only points via tries to Albert Hopoate, Hudson Young and a 77th-minute kick and recover by Corey Horsburgh. Alongside a pair of Kaeo Weekes conversions it was enough to snatch victory.
Following the back-to-back wins over the Roosters and Panthers, this win gives Stuart’s team three on the bounce and some confidence heading into 2025.
RAIDERS MOVES
Three Raiders’ favourites have played their last game for the club, with suspended skipper Elliott Whitehead and Nick Cotric, who has been playing NSW Cup, both off to the south of France and the Catalans Dragons, while the injured Jordan Rapana is also headed to the Super League, penning a two-year deal with Hull FC.
Corey Horsburgh is another who has likely played his last match for the Green Machine after receiving permission to find a new home. He may even end up at the Dragons. Peter Hola, James Schiller and Zac Woolford remain unsigned.
Arriving in the nation’s capital are Ethan Sanders (Eels), Matty Nicholson (Warrington), Myles Martin (Knights) and Tamale.
GOODBYE ZAC
After making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2018, Zac Lomax has likely made his 114th and last appearance for the Dragons ahead of a well documented move to the Eels in 2025.
Undoubtedly the Dragons’ best in 2024, Lomax was in everything again today, giving the Raiders nightmares in the air, while making several desperate errors as he tried to inspire his team that at times looked like they were already on their off-season holiday.
Another headed out of Kogarah is today’s debutant Savelio Tamale, who is off to the Raiders.
Blake Lawrie and Jack Bird, who was a late withdrawal from today’s match, are under contract but said to be on the move, while Tom Eisenhuth, Max Feagai, Jesse Marschke, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Alec Tuitavake remain uncontracted.
The Dragons will no doubt be more active in the player market in coming months – they have been linked to a host of front rowers - but have already secured two experienced stars in Rabbitohs rake Damien Cook and Val Holmes from the Cowboys.
FATHER’S DAY
Liddle, after missing last week’s game to be with wife Caitlin for the birth of their daughter Kaia, showed fatherhood suited him well with perhaps his best performance in a Dragons’ jersey.
The 27-year-old was outstanding running from dummy half, making three line breaks, 11 tackle busts and scampering for 162 metres, while scoring a determined individual try. He even spent time in the middle of the field during the second half with Connor Muhleisen deputising at hooker.
FULL-TIME: DRAGONS 24-26 RAIDERS
The Raiders will be praying for a miracle, after keeping their mathematical finals chances alive with a win over the Raiders.
After the Dragons socred four tries in the opening 20 minutes, things looked bleak for the Raiders. But they hit back with four unanswered tries, including Corey Horsburgh crashing over in the dying minutes to level the scores, before Kaeo Weekes converted to put them in front.
While it is unlikely, they will finish the round in 8th spot on the ladder if the Knights and Dolphins draw in the final match of the regular season.
In terms of SuperCoach, Jacob Liddle started on fire and kept things going in the second half, finishing the game on a whopping 120 points on the back of a try, two try contributions, three linebreaks, a whopping 11 tackle breaks and 50 points in pure base.
Raiders star Hudson Young was key to his side’s second half comeback and it translated into SuperCoach success, with 107 points.
It wasn’t all good news for SuperCoaches, with a handful of popular players struggling, including Joe Tapine finishing on 54 points, Zac Lomax on 52, Ethan Strange on 30.
HALF-TIME: DRAGONS 24-10 RAIDERS
The Dragons came out firing in the first half, scoring four tries in the first 20 minutes, before letting the Raiders back into the game.
Jacob Liddle was a late withdrawal in Round 26 due to the birth of his child, but carved the Raiders up, scoring one try himself and putting his side in brilliant field position to set up a try to Jaydn Su’A.
Liddle could not be stopped!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 7, 2024
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Liddle leads the SuperCoach scoring at the break on 87 points, while Su’a is the next best on 54 points.
Alarmingly though, popular SuperCoach stars Joe Tapine (30 points) and Zac Lomax (41 points have had a slow start to the game. Although Lomax has showed some moments of brilliance and some real opportunities through the air.
EARLIER: Hello and welcome to our coverage of the final regular season Saturday matches of the 2024 NRL season.
The SuperCoach relevance of the match is largely limited to just two players being Joe Tapine of the Raiders and Zac Lomax of the Dragons.
Tapine has, as has been his wont in previous seasons, warmed into his work and reaches round 27 boasting a five round average of 80PPG.
The big man has a fair record against the Dragons too boasting a career average of 64.9PPG across 12 games and has exceeded 90 in two of their past three games.
Lomax has been a very rare shining light for the Dragons this year and comes into the match with a five round average of 86.6PPG and scores in his past three matches of 95, 73 and 125 points.
The Raiders have defended wingers well this season conceding an average of just 53PPG at the position. However, Lomax is no average winger – especially in SuperCoach.
Originally published as NRL Round 27: Live scores, SuperCoach news & analysis from Dragons vs Raiders, Bulldogs vs Cowboys & Panthers vs Titans
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