Darwin Brothers sides go top in Round 2 of the 2024 NRL NT season

The Darwin Brothers men and women are both on top of their respective tables, while a resurgent Nightcliff piled on the points. Check out all the action from NRL NT Round 2.

The Darwin Brothers are at the top of the men’s premiership table after a blistering first half allowed them to see off the Litchfield Bears.

The match was a little more than just a normal Round 2 affair for the Brothers, who had a point to prove after Litchfield knocked them out of the competition in the 2023 prelim final.

And despite missing a couple of their senior players they were able to show off their trademark speed and flair early to pull off a 30-12 win.

The Brethren went in front almost immediately as Kyro Ahmat charged over the line, and with the trusty Caleb Niki booting true off the tee it was a sign of things to come.

But the Bears, fresh off beating reigning premiers Sharks in Round 1, were quick to level the score getting the ball between the hands until Julius Appo was able to go over in the corner.

Litchfield didn’t have much more of an edge in attack for the remainder of the opening half with the Brothers’ defence led by captain Jonas Niki kept them at bay.

Jonas Niki captained the Darwin Brothers in Round 2 of the 2024 NRL NT season. Picture: Glenn Campbell

And any errors proved costly as Brothers pounced on every opportunity, particularly young gun Dallas Caulton who scored off a charge down and later ran 80m for his second try.

Isaac Seden-Kurnoth, who has been a standout for the side for so long, stepped up once again proving trouble with every carry and deservingly scored a brace of his own.

Bears did pounce late in the second half, as their opposition tired, to put some respectability on the board.

New recruit Jacob Rainger found space late in the piece and almost had a try himself, but instead kept his composure long enough for debutant Kahn Nelson to score, before Appo scored his second.

The side will, however, be concerned with the fitness of David Jacobson, who came from the field injured just prior to half time.

And instead it was the Brothers celebrating as despite not scoring late in the piece already had the margin to seal the deal and go top after two rounds.

“This is a match we were looking forward to being against Litchfield, we had a couple of senior guys out, but that gave a chance for our younger boys who showed their stuff,” Jonas Niki said.

“We’ve talked about effort and turning up for each other all week, we’re a new side and for us the message was about turning up for the bloke next to you and doing it for the full 80.

“For us it’s just about building on our attack and our defence, not letting the easy tries in as we did in those last 10 minutes, that’s our big focus.”

Nightcliff pile on the points against South Darwin

Meanwhile, Nightcliff Dragons gave a sure sign they could be on the way back up after a couple of seasons outside finals smashing South Darwin 72-28.

Souths were spirited, with Brenton Robertson crossing the line twice, while Daniel Nieto Agudo scored after his chip bounced off the post and landed in front of him.

And though they were the first to score in both halves, they were unable to punch through the Nightcliff defence consistently while injuries, including to captain Kieran Crowe, took their toll.

On the opposite end, Nightcliff were incisive with almost every play working off halves Adrian Corrie and Robbie Butcher and pulled in 13 tries as a result.

Co-captain David Tabuai showed the talent with ball in hand he is known for, setting up tries as he broke Souths’ defence again and again, while he scored a brace of his own.

David Tabaui had a strong outing for the Nightcliff Dragons. Picture: Che Chorley

Then there was the powerful carries of Shaun Wauchope and Asiveli Rauga, a brace from Harley Byers and accurate kicking from Trey Crowley as the side dominated the occasion.

“We’ve still got a lot to work on and a long season ahead, but it was a great team effort with everyone nominating themselves as runners and putting in,” Tabaui said.

“The past two seasons we’ve been down the bottom which is uncommon for the Dragons, but we’re in the trenches, rebuilding well and we’ve got promising things ahead of us.

“Our forwards really set the platform for us, particularly on the edge, and our halves took control from there, which is all we can ask of them.

“Souths are a solid team and jumped out of the gates early, so credit to them, but we will look at what we can work on and there should be more exciting times ahead.”

The premiership match between Palmerston Raiders and Sharks at Goodline Park had to be abandoned as a player broke their leg and the sides were forced to wait for an ambulance.

The match was 6-4 in favour of the Raiders at the time, but given the injury had come just 15 minutes into the first half the sides took home one competition point each.

Reigning premiers Darwin Brothers dominate

The Darwin Brothers women proved they will once again be a force to be reckoned with, beating a depleted Litchfield 48-4.

The Brothers have won the past two premierships, and are the odds on favourites for the three-peat after beating the spirited but undermanned Bears in Round 2.

The premiers were down last season’s Gaynor Maggs medallist Ellie Niki and lacking match time after South Darwin forfeited the opening round fixture.

However, they looked as if they hadn’t lost a step, and after captain Bianca Scrymgour charged the ball up the middle it was the ever-lethal Latoniya Norris who scored the opener inside two minutes.

Darwin Brothers' Latoniya Norris continues to star in the NRL NT.

Litchfield showed heart, despite being down on numbers from their Round 1 28-8 win against the Northern Sharks, and railed around each other to create opportunities.

A knock on from Liana Niki 20m out was one such chance and it was some strong interplay from the likes of Meg Clohesy and Shari Togo that led to a try from Teka Voysey.

Niki would make up for the slight error with several powerful carries alongside Cassiela Wapau, who was almost untouchable at times for the Brothers.

She scored two tries off the back of her own enormous carries while Courtney Tamati and Norris would also complete braces as their side raced to a nine-try game.

The match was called with several minutes still on the clock as injuries took their toll on the Bears, who with the likes of Lavinia Norris had their digs, but couldn’t get beyond the Brothers’ defence.