The NT News looks at the talking points from Round 2 of the 2021 NRL NT season

Sharks claim Litchfield scalp, Raiders look form side and Bears women pounce WHAT WE LEARNED FROM NRL NT ROUND 2 ACTION

Raiders’ Will Smith is part of a potent Palmerston outfit in 2021. Picture: Glenn Campbell

THE NT News looks at some of the major talking points from an interesting second round of 2021 NRL NT action with both the men’s and women’s offering plenty of action.

Nightcliff, Palmerston and Sharks triumphed in the men’s competition while Sistaz, Litchfield and Nightcliff tasted victory in the women’s.

PALMERSTON THE FRONTRUNNERS

Former Sunshine Coast Falcons star Tom Murphy was a standout in his first game for the Palmerston Raiders. Photo: Lachie Millard

Palmerston Raiders went out against reigning premiers Darwin Brothers looking to show their might and with a 36-10 win they did just that.

But even in victory over last year’s victors there are some aspects that the Raiders need to get right namely their handling when on the attack.

Slipped ball, sometimes forced by a hearty Brethren defence, was the bane of Palmerston for much of their game with the side sometimes retreating from a territorial advantage with nothing to show for it.

It was also the Brothers who perhaps ruled the back half of the second half refinding their feet and ensuring that the Raiders didn’t forget that they are champions for a reason.

Despite that there’s plenty to be happy about for Raiders’ fans with some massive bulldozing runs from Joel Turaga and an 80 minute showing from new recruit Tom Murphy.

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SHARKS MANAGE BIG LITCHFIELD SCALP

It’s no secret that Litchfield and Sharks have been at opposite ends of the NRL NT table over the past couple of years.

The Bears have managed three grand finals while Sharks have failed to make finals footy since their last premiership in 2017.

So it was perhaps one of the bigger upsets on paper in recent times when the Northern Sharks beat the Bears 36-20 at Weber Park.

Admittedly, this is a much changed Litchfield lineup to that of the grand final last year but for a new look Sharks side this was the win they needed.

The win which included seven tries from five Sharks players presents the side as a real contender for a finals berth later in the season.

CORRIE STARS FOR STELLAR SISTAZ SIDE

Talia Corrie starred in performance against Palmerston Raiders. Picture Glenn Campbell

The Sistaz recorded another win this time recording a 46-20 scoreline over 2020 grand final rivals Palmerston Raiders.

As had become the norm the Sistaz like to attack from the off and at the centre of that effort at Goodline Park was Talia Corrie.

She would score another in the second half alongside fellow star back Latoniya Norris.

The young half scored two tries and set up a third in the opening ten minutes making breaks and finding gaps in the Raiders defence.

To Raiders’ credit they came back in the second half ready to take the contest to Sistaz and managing to pile on a respectable score in that time.

Though as has become the norm in recent times the Sistaz held on and earned themselves another win.

LITCHFIELD’S TOY MAKES HER MARK

The women of Litchfield found their feet on home ground bouncing back from a Round 1 loss to Sistaz to see off Sharks 32-6.

The Bears led from start to finish making sure to get scores on the board thick and fast in front of their home supporters.

And a five try, four conversion showing from five eighth Kiyanah Toy sure made its mark for the side with the Litchfield half adding 28 points to her personal tally.

It was only a try for Tiarna Hansen that stopped her from claiming the complete score.

The confidence boosting score line will have the outfit eager for their next challenge with Toy likely to play an integral role going forward.

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NIGHTCLIFF GIVE SOUTH DARWIN A HIDING

Will and Rodney Merritt are new recruits in a firing Nightcliff Dragons’ outfit. Photograph: Che Chorley

A 76-0 win for Nightcliff over the Bunnies perhaps proves that the Dragons of 2021 are a more ruthless outfit than those we’ve seen in recent years.

The Dragons started hard and finished with efficiency getting the most out of new recruits such as Brent Crisp and Clint Chettle.

Souths may have battled hard in return but Nightcliff were looking to show off what they’re made of both in attack and defence.

While two wins from two games will have the outfit brimming with confidence they have still yet to test themselves against any of the other 2020 finals sides.