NRL 2023: Warriors win 26-12 over Cowboys, Titans beat Storm 38-34

The Warriors are set to be without one of their brightest stars for the next 11-days, after suffering a sickening head knock as they snapped a horror losing streak on Australian soil.

Hame Sele of the Rabbitohs is assisted by team trainers after a tackle during the round three NRL match between Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images.

The New Zealand Warriors have broken a 13-game losing streak on Australian soil, stunning the Cowboys in Townsville 26-12 in front of 17,818 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

It was just the third time the Warriors have won in Townsville since 2002 – once in 2014 and once again in 2018.

But the win came at a massive cost, with star hooker Wayde Egan set to for a stint on the sidelines after suffering a sickening head-knock late in the piece.

The Cowboys have now scored only seven points in second halves this season, and this area of their game will need to be addressed.

The Cowboys have hit a form slump, having scored just seven second half points in their first three games in 2023. Picture: Getty Images.

The Cowboys struck early through highly-touted rookie fullback Tom Chester, but New Zealand worked themselves back into the contest with first-half tries to Wayde Egan, Marcelo Montoya and Jazz Tevaga to take a 16-12 lead into the sheds.

The Cowboys struggled to fight their way back into the game and found themselves camped in their own half for most of the second stanza.

An unfortunate ending to Wayde Egan's evening. 🤕

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Fox League commentator Greg Alexander was stunned by the Cowboys capitulation, suggesting that there is ‘something wrong with them’.

New Zealand capitalised on their territory with tries to Edward Kosi and Montoya and before the Cowboys knew it the game was out of their reach.

The Warriors snapped a horror streak on Australian soil, having lost their last 13-games here Picture: Getty Images.

The Warriors had won just three of their last 18 games heading into the contest, but now find themselves in the top eight with two wins so far in 2023.

It’s only the second time since the start of 2022 that the Cowboys have suffered back-to-back losses, and the team must take stock of their situation before losing becomes a habit.

FORAN HOOKED AS TITANS SHOCK STORM IN UGLY CONTEST

—Travis Meyn

Kieran Foran sensationally blasted a Gold Coast trainer as the Titans launched a spirited comeback to stun the sloppy Storm 38-34 on Saturday afternoon.

More cracks appeared in Melbourne’s premiership credentials and tempers flared as the mercury soared above 32 degrees at a scorching Cbus Super Stadium.

The Titans overcame a 24-12 deficit to notch their second win of the season in a 12-try thriller, with Storm coach Craig Bellamy questioning his team’s care factor following a poor start to the year.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook wanted Foran to come off the field in the 33rd minute so halfback Tanah Boyd could return following a head injury assessment.

The veteran five-eighth was reluctant and initially resisted, allegedly yelling expletives at a trainer before eventually coming off so Jayden Campbell could remain in his position.

Kieran Foran was filthy after being pulled from the field late in the first half, blowing up at a trainer. Picture: Getty Images.

“Tanah had to go off for 15 minutes and in those conditions … I didn’t want to get (Campbell) straight back off,” Holbrook said.

“I was going to need Kieran’s experience in the back end of the game so it was an opportunity to leave Campbell on the field and give Foz a (rest). Then I got him back on to control the back end of the game.

“Foz is such a competitor, he wants to play 80 minutes and so he should. If it was an 8pm game and 20 degrees he stays on there.

“I’d do the same (resist) if I was a half and wanted to stay on the field. There’s no concerns.”

Foran sat on the bench for 24 minutes and watched the Titans turn a 24-12 deficit into a 30-24 lead before he was brought back into the game for the final quarter.

Jahrome Hughes could be in some trouble after being put on report for a shoulder charge. Picture: Getty Images.

The match review committee will be busy after this heated battle.

Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes hit Boyd late with a shoulder charge, while Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui also seemed to produce the illegal tackle.

Melbourne backrower Eliesa Katoa was put on report for a high tackle on Fa’asuamaleaui.

SLOPPY STORM

The Storm were expected to bounce back after last week’s embarrassing 26-12 loss to Canterbury in Melbourne.

But they were just as sloppy, making 15 errors for a 67 per cent completion rate and giving away eight penalties in testing conditions.

They had the chance to take a 24-12 lead into the break but conceded a soft try right on halftime to Titans centre Brian Kelly.

Storm skipper Christian Welch has slammed his side, after their loss to the Titans. Picture: NRL Imagery.

That gave the Titans some momentum and the home side was able to open up a 32-24 lead, hanging on for an important victory despite some nervous moments.

“At times the Titans were probably as bad as us, but they hung on better,” Bellamy said.

“Our problem at the moment is the care factor seems very, very low.

“It’s hard to believe you could play a game here in early March at 2pm but it was the same for both sides.”

Storm captain Christian Welch summed up his team succinctly.

“We’ve been one of the best teams over the last couple of weeks of doing stupid shit,” he said.

WILD BRAWL, SIN BINS AS NRL GRUDGE MATCH EXPLODES AGAIN

—Martin Gabor

Joseph Manu produced one of the greatest try-saving tackles you’ll ever see but finished Friday night in the sin bin as a wild brawl broke out in the dying minutes that brought back memories of last year’s feisty finals match.

The Roosters had the last laugh with a crucial 20-18 win over their fiercest rivals, but Manu faces an anxious wait after he was placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Rabbitohs centre Isaiah Tass when play was already dead for a forward pass.

“He was trying to make the tackle on Tass that he made the play before (when he saved a try),” Robinson said.

“He got it wrong. I think that’s enough, and then running in and then everything that went on after that is what it is.”

Tempers flared and tension overflowed as the Roosters claimed revenge for Sin bin Sunday. Picture: Getty Images.

Manu got him flush across the jaw, prompting furious Rabbitohs players to rush in as tempers boiled over, leaving Manu with swelling and a bruise under his left eye two years after he copped a shocking high shot that ended his season.

Robinson is hopeful that it was not a repeat of the facial fracture he suffered in the pre-season and that Manu’s face only blew up because of a cut as a result of a Michael Chee Kam punch in the middle of the melee.

Things flare up at Allianz Stadium!

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“I let my emotions get the better of me,” Souths skipper Cam Murray said.

“I was just sticking up for my teammate.

“I won’t go and start something, but I will stick up for myself and my teammates, and I felt like it was valid there. That’s why I did what I did.”

Chee Kam was also sent to the sin bin for throwing a punch in a manic final few minutes that saw Izaac Thompson crash over to make it 20-18 with 60 seconds to go.

Latrell Mitchell had the chance to send the game into golden point but his audacious field goal attempt out of dummy-half landed short to leave Souths with one win after three rounds.

Roosters star Joseph Manu was sin-binned for a high shot late, while Souths’ Michael Chee Kam was marched for the scuffle that ensued. Picture: Getty Images.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Warriors win 26-12 over Cowboys, Titans beat Storm 38-34