NRL

Sharks and Roosters claim NRL wins

Defending premiers Cronulla were soundly beaten by Gold Coast Titans last weekend, but responded by seeing off the Bunnies at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Friday.

Wade Graham and Fa'amanu Brown scored first-half tries either side of a Braidon Burns four-pointer, with the returning James Maloney converting both Sharks scores and also landing a penalty to make it 14-6 at the break.

Lewis re-signs with Sharks

Currently in his fifth season at the Cronulla club and his 17th overall in the NRL, Lewis will play his 299th top grade match when the Sharks play the Titans in round 19.

Lewis has been in outstanding form for the Sharks in 2017, playing 14 of 16 matches while scoring four tries, two of those spectacular long-range efforts in his team’s last two games.

Pleased to have his future sorted for another season, Lewis was not only looking forward to the remainder of this year and to the Sharks continuing to mount a strong title defence, but also to what lay ahead in 2018.

Waqa set to join NRL's growing Fiji contingent

Waqa, who was a member of Melbourne's 2012 premiership-winning team, will take the number of Fijians in the NRL to 23 if he can convince Storm coaching Craig Bellamy to sign him after a stint with French rugby union club, FC Grenoble.

The 31-year-old recently returned to Melbourne, where his family had been living, after breaking his jaw and was offered a training contract with the Storm.

Melbourne football director Frank Ponissi said a decision would be made on whether to sign Waqa before June 30 so he is eligible to play the remainder of the season.

Bennett still wants more from Broncos

Brisbane dismantled the Penrith Panthers on Thursday night, skipping out to a 28-0 lead before winning 32-18 in an impressive performance at Suncorp Stadium.  

It was the Broncos' sixth win of the season and fourth in a row, helping the men from Red Hill recover from the sloppy 2-3 record they had accumulated after five weeks of the competition. 

‌Now with a week off from club duty, Bennett will turn his focus to his English coaching responsibilities with England's national rugby league side to face Samoa on May 6. 

Another ANZAC win for the Storm

Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr scored a try in the 66th minute to give his side the lead for the first time, while Felice Kaufusi capped off the 20-14 victory when he barged over as the clock wound down.

It was Melbourne's seventh win in eight games this season, moving them two points clear of the chasing pack.

Last year the Warriors were trounced 42-0 in the same match but showed their intent from the opening whistle and David Fusitu'a collected his first try in the 10th minute.

Warriors unable to tame Raiders

Leilua has put his hand up for a New South Wales State of Origin debut after spearheading his sides 20-8 win of the Warriors.

As well as tries either side of half-time, Leilua amassed 125m, seven tackle busts and two linebreaks as Ricky Stuart's side recorded their third victory on the trot.

While there are lingering question marks over the 25-year-old wrecking ball's defence, he received a ringing endorsement from Balmain and NSW great Steve Roach during the Fox Sports broadcast.

SBW made a mistake

Williams covered up the BNZ logo on his blues jersey in their match against the Highlanders last weekend due to religious beliefs.

NZR and the Blues have now given him permission have the logos of two banks, BNZ and Investec, removed from his kit.

NZR General Manager of Rugby, Neil Sorenson, said conscientious objections have

been in the collective employment agreement for almost ten years.

NRL's head injury protocol sanctions

CEO Todd Greenberg said fines totalling $350,000 had been imposed on the Gold Coast Titans, St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights.

He said that, following consideration of submissions from each club, the penalties would be: 

   o Gold Coast Titans $50,000 (with a further $100,000 suspended) for incidents involving Kane Elgey and Ryan Simpkins

   o St George Illawarra Dragons $50,000 (with a further $50,000 suspended) for an incident involving Josh Dugan

Cooper Cronk to leave Melbourne Storm

The 33-year-old has opted against taking up the final year of his contract, meaning 2017 will be his last season playing for Melbourne.

Cronk has played 306 games for the Storm across 15 seasons, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in 2012 and the Dally M Medal in 2013 and 2016, while he has also played 32 Tests for Australia and 19 State of Origin games for Queensland.

"Melbourne Storm has been everything to me since moving down here from Brisbane as a kid back in 2003," Cronk said.

Monday Morning Halfback: Record breakers

One minute later, the Wests Tigers were huddled behind their own sticks watching the Dragons celebrate their second try of the afternoon.