Rugby League: Upsets herald opening NRL round

By PETER JESSUP

The opening round of the NRL season produced a number of upsets, but punters looking for a long-term view would be as confused as video referee Mick Stone when trying to sort out an in-goal fumble in the Tigers-Sharks match.

It started on Friday night with the injury-plagued Knights overturning champions Penrith in front of 19,000 Panthers fans.

But no one will be writing off the Panthers or writing in the Knights. Penrith pressed to the end and were unlucky.

Manly showed true grit to come from 0-14 down at halftime to earn a 24-20 win over North Queensland on Saturday night.

It was the home team that wilted in the heat, the Cowboys gifting too many turnovers to put themselves in with a chance. Kiwi prop Paul Rauhihi is on report for allegedly lifting his knee in the scrum.

Wandering Wallaby Andrew Walker's combination with new Manly five-eighths Michael Monaghan proved the decider as the Sea Eagles ran in three quick tries in the third quarter to take a lead they didn't relinquish.

Captain Steve Menzies played his usually good game and led a side including 11 newcomers, but the result was really a reflection of how bad the Cowboys were rather than the resurgence of the Eagles.

The outcome of the two games in the double-header at Stadium Australia on Saturday night could not have been more different. The Tigers fumbled their way to a 12-6 win over an equally bumbling Cronulla side, two tries to one, then the Bulldogs turned on six tries to lead 36-0 at halftime against Parramatta before the Eels started tackling and came back, winning the second half 14-12 but losing the game 48-14. Again, it did not show that the Bulldogs were a runaway favourite, nor that the Eels were lost and useless.

The stadium surface, sandy and throwing up divots that left ankle-turning holes, came in for much criticism. Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley was clear that it hadn't favoured the style of game they wanted to pursue.

"It was the same for both teams, but we wanted a fast track," Kimmorley said. "We had plenty of chances to win it but weren't good enough to take them."

"It was the type of game that deserved to be decided by a dummy-half try," said new Sharks coach Stuart Raper.

"It wasn't pretty and I was very disappointed by some of the things we did."

Among those would have been failing to ground a ball that bounced around in goal for some time before going dead.

A Kimmorley ground kick was muffed by the Tigers' John Wilson, collected by Shane Elford but dropped, bouncing around three Sharks players. It took video ref Stone several replays before he could rule no try.

The Tigers held a 4-0 lead at the break, their hooker and captain Darren Senter deciding things when he scooted under multiple tacklers to score after the Sharks new prop, Kiwi Andrew Lomu, gave them a turnover in good territorial position.

The Bulldogs unleashed a new talent in Auckland-born Sonny Bill Williams who broke the Eels' line several times to put others away and score one try himself.

Former Eel Willie Tonga was first to score against his old club. When the Eels' captain Nathan Cayless was sinbinned for holding in a tackle as he tried to slow a break initiated by Williams, the Bulldogs went on to score three times.

Braith Anasta stepped defence near the line, Williams sent fullback Luke Patten away, Jonathon Thurston was first to a Brett Sherwin grubber. Williams made another break and scored himself.

Former Aucklander Roy Asotasi had the last try before halftime, Mt Albert signing Hutch Maiava getting the last of the game as he made his NRL debut at 27. Kiwi centre David Vaealiki got one of the three Eels' touchdowns.

A crowd of 42,717 was there, suggesting the Dogs' sex scandal had not affected ticket sales.

Merchandise sales are said to be at an all-time high: All except Dogs jerseys, which are not yet on the market because of uncertainty about the sponsors' logos.

* Canberra beat St George Illawarra 21-12 at Oki Jubilee Stadium last night and the Roosters beat Souths 26-16 at Aussie Stadium.

NRL points table and fixtures