This season just continues to dazzle us with phenomenal tries and brutal
big hits. In fact, our producers at NRL.com just can't get enough of
them...<br><br>So much so that they've knocked up a weekly feature which
pin-points the most influential plays in every game... the turning
points or match-winning moments.<br><br>So we hope you enjoy our 'Plays
of the Round' feature. Check out the Round 25 feature below. Did we get
it right? Would have you chosen differently?<br><br>Let us know on
Facebook by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalrugbyleague" target="_blank">clicking here.</a><br><br><b>Rabbitohs 24 def. Eels 16<br>The Moment: </b>Want to know when the Eels’ season was officially done and dusted? Try when winger Krisnan Inu booted a kick-off out on the full in the 57th minute. Souths’ hooker Issac Luke had just slotted a penalty goal to give the Rabbitohs a 14-6 lead and the Eels desperately needed to apply some pressure from the restart. Instead, the Bunnies marched back to halfway, tapped and ran. Two tackles later Luke took off from dummy-half 30 metres out; he dummied between the hapless defence of Justin Horo and Kris Keating and crossed for an attitude-destroying 12-point buffer. Yep, the Eels were smoked for 2010. <br><br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102502&videoquality=1&type=penaltyconceded&period=2&time=1151" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Warriors 36 def. Broncos 4<br>The Moment: </b>Warriors’ winger Manu Vatuvei struck fear into the Broncos’ hearts with his 12th-minute try – but it was his involvement in the Warriors’ third four-pointer in just 25 minutes that broke same hearts. From 40 metres out, home-side five-eighth James Maloney chipped wide to the left side of the field over the Broncos’ outside backs. The ball bounced perfectly for ‘The Beast’ 25 metres out, who in two strides was confronted by the Brisbane cover. With consummate skill he passed inside to Jerome Ropati, who in turn found Lewis Brown in support for a 14-nil lead. Was this the moment that buried 18 consecutive years of Brisbane finals appearances?<br><br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102501&videoquality=1&type=try&period=1&time=1496">CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Sharks 30 def. Titans 16<br>The Moment: </b>Tim Smith hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since joining the Sharks but the No.7’s solo try after 56 minutes showcased his sleek potential. Leading 18-12, Smith took the ball at first receiver 12 metres out. With outside defenders Nathan Friend and Brad Meyers rushing up quickly, Smith propped off his right foot then stabbed a left-footed grubber, Alfie Langer-style, between Ashley Harrison and Bodene Thompson. He darted between the stunned pair, got the bounce, juggled and plunged over for a 12-point buffer. Ricky Stuart was probably watching the telly at home thinking: “Where has that been all year?”<br><br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102503&videoquality=1&type=try&period=2&time=996">CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Dragons 26 def. Knights 18<br>The Moment:</b> Dragons’ fans held their breath as the Knights raced in three tries between the 48th and 54th minutes to threaten the biggest comeback win against the Red V. They were still holding their breath 22 minutes later with the Dragons labouring deep in their half late in the tackle count. But then a 70-metre try saw them exhale with relief. The welcome four-pointer started with Dean Young shifting the ball left to captain Ben Hornby, who popped an inside pass to Darius Boyd on the fly. The fullback steamed through a gap and sped downfield. Boyd didn’t have the legs to make it all the way to the try line, so he sensibly looked for support. That arrived in the shape of five-eighth Jamie Soward, who gathered in Boyd’s over-the-shoulder pass, then evaded the cover from Akuila Uate to score the match-winner. (PS. How fast is Jamie Soward?!)<br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102504&videoquality=1&type=linebreak&period=2&time=2348"><br>CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Raiders 48 def. Cowboys 4<br>The Moment: </b>With points differential a possible determining factor in their playing finals footy in 2010, the Raiders set about pillaging as many tries as they could in their last game in the nation’s capital. The contest was never in doubt – only which of their nine tries had the most star factor. It fell to Reece Robinson’s third of four for the night, orchestrated by centre Jarrod Croker. The headgear-wearing speedster sliced through near halfway, flicked a perfect one-handed offload to five-eighth Terry Campese who drew and passed for Robinson to cross in the left corner. <br><br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102505&videoquality=1&type=try&period=2&time=1334">CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Wests Tigers 26 def. Storm 14<br>The Moment: </b>Benji Marshall was clearly playing possum when he suggested he was going to shelve the razzle dazzle for a week. That became apparent when he cut loose in the 12th minute, running on the last tackle 40 metres out from his try line. Marshall high-tailed it for the left edge, ball in two hands in front of him like it was a fish bowl filled with water. He then flick-passed to Mitch Brown cutting back on the Storm 20-metre line, Brown changed the angle of attack again with an inside ball to halfback Robert Lui, who then overhead passed to Marshall for the first of three gems that tied the score at 4-all and sent the Leichhardt faithful into frenzy.<br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102506&videoquality=1&type=linebreak&period=1&time=782"><br>CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Roosters 30 def. Sea Eagles 14<br>The Moment: </b>Here’s why the Roosters are the most dangerous counter-attacking side in the comp. With the game delicately balanced 20-14 and a quarter of time remaining, the Sea Eagles pressed the Roosters line. Manly No.7 Trent Hodkinson dabbed a grubber through the tricolours’ backline – but it was perceptively defused by Roosters five-eighth Todd Carney, who snatched at the ball from behind. What should have resulted in a dream pressure situation for the Sea Eagles ended in a scoreboard nightmare. Carney stepped off his left foot once… twice… three times, then passed wide for Mitchell Pearce. Pearce drew Steve Matai and offloaded for Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who did enough to attract the attention of both Kieran Foran and Michael Robertson, freeing winger Sam Perrett into space courtesy of an unbelievable one-handed, back-handed offload. Perrett then outpaced the cover to dive over for an unlikely 98-metre try. <br><a href="http://www.nrl.com/gameAnalyser/tabId/10910/default.aspx?seasonID=240?seasonid=240&roundid=861&fixtureid=50020102507&videoquality=1&type=linebreak&period=2&time=1720"><br>CLICK HERE to watch this moment now on Game Analyser.</a><br><br><b>Panthers 24 def. Bulldogs 18<br>The Moment: </b>It all fell into place for the perfect home-ground send-off for retiring Bulldog Brett Kimmorley at ANZ Stadium: scores locked at 18-all, mere seconds on the clock and in perfect position for a match-winning field goal on the last play of the game. But Panthers five-eighth Travis Burns had other ideas. Burns flung himself at the ball as it left Noddy’s boot, the ball rebounded and fell into the arms of Luke Lewis, who offloaded to speedster Michael Jennings after crossing the halfway line. No-one was going to catch MJ and the 12-man Panthers had pulled off the most dramatic victory in 2010. And yes, that’s saying plenty. <br><a href="http://bigpondvideo.com/nrl/292168/rd25-bulldogs-v-panthers-hls/"><br>CLICK HERE to watch this moment now in our Video Highlights package.</a><br><br>* The views in this article are the authors’ and not necessarily those of the clubs or the NRL.
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