NRL Snapshot: Round 4

One of the greatest games of the modern era headlined a round of footy with plenty of exciting finishes and more notable injuries to key players. After four rounds of the NRL Telstra Premiership season, we have five teams tied on six competition points.

Josh Morris scored a double in his 200th NRL game as the Bulldogs smashed the Rabbitohs on Good Friday. The Bulldogs led 32-0 after 30 minutes before easing to a comfortable victory. Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston was a surprise omission shortly before kick-off with a hamstring tweak, while plenty were left to wonder about the impact Sam Burgess's absence made to the Rabbitohs side.

This was one of the best club games ever seen and arguably better than the epic 2015 NRL Grand Final between the same teams. Anthony Milford kicked a 40-metre match-winning field goal in golden point in a game that had absolutely everything: controversy, amazing tries, stoic defence and a thrilling finish to match. Kane Linnett injured his shoulder and will be out until Round 9, while the Cowboys were left fuming after a controversial decision denied Johnathan Thurston a match-winning try.

Canberra looked set to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes and led 20-6 with 15 minutes remaining, but Gold Coast found a way to win with a try in the final minutes. English rake Josh Hodgson continued to impress and raced ahead in the Dally M race, while David Shillington scored a critical solo try off a penalty tap to get his team back into the contest.
 

Manly lost Steve Matai and Tom Symonds before kick-off and then forward Jamie Buhrer (broken hand) and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle) during the match. Shaun Kenny-Dowall played his 200th NRL game and almost carried the Roosters to victory with two tries, two line breaks, 11 tackle breaks and 192 metres, while Sea Eagle Dylan Walker had his best game at five-eighth with an important try. The Roosters were denied a match-winning try at the death which earned the ire of coach Trent Robinson. Cherry-Evans is set to miss a month of football, while Buhrer is likely out for up to six weeks after returning from a broken jaw.
 

A dour defensive arm-wrestle in the first half ended 2-0. But the game opened up in the second half, with Josh Mansour looking like he had earned the Panthers the two competition points with a try with five minutes remaining, until they failed to regather the ensuing kick-off, giving the Dragons a chance to steal the contest. A late Josh Dugan try and clutch conversion from Gareth Widdop got the Red V home.  
 

The Warriors got their first win of the season with a massive second-half performance against the Knights at Mt Smart Stadium. At half-time the scores were locked at 12-all but a quickfire 28 unanswered points, thanks to some Shaun Johnson magic, helped the New Zealand club to an important victory.
 

The Eels kept a clean sheet and continued their great start to the season to be equal first after the first four rounds of the NRL Telstra Premiership. Parramatta lost Tim Mannah for the mach in the early exchanges and had concerns over Danny Wicks (cheek), Junior Paulo (concussion) and Semi Radradra (finger) while their opponents also lost a prop early when Tim Grant failed a concussion test. It wasn't pretty, but it was an important result for the Eels, while Robbie Farah made is return for the Wests Tigers off the bench.

The Storm's unbeaten start to the season came to a screeching halt as the Sharks, sparked by Ben Barba, proved too strong. Marika Koroibete could find himself in hot water for an alleged trip on Cronulla's Chad Townsend in the 60th minute, while talented centre Curtis Scott was forced from the field with a lower leg injury midway through the first-half.