NRL Snapshot: Round 5

A golden point try to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck against his former club and a try after the siren to Bryce Cartwright headlined Round 5 of the NRL Telstra Premiership. 

Manly showed resilience to overcome an early three-try burst from the Rabbitohs but a valiant comeback fell just short, the home side going down 16-12 at Brookvale Oval on Thursday night. The Rabbitohs defended bravely in the second half, while Manly couldn't get the points they needed with Daly Cherry-Evans at least another three weeks away from returning from an ankle injury.
 

The Titans lost five-eighth Tyrone Roberts to injury during the week then prop David Shillington during the warm-up and when Brisbane led 22-6 it looked like the floodgates would open but Daniel Mortimer and Zeb Taia got the Titans back into the match, combining twice to get the Gold Coast within to six points; the Broncos doing just enough to get away with a hard fought eight point win. James Roberts scored a try against his former club in the Brisbane's win.

A try to Richie Kennar in the corner with seven minutes remaining was enough to seal the win for the Storm, but it wasn't without a few nervous moments late in the game. Knights back Sione Mata'utia was helped off the field and would not return after failing the concussion test. Hooker Danny Levi hobbled off midway through the half with a lower back injury and like Mata'utia was unable to resume for Newcastle, leaving the Knights with a depleted bench. But the Knights managed to stay in the contest against a Storm side lacking cohesion. 

Andrew Fifita was outstanding for the visitors, running for 170 metres and producing 30 tackles, while skipper Paul Gallen made 156 metres in a 55-minute stint off the bench. While fullback James Tedesco continued to push his claim for a NSW Origin jumper, again in irresistible form – setting up tries and scoring them at will.
 

The Dragons' inability to score points was laid bare again as the Cowboys kept the Red V to nil. St George Illawarra have scored just 40 points in five games so far in 2016, while the Cowboys have had no such troubles, racing in 36 unanswered points for a comfortable win.

The lead changed hands three times and the scores were levelled another four as the Roosters were eventually resigned to their fifth loss in as many games to start the season. Warriors captain Ryan Hoffman was very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty try in an entertaining contest that could not be separated in normal time. Tui Lolohea had a game to remember, scoring two tries and setting up the match-winner in golden point when he broke several tackles and ran 50 metres before linking up with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who broke his former club's heart to end an incredible game on the Central Coast.

The Panthers scored two tries in seven minutes including one after the siren to steal a famous victory over their rivals at Pirtek Stadium. The Eels were left ruing a scrum call overturned by the bunker when they were up 18-12. That set the stage for Penrith captain Matt Moylan, in his first NRL game since injuring his ankle against the Eels at Pepper Stadium in Round 12 last year, to produce a sublime tap-on to set up Josh Mansour in the corner to get his side within two points. The Panthers then completed the comeback with a Jamie Soward cross-field kick that found Bryce Cartwright after the siren for the most dramatic of victories. It was the Panthers' fourth game in a row that was decided by two points or less.
 

The Raiders won their first game at Belmore since 1990 with a dominant 22-8 victory over an error-riddled Bulldogs side on Monday night. Both teams suffered injury setbacks in the first half with the Raiders losing Iosia Soliola to a broken arm while Canterbury's Chase Stanley suffered a hamstring injury in his 100th NRL appearance. The return of half duo Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer helped the Raiders ease into third place on the ladder, while the Bulldogs inconsistent start to the season continued.

Round 5 NRL Telstra Premiership Ladder