Canberra have risen into the NRL top four after a comfortable 50-12 win over Parramatta at TIO Stadium, condemning the Eels to a 1-5 record.
Earlier at Optus Stadium, the Sharks shook off losses to Canterbury and the Raiders with a 24-18 victory against Manly.
It wasn’t all good news for Craig Fitzgibbon as his star prop Addin Fonua-Blake headed to the dressing room in the second half and was seen with ice on his right quad.
In the second game of the Perth doubleheader, the Cowboys came from behind to topple the injury-hit South Sydney 24-16.
1. Wily Will stars as Sharks bounce back
On a warm autumn afternoon in Perth, Cronulla and Manly played out a scoreless opening half hour before Braydon Trindall’s creativity came to the fore, setting up winger Samuel Stonestreet for two tries as the Sharks took an 8-0 advantage into half-time.
Denied an excellent solo try earlier, Will Kennedy beat half the Sea Eagles defence with another impressive individual effort and this time the Cronulla custodian’s try was confirmed.
It took almost three-quarters of the contest for Manly to get on the scoreboard but they soon had a second try when Luke Brooks ran 80 metres after pouncing on an errant Trindall pass, but the comeback would fall short as Mawene Hiroti and Tom Hazelton’s four-pointers sealed the result.
“They were obviously in a lot of ways a lot better,” Fitzgiboon said of Trindall and Nicho Hynes.
“They were better in the way they combined and kicked. A lot of improvements on the details of their plays.
“And then there were a couple of moments they would like back. That is part of the add-on and building combination.
“Nicho was on the ball, controlling, orchestrating and calling the shots. He steered the team around and ran the ball when he had to run the ball.”
2. Manly’s title credentials questioned
Lehi Hopoate looks like a star of the future but there is still a big drop off at the back when you lose a player of Tom Trbojevic’s quality for an extended period. Without Turbo, the Silvertails faced fellow premiership contenders Melbourne and Cronulla in back-to-back weeks and outside of a small window against the Sharks, never really threatened either club.
The Roosters rebuild and Penrith’s unforeseen and quite dramatic tumble down the ladder will likely open up two top-four positions for the likes of Manly, Brisbane and Canterbury to rise into if they can put together consistent campaigns but unless Tom, who’s due back in a few weeks, manages to stay fit for the balance of the season, there are pretty big question marks over this Manly side’s ability to give the 2025 premiership a real shake.
“For long periods there we showed a tonne of effort and gave ourselves a chance to get a result,” coach Anthony Seibold said.
“Ultimately a couple of lapses let us down; three or four times where we missed the mark and they made us pay.”
Three or four lapses simply won’t be acceptable come September.
3. Purdue at the double as Cowboys outlast Souths
The injury-hit Souths made a good account of themselves in a contest that was turgid at times but ultimately fell to their second defeat of 2025 at the hands of North Queensland.
A controversial hip drop penalty was given against Jack Wighton late in the game after he completed a try-saving tackle on Scott Drinkwater that preceded a quick-fire double from Jaxon Purdue, proving too much to overcome with the Cowboys improving their season record to 3-3.
Super coach Wayne Bennett was forced to shuffle his playmakers with Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys and Lewis Dodd all unavailable due to suspension or injury, with Mitchell wearing the No.6 for the first time in over five years.
The NSW Blues star finished with two try assists, seven runs for 74 running metres in a solid if unspectacular showing in an unfamiliar position for a Rabbitohs side also missing Campbell Graham, Cameron Murray and Mikaele Ravalawa.
4. Fogarty pricing himself out of capital
Salary cap pressure could force playmaker Jamal Fogary out of the national capital as Ricky Stuart has made it clear he won’t stand in the way of the Raiders’ No.7 earning a bigger payday than the Green Machine could afford. Manly has been speculated as a likely destination, which of course depends on the outcome of the Daly Cherry-Evans situation.
Fogarty had another impressive showing at TIO Stadium, linking well with halves partner Ethan Strange and controlling the contest with his kicking game in a comfortable victory for his side.
“Raiders by 50,” was the halfback’s response when queried by the Fox League panel about his future in Canberra.
Stuart’s men will finish the weekend no lower than sixth on the table, possibly another club who were written off by most pre-season but could finish 2025 benefiting from the downfall of some modern powerhouses with a finals finish.
(Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)
5. More misery for Ryles but Brown shows glimpses of best
With Mitchell Moses still out of the line-up, as well as star Blues recruit Zac Lomax, an Eels win in Darwin was never a likely outcome for the clash with Canberra and that’s how it panned out as they slumped to 1-5 in a horror beginning to the Jason Ryles era at CommBank Stadium.
Moses’ return can’t come soon enough but Parramatta can take some solace that Dylan Brown is getting back to his best – and that’s when he is running the ball.
Some soft defence saw the Eels behind early but the soon-to-be best paid player in the sport soon hit back with a try of his own, doing what he does best, driving through the Canberra front door.
The Kick: Cavernous arena not conducive to good atmosphere
WA Government and NRL brass, including freshly minted Premier Roger Cook, were in attendance at Optus Stadium for Saturday’s doubleheader as negotiations continue over a potential 19th club based in Perth. If that deal comes to fruition, fans attending matches and watching from the pub or lounge room can only hope the 60,000-capacity stadium does not become their full-time home.
The library-like atmosphere undoubtedly dulled excitement for TV viewers and punters inside the ground were miles from the action, regardless of where they were sat. The city’s sole suitable rectangular venue, HBF Park, will likely need at least a new coat of paint and perhaps a boost to its current capacity of 20,000 but it’s been an adequate home for A-League side Perth Glory and Super Rugby’s Western Force.
