As the NRL nears its business-end every round holds critical match-ups, and this was certainly evident in Round 24, with some sides keeping their play-off hopes alive (including the Raiders and the Titans), while others (such as the Dragons and the Knights) saw their title aspirations all but extinguished.
On Friday night in Brisbane the Broncos continued to stutter in their quest for a play-off spot, losing 18-19 to the Storm. Friday’s other match was a cracker, with the table-topping Bulldogs meeting the Tigers at ANZ Stadium.
In a see-sawing battle the Tigers looked like they might knock-off the premiership favourites, but a controversial try late in the second half, when Bulldogs’ second-rower Frank Pritchard Looked to run behind his man before setting up a try for Jonathan Wright saw the game head to extra time, when a bevy of missed drop goal attempts hinted at a rare draw, only for Krisnan Inu to slot his second attempt to secure the win for Canterbury, their 13th on the trot.
The Raiders kept their play-off chances alive in Canberra, beating the Roosters 24-20, as did the Sharks, who defeated a stuttering Rabbitohs who were poor at best, despite the return of the influential Greg Inglis.
The Titans dealt with a Parramatta side that is proving to be a thorn in the side of many with their defiant late season form, the Gold Coast side running out 24-16 victors, while the Sea Eagles easily accounted for the Knights, 42-20, at Brookvale.
In a battle between two struggling teams the Warriors slumped to yet another loss, throwing away a lead and letting a Panthers side that has looked rudderless of late snatch a 18-16 win.
The round ended on Monday night as the Cowboys travelled to WIN Stadium to play the Dragons. The Dragons took 20-odd minutes to warm in to their work, but they at least managed to stay in touch with the North Queenslanders, in a match marred by a second-half all-in-stoush. The Cowboys, thanks in no-small part to another stand-out performance from Jonathan Thurston, took the win, 32-22, and continue to pose a threat to the sides currently occupying the top four slots on the table.