The 18th round of the 2012 NRL competition featured the Tigers at home to the Bulldogs in the first match. In what was an exciting match, the Tigers had a better first half despite missing hooker Robbie Farrah. Trailing 10-4 at the interval, the Dogs poured on the pressure and jumped out to a 16-10 lead inside the first ten minutes of the second half. The Tigers managed to eventually level the score at 20 all before the Bulldogs, led by Ben Barba closed out the match with an impressive finish winning 32-20.
Melbourne had the Raiders visit them at AAMI Park, and were quick to blame the Origin period for the resulting 12-40 hiding they recieved at the hands of the Green Machine. Canberra deserve credit for the quality of their play however. With a calculated attack earning their points, their equally effective defense kept the Storm completely scoreless in the second half.
The Gold Coast Titans played the Warriors in the second match of Saturday night. With injuries depleting their line up, the Titans were expected to do it tough. The Warriors obliged by scoring in their first set and piling on the pressure, however the young Titans team opened up the Warriors left flank to make meters and points. Soon after Idris tidied up a Kevin Locke mistake to put his wing over in the corner. Another try through a hole ripped down the Warriors left side had the home side up 10-4 before Shaun Johnson and Konrad Hurrell carried players over to dot down and go into the sheds with a 16-14 lead. The hosts failed to fire in the second half and spent little time on attack. With more respect for the football, the Warriors dominated to win 32-14.
Souths predictably put Newcastle to the sword in their match. Rookie playmaker Adam Reynolds showed the skills and intelligence that have many considering him as the rookie of the year. Souths led at half time 22-10 scoring four tries before the break. Newcastle could manage only one try in the second forty in another dissappointing display, while the Bunnies closed out the match effectively with two more four pointers.
The Manly, Parramatta game went as expected, with last year’s premiers ran out to a huge 34-0 halftime lead. The Sea Eagles added another quick try right after the break, but the Eels finally gave their fans something to cheer about with a heartening come back with four unanswered tries. But being far to little as well as far too late, the game ended 40-24.
Cronulla and the Roosters played in the Monday night fixture. The Sharks scored twice in the first half but had to rely on kicks to stay in front. The Roosters played their way back into the game to set up a golden point shoot out with a try in the 78th minute. None of the seven combined shots at goal by either side landed, so the result ended in a rare draw.
