As it happened: Panthers deny Sea Eagles; Sharks dominate Wests Tigers; Knights win thriller

Press conferences

Panthers 

Sea Eagles

Full-time: Penrith have denied the Sea Eagles a remarkable upset and post an 18-16 win. Cleary runs the ball backwards towards his own goal line to run down the clock. The top-of-the-table Panthers were pushed all the way - but Manly will be ruing their lack of impact and failing to take the lead back when they had a 13-12 player advantage with Jack Cogger in the sin bin in the late stages of the game. 

75th min: Successful captain's challenge from Penrith after Taulagi was ruled to have knocked on. They keep the ball and their challenge. 

74th min: Jack Cogger is back on the field following his sin bin.

68th min: Nathan Cleary goes over, claiming a try, but the ref says no try and that the ball was up the whole time. He grounds it on the leg of Hopoate and remains up the whole time according to the Bunker, confirming on field decision. 

64th min: Penrith are down to 12 players with Jack Cogger sent to the sin bin for direct contact to the head of Koula, who also comes from the field with a Category 2 head knock. 

61st min: Penrith hit back out to their right with Izack Tago - in his third NRL game of the season - making a great run to bust through a hole and get the ball down near the right sideline, away from a chasing Koula. Cleary's conversion is successful and Panthers are back in front 18-16. 

53rd min: Lehi Hopoate goes over in the far left corner to put Sea Eagles in front. A bit of drama in the lead up with Penrith making the error trying to get out of their own half with confusion on who would get the pass. Manly attack - with a push through on Cleary cleared from obstruction - and the on-field ruling of a try stands. Garrick can't convert and it's 16-12 to Manly. 

45th min: Manly draw level with a great try to start the second half. A poor pass from Cleary and Scott Sorensen knocks on, giving Manly possession. Young halfback Joey Walsh - in for the injured Jamal Fogarty - goes to the line and deceives the opposition, passing out to his right to a charging Haumole Olakau'atu who runs through, then gets the ball to a supporting Ethan Bullemor to go over under the posts. Garrick converts and it's 12-12. 

Half-time: Panthers go into the sheds leading 12-6 in what's been an entertaining game so far. Cleary tried to put his side further in front just before the siren with a field goal attempt, but it was waved away. Panthers have had the better of the possession with 54 percent with a completion rate of 19/24, while the Sea Eagles have completed 15/19 sets. However, Manly will want to tighten up their defence, missing 21 tackles compared to eight from Penrith. 

38th min: It's taken them a while, but the Panthers are finally able to crack the Manly defence again, going out wide to their right to winger Brian To'o who sails over. The game has been played at a cracking pace and the Sea Eagles have been right in the contest, but Penrith have remained calm and took their chance when it came. Cleary converts from close to the sideline for a 12-6 lead. 

32nd min: Captain's challenge from Manly is successful, with Toulu Koula adament that Jenkins was the one who touched the ball first as they both went up for a high Cleary kick. 

27th min: Penrith are denied a second, with Paul Alamoti pinged for a forward pass. 

13th min - injury alert: Kobe Hetherington is off the field for a HIA after getting his head in the wrong spot trying to tackle Isaah Yeo. Siosiua Taukeiaho comes onto the field. UPDATE - Hetherington has been ruled out of the game with a Category 1 head knock. 

11th min: Manly give up back-to-back ruck infringements, the first on the fifth tackle, to invite Penrtih into their attacking half and they lap up the opportunity with Blaize Taulagi going over to score. Cleary kicks the conversion to equalise and the scores are 6-6. 

5th min: A fantastic start for Manly, who score the first try of the game through Clayton Faulalo. The visitors put good pressure on Nathan Cleary's kick in Penrith's first set, with Thomas Jenkins knocking on in the attempt to regather. With their opportunity with the ball, the Sea Eagles strike and Reuben Garrick converts for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick off: The Sea Eagles have first use of the ball. 

Late Mail

Panthers: The Panthers will line up as named with no late changes. Ivan Cleary has the luxury of stability as the competition leaders return home to play the high-flying Sea Eagles. Utility Jack Cogger will make his 100th NRL appearance. Billy Scott comes onto the six-man bench in jersey No.21.

Sea Eagles: No further game day changes after halfback Jamal Fogarty was ruled out on Saturday due to a groin injury suffered in last week's win over the Eels. Joey Walsh has been called into the starting side for his first match of the season and second NRL appearance. Veteran Nathan Brown is set for a recall after Corey Wadell suffered a pectoral injury that will keep him sidelined for up to 12 weeks. Centre Reuben Garrick has scored eight tries in his last eight games at CommBank Stadium. 

Sharks v Wests Tigers at Ocean Protect Stadium

Press conferences

Sharks

Wests Tigers

Full-time: The Sharks prove far too good in a one-sided contest, posting a 52-10 win. KL Iro and Teig Wilton both got hat-tricks, while Nicho Hynes was also amongst the many points, with a try and eight from nine conversions. 

78th min: Successful captain's challenge from the Sharks. 

77th min: A high kick from Braydon Trindall proves too hard to handle and is allowed to bounce after players from both sides go up to contest the ball. In the end, it's Iro who collects the ball and runs in to score a hat-trick. Remarkably, it's back-to-back hat-tricks for Iro, who went over for three last week, but in a loss. Hynes converts for a 52-10 lead.

75th min: All going the way of the Sharks in this game and Hynes gets a try for himself after taking an intercept, just as Wests Tigers were starting to mount some kind of challenge. He converts his own try for 46-10. 

69th min: Free-flowing points for the Sharks at the moment, who go over again with ease. Cronulla make a line break after the Tigers coughed up the ball with a forward pass, once again going out to their left, when this time it's Samuel Stonestreet who runs over to score. Hynes converts and it's 40-10. 

66th min: A hat-trick for Teig Wilton. The Sharks claim a short kick-off attempt from Wests Tigers before getting the ball back out to their left where they have had a lot of success this afternoon. Hynes misses the kick, so the score remains 34-10. 

56th min: More points for Cronulla - again off the back of a Wests Tigers error in their own half. Attacking in their own 10 metre zone, Brailey puts in a little kick and Wilton is the only one on the ball, scoring his double. Hynes converts from out to the left and the score goes out to 30-10. Wests Tigers have now made 11 errors to nine from the Sharks. 

48th min: The Tigers crack in defence after conceding making errors, with the Sharks striking out on their left once again - with Iro proving too strong from the defence, bouncing out of tackles before going over. Hynes converts again to stretch the lead out to 24-10.

43rd min: A captain's challenge from the Sharks is deemed 'inconclusive' - so they get pinged for a knock on, but get to keep their challenge.

Half-time: Home side the Sharks go into the break with an 18-10 lead in a relatively even game. Big blow however for Wests Tigers, with halfback Adam Doueihi ruled out of the match early in the first half with a shoulder injury. 

34th min: Sharks go further in front with Jesse Colquhoun with good work from Blayke Brailey at dummy half finding his man who goes over through some feeble defence on the tryline. Hynes converts again at it's 18-10.

Injury alert: Adam Doueihi has been officially ruled out of the match with his shoulder injury. 

20th min: A error gives the Sharks the chance to hit back and they strike, with success from a scrum play just out from their try line. Hynes goes left and they find Iro who cuts back in and beats the defenders to score. Hynes converts and Cronulla are back in front, leading 12-10. 

16th min: The visitors go bang-bang and hit the lead. Taylan May scores the try under the posts after a massive bust through the middle from Samuela Fainu, who runs onto a Luai short pass. The Tigers had their opportunity to build pressure after the Sharks conceded a penalty up the other end of the field for a push in the back. Madden slots the conversion and it's 10-6 to Wests Tigers.

10th min: Wests Tigers hit straight back from a nicely-worked scrum play, but it's come at a cost. Adam Doueihi wraps around and gets onto a pass from Jarome Luai and charges his was over the line - but injures his shoulder in the process. He is subbed off with Jock Madden coming on - but he can't take the conversion attempt as he wasn't on the field when the try was scored. Luke Laulilii steps up to have a go, but it's waved away. Sharks lead 6-4. 

5th min: The Sharks are on the board first with a nice bit of play. They contest a kick and KL Iro comes down with it and is able to pass around the back of a defender to Teig Wilton to get it down. They have to check the touchline closely, but the Cook Islands international has done a good job to stay in before making his offload. Nicho Hynes converts and it's 6-0. 

Kick-off: Sharks kick off and Wests Tigers will have first use of the ball. 

Late Mail

Sharks: No late changes for the Sharks on game day. Cam McInnes is set to play a greater role on Sunday after making a successful return from an ACL injury last weekend. The co-captain will start at lock, with Jesse Colquhoun moving to the interchange. Billy Burns also shifts to the bench as Briton Nikora returns to the starting side. 

Wests Tigers: One late change with Jeral Skelton moving to the bench on game day with Faaletino Tavana coming into the starting side on his return from a hamstring injury. Jarome Luai will take his place at five-eighth after an eventful week that saw him unveiled as the PNG Chiefs inaugural signing. Luai will partner Adam Doueihi in the halves, while Suni Turuva moves to fullback after Jahream Bula suffered a shoulder injury. 

Numbers Game

• The Sharks have won their last five games against Wests Tigers at Ocean Protect Stadium.
• Wests Tigers have the second-best defensive record in the competition.
• The Sharks have won nine of their last 10 games on home soil.
• Wests Tigers have made the best start to a season in their history after eight rounds.
• Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored five tries in seven games against Wests Tigers.

 

Knights v Rabbitohs at McDonald Jones Stadium

Press conferences

Rabbitohs 

Knights

Bring on Origin: Latrell Mitchell looks to be timing his run towards the Origin opener as he continues to come up with big plays for the Bunnies. Mitchell had eight tackle breaks, five line break assists and 164 run metres and did all he could to get his team home in a frantic finish.

Hat-trick hero: Greg Marzhew was huge in his return from concussion. The blockbusting winger ran in three tries and broke seven tackles to go with 193 run metres. Kalyn Ponga also came up with seven tackle breaks.

Full-time: The Knights have broken a four-game losing streak as they hang on to beat a fast-finishing Rabbitohs side that fought back from 28-10 down at the break to hit the front late before Trey Mooney sealed it for Newcastle.

80 min: Latrell Mitchell goes for a miracle play down the short side and is bundled into touch by desperate Knights defence. Players from both sides then come in and a melee ensues after Cody Walker pushes Dylan Brown in the back. Walker is penalised for coming in late. Game over. The end of a stunning game in Newcastle and the crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium goes berserk. 

80 min: Another Rabbitohs penalty for a late shot by Kalyn Ponga who goes on report. Jacob Saifiti goes off for a HIA.

79 min: Souths get a penalty for a high shot by Dane Gagai on Tallis Duncan. The Bunnies are 20 metres out.

77 min: Cody Walker fails to come up with a kick and goes to ground on the last tackle to hand the Knights back the ball.

74 min: Euan Aitken comes up with an error as Souths try to come out of their own end and the Knights regain the lead thanks to a magnificent Dylan Brown offload for Trey Mooney to score beside the posts. Kalyn Ponga adds the extras. Knights 42-38

72 min: Alex Johnston and Latrell Mitchell combine and the superstar centre steamrolls Kalyn Ponga and tiptoes down the sideline before launching himself into the corner for the try that levels the scores. Mitchell nails the conversion from touch. Rabbitohs 38-36

70 min: Souths mount more pressure but Cody Walker's high ball is way too long and Bradman Best claims it easily for a seven-tackle set.

66 min: The shootout continues as Cody Walker's grubber rebounds off a Knights defender and comes straight back to the Bunnies No.6 who skips away to score. Latrell Mitchell converts. Knights 36-32

65 min: Dylan Brown tries to flick pass to Dane Gagai but the centre can't hang on and the Rabbitohs go on the attack.

63 min: Repeat sets for the Knights and they cash in with Greg Marzhew defying three cover defenders to slam the ball down to complete his hat-trick. Kalyn Ponga's sideline conversion is a beauty. Knights 36-26

58 min: Souths' left edge clicks with Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell combining to send Alex Johnston over to complete yet another double. Knights 30-26

57 min: Latrell Mitchell launches a bomb, Kalyn Ponga takes it, Greg Marzhew is penalised for running one of the chasers off the ball.

55 min: The Rabbitohs cash in when Cody Walker's last-tackle grubber sits up for Tallis Duncan to chase through and score. Latrell Mitchell adds the extras. Knights 30-22

54 min: Jermaine McEwen is penalised for a shoulder charge and the Rabbitohs get another set in close range. 

51 min: Cody Walker's error sees the chance go begging for Souths.

50 min: A mistake by Dylan Brown just 20 metres out from his own line puts the Knights under the pump. Brown has also been placed on report for a hip drop tackle on Cameron Murray.

47 min: Kalyn Ponga goes to the line and his pass goes astray but the Rabbitohs are pinged for being offside and the penalty hands Ponga an easy shot at goal. Knights 30-16

43 min: Latrell Mitchell's sublime flick pass puts Alex Johnston into space and the winger kicks back inside where Cody Walker controls the catch and races away to score. The perfect start for Souths as Mitchell converts. Knights 28-16

King Kalyn: The Knights skipper ran for 109 metres, had five tackle breaks, one line break and one try assist as his speed and footwork tormented the Bunnies. Ponga was well supported on the left edge by winger Greg Marzhew (128 run metres and two tries) while big man Trey Mooney scored the game's opening try and racked up 115 run metres.

Half-time: The return of superstar Kalyn Ponga has the Knights firing on all cylinders as they take an 18-point lead to the break. On the back of 64 per cent possession and 890 run metres to Souths' 492, the Knights' attack looks as slick as it did back in Round 1 in Vegas when all the stars were on deck.

39 min: Another effort play in defence from Lachlan Hubner forces an error from Dane Gagai but the Bunnies waste the opportunity when Latrell Mitchell's offload goes astray.

36 min: Dylan Brown's spiral bomb is spilled by Campbell Graham and the Knights are inside the red zone again.

32 min: After Lachlan Hubner got the ball back for Souths from the kick-off they head left and Latrell Mitchell's silky hands send Alex Johnston over for try No.220 of his career. Johnston has now scored in eight consecutive games. Mitchell fails to convert. Knights 28-10

30 min: Kalyn Ponga continues to torment the Rabbitohs as he skips through Jamie Humphreys on the left edge and sets up Dylan Lucas for the Knights' fifth try of the day. Ponga converts. Knights 28-6

27 min: Sean Keppie runs hard and straight from close range and gets the ball down for his first try of the season to put Souths on the board. Latrell Mitchell converts. Knights 22-6

26 min: A strong shot by Lachlan Hubner forces an error from Phoenix Crossland and the Rabbitohs get a rare chance to attack.

24 min: The procession continues as Greg Marzhew makes it a double thanks to a perfect pass from Bradman Best. The conversion is pushed wide by Kalyn Ponga. Knights 22-0

23 min: Late contact by Cody Walker on Kalyn Ponga draws a penalty and the home side are inside the red zone again.

21 min: Dylan Brown, Dylan Lucas and Bradman Best combine to send Greg Marzhew as the Knights continue to run rings around the Bunnies who have lost Jack Wighton to an arm injury. Kalyn Ponga again adds the extras. Knights 18-0

20 min: Another Souths error as Bronson Garlick's pass out of dummy half is a shocker and Tevita Tatola can't handle.

19 min: Kalyn Ponga goes with a grubber on the last tackle and Cameron Murray is forced to clean up just out from his own line. An offside penalty then piggybacks the Rabbitohs out of their own end.

17 min: Bronson Garlick knocks the ball on at dummy half and the Rabbitohs have squandered another opportunity to mount pressure.

16 min: Great attack by the Knights down the left edge as Greg Marzhew gets clear and finds Flecther Sharpe who comes up with a dropped ball in Matt Dufty's cover tackle.

10 min: Dylan Lucas celebrates his return from a throat injury with a try as he takes a short ball from Fletcher Sharpe and powers into a hole on the left edge. Kalyn Ponga converts. Knights 12-0

9 min: The Rabbitohs create space on the right edge but Jamie Humphreys' pass for Jack Wighton is too high and the centre puts it down. The Knights take over 40 metres out.

6 min: The Knights strike first through Trey Mooney who surges onto a Phoenix Crossland pass and defies three defenders to get the ball down. Kalyn Ponga converts. Knights 6-0

4 min: The Rabbitohs come up with an error after a poor pass by Cody Walker and they compound the mistake by giving away an offside penalty.

3 min: Kalyn Ponga puts up a high ball 40 metres out from his own line but it sails out on the full and the Rabbitohs go on the attack.

Late Mail

Knights: No late changes on game day for the Knights who welcome back Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) and Bradman Best (groin) as they look to snap a three-match losing streak. Ponga will line up at fullback, with Best at centre. Fletcher Sharpe moves to five-eighth as a result, with Fletcher Hunt and Sandon Smith both shifting to the interchange. Greg Marzhew returns from a concussion on the wing. 

Rabbitohs: No further changes on game day after Brandon Smith (calf) dropped out of the squad on Saturday along with Liam Le Blanc while Adam Elliott remains on the six-man bench as he looks to return from a long-term calf injury. Halfback Jamie Humphreys, who left the field last week with a rib complaint, will take his place in the side.

Numbers Game

• The Knights have won their last three games against the Rabbitohs.
• Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell has scored 66 points in his last four games.
• The Knights have won only one of their last nine games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 15 tries in 10 games against the Knights.
• The Knights have conceded 124 points in their last three games.