In the second half of the opening round of the 2026 NRL season, there were plenty of highlights, including the Storm extending their Round 1 winning streak and the Rabbitohs returning to their best.
Storm extend Round 1 winning streak
Craig Bellamy and the Storm have extended their Round 1 winning streak after dominating the Parramatta Eels to begin their 2026 campaign. Showing no mercy, they put on 52 points against their opponents and also held them to only a single try.
The win sets the club up for another terrific season after losing consecutive NRL Grand Final matches against the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos in 2024 and 2025.
Captain Harry Grant led the side with two tries and two line-breaks, while front-rowers Joe Chan and Stefano Utoikamanu ran for nearly a combined 400 meters.
In the backs, rookie fullback Sua Fa’alogo crossed the line for two tries, Jahrome Hughes provided three try assists and three line-breaks assists and Moses Leo made 158 running metres after making the switch to the sport from Rugby Sevens last year.
HARRY HOUDINI 🧙♂️ pic.twitter.com/MYmnSGC8c8
— NRL (@NRL) March 5, 2026
“At the end of the day we’re talking about two different players and probably two different eras and they are both wonderful, wonderful players,” Craig Bellamy said when comparing Grant to future NRL Immortal Cameron Smith.
“I just look back and look forward and just think like how fortunate this club’s been or how fortunate for me as a coach to have two guys that touch the ball more than anybody else in the team and to have Cameron play as long as he did and then soon as he retired Harry came in after.
“So, let’s say the whole club has been very fortunate to have two players like Cameron and Harry.”
Rabbitohs return to their best
The South Sydney Rabbitohs may have been near the bottom of the ladder of the past couple of seasons, but they returned to their best over the weekend, putting on an attacking clinic in their 40-30 victory over the Dolphins.
Set to face their arch-rivals this round, the left-edge of David Fifita, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston excelled against the Dolphins especially within the opening 40 minutes of the contest between the two sides.
The quartet combined for a total of three tries, two try assists, two line-breaks and 333 running metres while Mitchell found his groove after making the transition from fullback to the centres during the off-season.
“It’s nice not having to tackle him like I have for the most part of my career, so it’s good running out next to him and he’s just a big physical presence,” captain Cameron Murray said about Fifita.
“He attracts a lot of defenders and it takes a fair amount of effort to stop him so he just adds a lot of strike power and presence to our team.
“He’s committed to what we’re building here and he’s got a great attitude and he’s just buying into what we stand for.”
TRELL MIT 😤 pic.twitter.com/JqpvfMPV06
— NRL (@NRL) March 8, 2026
Sharks halves send a statement
The Cronulla Sharks halves pairing of Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes have sent a statement to the entire NRL competition after defeating the Gold Coast Titans in a 40-point annihilation at their home venue.
Within the opening 40 minutes, the duo could do no wrong as they helped the side score six tries and completely take apart their opponents.
Hynes finished the match with two tries to his name, while his partner-in-crime finished with four try assists, two tries and two line-break assists in what was arguably one of the best showings of his 97-match NRL career.
“We obviously put a hell of a performance in there but it’s also important to cool the jets. It’s one round,” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.
“It’s not any different to what we’ve always done. The only thing I’d say is that they’re getting better at it.”
The Sharks are in a mood tonight! 🦈 pic.twitter.com/vWfffBQa3o
— NRL (@NRL) March 7, 2026