Round 9 of the NRL season delivered a mix of statement wins, high-scoring thrillers and gritty, finals-style contests. Headlined by another strong Sydney Roosters performance and a chaotic shootout in Newcastle, the weekend underlined just how tight the competition is becoming as we approach the Origin period.
Roosters continue surge but nearly let Broncos off the hook
The Sydney Roosters made it back-to-back strong performances with a 38-24 win over the Brisbane Broncos, but the result exposed some issues despite the victory.
After building a 24-0 halftime lead and extending it further early in the second half, the Roosters allowed Brisbane back into the contest with four late tries.
James Tedesco continued his brilliant run of form, with coach Trent Robinson praising the veteran fullback postgame; “It is a habit rather than form. I feel really privileged that he is in this club and I get to coach him,” Robinson said.
For Brisbane, the second-half response was something to build on, but their slow start again proved costly.
Rabbitohs rue missed chances in crazy Knights loss
The Newcastle Knights edged South Sydney 42-38 in one of the highest-scoring games of the season, but the focus post-match centred more on defense than attack.
Both sides scored seven tries, but defensive lapses across the game proved decisive. Cameron Murray also pointed to the importance of momentum in the modern game, noting how quickly matches can swing once a side gains control.
“There’s been some pretty high-scoring games this year, so momentum can shift pretty fast and when you have momentum, it’s hard for the other team to win it back,” Murray said.
For Newcastle, the win highlighted their attacking capability when Kalyn Ponga is involved, with the Knights captain earning top Dally M points for his performance.
Sea Eagles push Panthers all the way in narrow loss
The Manly Sea Eagles showed they are a genuine threat in 2026, pushing the Penrith Panthers to the limit before falling just short in an 18-16 defeat at CommBank Stadium.
They turned a halftime deficit into a second-half lead, with tries to Ethan Bullemor and Lehi Hopoate putting them within reach of a statement win. The effort highlighted the growth in this Manly side, showing the impact Kieran Foran has made in his short tenure as head coach.
“I said to the guys, that’s as good an effort I’ve seen… to come here and go toe-to-toe with Penrith who are flying at the moment, that’s a mighty effort,” Foran said.
However, as has been the case so often over the last 6 years, Penrith found a way to win.
With the game in the balance, Nathan Cleary again stood up, earning top Dally M votes after a performance that included over 500 kick metres and a crucial try assist.