Raiders, Sharks claim vital round eight victories
The Cowboys and Raiders look to kick start their seasons after the Sharks narrowly got the better of the Titans.
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Raiders snap North Queensland hoodoo
It may be sweating on hooker Josh Hodgson's return but Canberra appear to have a handy replacement after Siliva Havili inspired a drought breaking 18-8 NRL win over North Queensland in Townsville.
The Raiders snapped a nine-match losing streak against the Cowboys when Havili bulldozed his way over in the 73rd minute.
It marked Canberra's first win over North Queensland since round 12, 2006.
External Link: Cowboys v Raiders summary
The Raiders announced this week they hoped to welcome England international Hodgson back from a knee reconstruction in round 16.
And it seemed the scheming hooker's return couldn't come soon enough after Canberra slumped to a 2-5 record before lining up against their bogy side.
But Havili's heroics from dummy-half helped Canberra bounce back from a last-round 44-22 thrashing from South Sydney, chiming in an outstanding defensive display that limited the star-studded Cowboys to one try on their home turf.
External Link: Cowboys v Raiders chalkboard
It marked the sixth loss in seven games for North Queensland (2-6 record).
The Cowboys threatened to maintain their hoodoo over Canberra when they regained the lead 8-6 with a 48th-minute Johnathan Thurston penalty.
But the Raiders kicked ahead when playmaker Aidan Sezer scored an individual try in the 50th minute before Havili's heroics.
North Queensland drew first blood when Gavin Cooper ran off Thurston to score in the 15th minute.
But Canberra wrecking ball Josh Papalii ensured scores were locked up at 6-6 at halftime when he carried three defenders over the line in the 25th minute.
External Link: Cowboys v Raiders stats
Sharks pip Titans in low-scoring clash
A last-minute injury to NSW State of Origin star Josh Dugan has soured Cronulla's dramatic 10-9 NRL win over Gold Coast.
Half-back Chad Townsend stepped up to sink a 79th-minute field goal to seal a rare win over bogey side the Titans in a scrappy Saturday evening clash at a wet Robina Stadium.
But the Sharks will be sweating on Dugan. He went down with a suspected leg injury moments before Townsend potted his second field goal to ice back-to-back wins for Cronulla.
Cronulla is already reeling from a star-studded injury list.
External Link: Titans v Sharks summary
Co-captain Wade Graham (hamstring) had been set to return against Gold Coast but withdrew due to tightness, re-joining co-captain Paul Gallen (knee) and Luke Lewis (calf) on the sidelines.
The match looked set for golden point when Titans half-back Ash Taylor kicked a 77th-minute field to level the scores at 9-9.
But Townsend capped a fine match with his second one-pointer to ensure Cronulla (4-4 record) stayed in touch with the top eight with a three-tries-to-one win.
It was the third-consecutive loss for Gold Coast (3-5), while Cronulla recorded just its third victory in eight games against the Titans.
External Link: Titans v Sharks chalkboard
Gold Coast threatened to maintain its hoodoo when hooker Mitch Rein burrowed over from dummy-half in the 44th minute to cut Cronulla's lead to 9-8.
Cronulla grabbed a 9-2 half-time buffer after winger Valentine Holmes continued his stunning try-scoring run.
After Titans number one Michael Gordon spilled a Townsend bomb, Holmes scored in the 12th minute — his fifth try in four games this year and seventh in as many matches against Gold Coast.
Townsend and Dugan combined to put Edrick Lee over in the 33rd minute before Townsend booted his first field goal right on halftime.
Gold Coast back-rower Will Matthews failed a concussion test and did not play in the second half, while Cronulla's Scott Sorensen suffered a late head knock.
External Link: Titans v Sharks stats
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