Around the Grounds: Round 16

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Mon 31 Aug 2020, 09:31 AM

The make-up of the 2020 Telstra Premiership finals series is becoming clearer after another big week of action in Round 16.

Wins for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks consolidated their respective positions in the hunt for the top eight, while defeat for the Dragons, Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles has them well and truly on the outside looking in.

Shock winners on Saturday, the NZ Warriors are still alive after leaping in to ninth with a stunning win over the struggling Newcastle Knights.

At the other end of the ladder, Gold Coast's last-minute win over the Dragons saw them move four points clear of the Cowboys while Canterbury missed another chance to climb off the bottom of the ladder after letting their first-half lead slip against the Canberra Raiders on Sunday night.

ROUND 16 RESULTS

South Sydney Rabbitohs 38 def. Parramatta Eels 0
Gold Coast Titans 14 def. St. George-Illawarra Dragons 10
Sydney Roosters 58 def. Brisbane Broncos 12
New Zealand Warriors 36 def. Newcastle Knights 6
Cronulla Sharks 28 def. North Queensland Cowboys 12
Penrith Panthers 30 def. Wests Tigers 6
Melbourne Storm 30 def. Wests Tigers 6
Canberra Raiders 34 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20

2020 Match Highlights: Rd.16, Panthers vs. Wests Tigers

KEY INJURIES

Latrell Mitchell's season is over after he suffered a hamstring tear in South Sydney's win over Parramatta, while Eels playmaker Dylan Brown is also facing several weeks on the sideline following an ankle injury sustained in the loss.

Elsewhere, Marion Seve will miss the rest of the Storm's campaign with a suspected ACL tear while Nelson Asofa-Solomona (calf) and Reuben Garrick (shoulder) both picked up injuries between the Storm and Sea Eagles clash.

Already without Jason Taumalolo, North Queensland will now head in to Round 17 without Michael Morgan (calf) after he went down against Cronulla.

For all the latest injury news, click here.

JUDICIARY CHARGES

Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights), Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos), Sam Lisone (Gold Coast Titans) are all facing one week on the sideline for an array of offences, while Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels) and Jacob Host (St. George-Illawarra Dragons) can escape suspension from their respective offences with early guilty pleas.

Matt Eisenhuth was the only player charged from Saturday's fiery clash against the Panthers, but is free to play next week with an early guilty plea.

For all the latest judiciary news, click here.

ROUND 17 FIXTURES

Thursday, September 3

7:50pm — Brisbane Broncos vs. Penrith Panthers

Friday, September 4

6:00pm — Newcastle Knights vs. Cronulla Sharks
7:55pm — South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Melbourne Storm

Saturday, September 5

3:00pm — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Gold Coast Titans
5:30pm — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Wests Tigers
7:30pm — Canberra Raiders vs. Sydney Roosters