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MrCharisma
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By Steve Mascord and Brad Walter
Bulldogs 40 South Sydney 16
Members Equity Stadium, Perth, Friday
Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta was still pinching himself at the weekend over the amazing Sonny Bill Williams offload that set him up for a try against South Sydney on Friday night.
In the 16th minute of the Perth trial, Williams looked well held by three defenders and everyone was waiting for him to hit the ground and play the ball when a miraculous pass landed right on Anasta's chest to give him a touchdown.
"I gave up on it and all of a sudden it popped up," Anasta said. "[Souths] were saying it was off the ground but it was just a freakish pass. Even the ref was rapping it."
A rugby union recruitment target, Anasta got through the game without being troubled by his sternum injury, thanks to a guard he wore during last year's finals series.
Bulldogs second-rower Reni Maitua is expected to be out until round three with a torn lateral ligament in his ankle.
Melbourne 30 Nth Queensland 18
Barlow Park, Cairns, Friday
The Storm's unbeaten pre-season has been marred by a back injury to new signing Jamie Feeney, which has ruled him out for six weeks.
"He suffered it playing for North Sydney at the weekend," said Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
"Jamie is a pretty important signing for us." On Friday against North Queensland, winger Steve Turner twisted and broke an ankle and may miss the entire season. Jake Webster is favourite to take his place for the season-opener against Newcastle.
"The fact that we've won two games isn't such a big thing but I've been happy with the way we've won them," said Bellamy.
Penrith 34 Sydney Roosters 12
Carrara Stadium, Saturday
Panthers coach John Lang faces a selection headache after his side thrashed the Roosters on the Gold Coast without skipper Craig Gower and fellow internationals Luke Lewis and Luke Rooney.
Ben Rogers, who made his NRL debut against St George Illawarra last season, impressed Lang at halfback, while former Cronulla centre Paul Franze and rookie winger Michael Gordon had strong games.
"It was an area I was a bit worried about but I thought our young players did really well ... with three internationals to come back it is going to be difficult for us," said Lang.
Queensland Origin prop Ben Ross made a solid return after completing a nine-match suspension.
The Roosters will have Michael Crocker and Luke Ricketson available for the opening premiership match and are confident that injuries to Craig Wing (hamstring) and Ned Catic (ribs) won't sideline them from the March 12 clash with South Sydney.
Cronulla 32 Newcastle 28
Gosford Stadium, Saturday
Newcastle five-eighth Kurt Gidley and prop Josh Perry are in doubt for the opening premiership match against Melbourne on March 13.
Gidley (quadricep) and Perry (wrist) will have scans today to determine the extent of the injuries suffered on Saturday.
Aside from Andrew Johns's successful comeback, there was a sparsity of good news to brighten the Knights' troubled pre-season, with Anthony Quinn (AC joint), Riley Brown (elbow) and George Carmont (calf) also on the injured list.
All three are expected to be fit for the Storm clash. The Sharks have no major injury concerns.
Manly 26 St George Illawarra 16
Centenary Park, Albion Park, Saturday
Sea Eagles officials will sit down with veteran centre Terry Hill this week to discuss a new one-year contract after he scored three tries against St George Illawarra at the weekend.
"Put it this way, he's done everything right," said coach Des Hasler.
Brisbane 26 Canberra 20
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba, Saturday
Raiders recruit Jason Smith says his own teammates probably thought he was a "geriatric" when he first arrived for pre-season training.
"When I first came to the club a lot of them probably said, 'what are we getting this old, stupid geriatric for?"' Smith, 32, said after making his Australian comeback in Saturday night's narrow loss to Brisbane.
"But I've trained with them for quite a few months now and hopefully they understand I can still play the game." Smith's brother, 36-year-old Darren, played for the Broncos after being registered to fill in during Origin time while former All Black Brad Thorn made his return to the 13-man game in the final quarter and found the going tough.
Smith's opposite number, Darren Lockyer, set up two tries and scored the matchwinner. Coach Wayne Bennett said of centre Brent Tate: "I think it's the best game I've seen him play in 12 months."
Warriors 58 NZ President's XIII 6
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, yesterday
New Zealand Warriors coach Tony Kemp said he was spoilt for choice in selection options after winning two trial matches ahead of the team's NRL season-opener against Manly.
The Warriors overran the invitational President's Selection team in a performance that Kemp said met his expectations.
For the Warriors, Francis Meli and Brent Webb ran in three tries each and Lance Hohaia scored two. Former Australian prop Richard Villasanti was taken to hospital for a scan on his neck.
Read more SMH
Bulldogs 40 South Sydney 16
Members Equity Stadium, Perth, Friday
Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta was still pinching himself at the weekend over the amazing Sonny Bill Williams offload that set him up for a try against South Sydney on Friday night.
In the 16th minute of the Perth trial, Williams looked well held by three defenders and everyone was waiting for him to hit the ground and play the ball when a miraculous pass landed right on Anasta's chest to give him a touchdown.
"I gave up on it and all of a sudden it popped up," Anasta said. "[Souths] were saying it was off the ground but it was just a freakish pass. Even the ref was rapping it."
A rugby union recruitment target, Anasta got through the game without being troubled by his sternum injury, thanks to a guard he wore during last year's finals series.
Bulldogs second-rower Reni Maitua is expected to be out until round three with a torn lateral ligament in his ankle.
Melbourne 30 Nth Queensland 18
Barlow Park, Cairns, Friday
The Storm's unbeaten pre-season has been marred by a back injury to new signing Jamie Feeney, which has ruled him out for six weeks.
"He suffered it playing for North Sydney at the weekend," said Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
"Jamie is a pretty important signing for us." On Friday against North Queensland, winger Steve Turner twisted and broke an ankle and may miss the entire season. Jake Webster is favourite to take his place for the season-opener against Newcastle.
"The fact that we've won two games isn't such a big thing but I've been happy with the way we've won them," said Bellamy.
Penrith 34 Sydney Roosters 12
Carrara Stadium, Saturday
Panthers coach John Lang faces a selection headache after his side thrashed the Roosters on the Gold Coast without skipper Craig Gower and fellow internationals Luke Lewis and Luke Rooney.
Ben Rogers, who made his NRL debut against St George Illawarra last season, impressed Lang at halfback, while former Cronulla centre Paul Franze and rookie winger Michael Gordon had strong games.
"It was an area I was a bit worried about but I thought our young players did really well ... with three internationals to come back it is going to be difficult for us," said Lang.
Queensland Origin prop Ben Ross made a solid return after completing a nine-match suspension.
The Roosters will have Michael Crocker and Luke Ricketson available for the opening premiership match and are confident that injuries to Craig Wing (hamstring) and Ned Catic (ribs) won't sideline them from the March 12 clash with South Sydney.
Cronulla 32 Newcastle 28
Gosford Stadium, Saturday
Newcastle five-eighth Kurt Gidley and prop Josh Perry are in doubt for the opening premiership match against Melbourne on March 13.
Gidley (quadricep) and Perry (wrist) will have scans today to determine the extent of the injuries suffered on Saturday.
Aside from Andrew Johns's successful comeback, there was a sparsity of good news to brighten the Knights' troubled pre-season, with Anthony Quinn (AC joint), Riley Brown (elbow) and George Carmont (calf) also on the injured list.
All three are expected to be fit for the Storm clash. The Sharks have no major injury concerns.
Manly 26 St George Illawarra 16
Centenary Park, Albion Park, Saturday
Sea Eagles officials will sit down with veteran centre Terry Hill this week to discuss a new one-year contract after he scored three tries against St George Illawarra at the weekend.
"Put it this way, he's done everything right," said coach Des Hasler.
Brisbane 26 Canberra 20
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba, Saturday
Raiders recruit Jason Smith says his own teammates probably thought he was a "geriatric" when he first arrived for pre-season training.
"When I first came to the club a lot of them probably said, 'what are we getting this old, stupid geriatric for?"' Smith, 32, said after making his Australian comeback in Saturday night's narrow loss to Brisbane.
"But I've trained with them for quite a few months now and hopefully they understand I can still play the game." Smith's brother, 36-year-old Darren, played for the Broncos after being registered to fill in during Origin time while former All Black Brad Thorn made his return to the 13-man game in the final quarter and found the going tough.
Smith's opposite number, Darren Lockyer, set up two tries and scored the matchwinner. Coach Wayne Bennett said of centre Brent Tate: "I think it's the best game I've seen him play in 12 months."
Warriors 58 NZ President's XIII 6
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, yesterday
New Zealand Warriors coach Tony Kemp said he was spoilt for choice in selection options after winning two trial matches ahead of the team's NRL season-opener against Manly.
The Warriors overran the invitational President's Selection team in a performance that Kemp said met his expectations.
For the Warriors, Francis Meli and Brent Webb ran in three tries each and Lance Hohaia scored two. Former Australian prop Richard Villasanti was taken to hospital for a scan on his neck.
Read more SMH
The Reni groupies are going to have nothing to talk about now. Oh wait, they never have anything to talk about anyway, besides his looks and all 