NRL 2021: St George Illawarra Dragons end Parramatta Eels win streak, North Queensland Cowboys hold off Wests Tigers

  • 12/04/2021

St George Illawarra Dragons have ended Parramatta Eels' undefeated start to the NRL season with a 26-12 win at Bankwest Stadium.

The victory sees the Dragons leapfrog their way into the competition's top four with a four-game win streak - their first since 2019.

The Dragons exploded out of the gates with defensive pressure and aggression to bolt to an 18-0 halftime lead, courtesy of tries to Jack Bird and Matt Dufty, and an aerial stunner from Mikaele Ravalwa.

Former Warriors player Isaiah Papali'i continued his hot form with a try to give his side hope to start the second half, but with just over 10 minutes remaining, Dufty's second try put the nail in the Eels' coffin.

In other action, North Queensland Cowboys held on to edge Wests Tigers 34-30 at Leichhardt Oval.

Booed off the field at halftime after trailing 28-6, the Tigers roared into life in the second stanza, re-energising a vocal crowd that had come to honour Western Suburbs legend Tommy Raudonikis, who died last week.

Joe Ofahengaue, Tommy Talau, David Nofoaluma, Luciano Leilua and Luke Garner all punched through, as the Tigers racked up quick points to push the Cowboys right to the final whistle.

The Tigers were left ruing what could have been, when - with 18 minutes to go - the ‘bunker’ denied a try to Nofoaluma, ruling the Cowboys defence was obstructed in the lead-up.

The decision temporarily halted the rampaging Tigers' momentum and the Cowboys scored soon after, through Lachlan Burr, to extend their lead.

In the final minute, Ofahengaue crossed the chalk, but it was mere consolation for the Tigers.

Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the NZ Warriors v St George NRL clash