Colossal Cleary stars in the best of Twitter for NRL Round 19
NEW Zealand Warriors went into Friday night hoping to give the departing Manu Vatuvei the perfect send-off.
Alas, it was not to be.
Penrith Panthers ran out 34-22 winners thanks to a standout display from 19-year-old Nathan Cleary, who finished with a hat-trick and five conversions.
The irony: he used to hover on the sidelines in Auckland back when his dad, Ivan, played for the Warriors.
That awkward moment when your former ball boy ends your season… #NRLWarriorsPanthers pic.twitter.com/A6qEZq9ZCt
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 14, 2017
The bad news did not stop there for New Zealand.
Their finals hopes in tatters, the Warriors also lost star man Shaun Johnson to what could be a season-ending knee injury.
Bad news for Shaun Johnson there, knee looks shot, but in good news, hair is still perfect.#NRLWarriorsPanthers
— Former Legend (@Former_legend) July 14, 2017
Back on Aussie shores, Canberra Raiders kept their finals hopes alive with a dramatic victory over St George Illawarra.
It was a game littered with playmaking errors, but Aiden Sezer produced a superb 40/20 in extra time to set up an 18-14 win for the Green Machine.
It looks like the Raiders had a little help from Ramsey St.
The real question tonight is who is running ‘Lassiters’ if Paul is at the footy? #NRLRaidersDragons @neighbours #neighbours pic.twitter.com/NeQvPodNAm
— Matt Baseley (@MattBaseley) July 14, 2017
But the result was rather overshadowed by Josh Papalii.
The Queensland representative went unpunished for a head-high charge that ended Josh Dugan’s night.
“Hello police? Yes, I’d like to report myself for an illegal shoulder charge please.” #NRLRaidersDragons pic.twitter.com/ZAxxNByt4f
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 14, 2017
Newcastle Knights have won many admirers with their battling displays this season, and they produced another one when Brisbane visited on Saturday.
The Novacastrians led on several occasions, but it wasn’t quite enough to keep the finals-bound Broncos at bay.
Never in doubt #NRLKnightsBroncos pic.twitter.com/al6nUO3Ks4
— Rowan Edwards (@EddyNZ) July 15, 2017
One who came out of the clash with less than favourable reviews was Korbin Sims.
He played 76 times for Newcastle before heading to Brisbane at the end of last season, but Knights fans don’t remember him fondly.
I think we can all agree on 2 things. 1 – Gallant effort from @NRLKnights
2- Sims is a wanker #goknights #NRLKnightsBroncos— Reg Reagan (@reagan_reg) July 15, 2017
Korbin Sims all class NOT!!! What a p…. #NRLKnightsBroncos
— Sandy Hunter (@sandyhunter2) July 15, 2017
North of the Tweed, the defending champs drowned in wet and wild conditions as the Gold Coast claimed a shock win.
Cronulla slipped to fifth with that 30-10 defeat, while the Titans may yet harbour finals hopes after joining a thick pack of chasers on 18 points.
Sharks looking less comfortable in the water than that one at J Bay that @Mick_Fanning punched 7 shades of shit out of.#NRLTitansSharks
— Former Legend (@Former_legend) July 15, 2017
The fact that Chad Townsend’s hair is still perfect in this weather is the most impressive sporting achievement of all time #NRLTitansSharks
— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) July 15, 2017
Sunday saw Manly Warringah play host to Wests Tigers on a lovely afternoon at Lottoland.
Daly Cherry-Evans could not win an Origin jersey last week, but he continues to enjoy a fine season in maroon.
What a 40/20 from DCE! #NRLManlyTigers #NRL pic.twitter.com/LZmCOqRMFn
— NRL (@NRL) July 16, 2017
The Sea Eagles soared up to third on the NRL ladder with a 28-16 win that featured a few controversial calls from the refs.
But there was nothing much Tigers fans could say about Aaron Woods, who reprised his Origin efforts with another stellar shift as the unengaged bystander.
Aaron Woods standing around doing nothing costing his team. It’s Origin all over again #NRLManlyTigers pic.twitter.com/a7VXwoEmkJ
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 16, 2017
Up at Barlow Park, it was all about the Cowboys.
Jason Taumalolo was at his line-breaking best as North Queensland romped to their third straight win without Johnathan Thurston.
? Jason Taumalolo averages over 200m a game this season.
? Good luck South Sydney…#NRLSouthsCowboys pic.twitter.com/rDyzNKSPKa
— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) July 16, 2017
But what really grabbed the Twittersphere’s attention was the ball-handling of Sam Burgess.
The South Sydney man made a few costly errors up in Cairns, and social media users did not waste the opportunity to lay into his entire error-prone family.
Does @sportsbetcomau take bets on how many times a Burgess will drop it in a game #NRLSouthsCowboys
— Alyson Willmott (@aly_w1) July 16, 2017
There it is. Death, taxes and a Burgess drop ball. #NRLSouthsCowboys
— Ben (@Bennyw82) July 16, 2017
Burgess Brothers #NRLSouthsCowboys pic.twitter.com/V0IQpZ2mXM
— UBET (@UBET) July 16, 2017
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