Around the Grounds: Round 13

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Mon 10 Aug 2020, 10:40 AM

Penrith, Melbourne and Parramatta continue to surge away on top of the Telstra Premiership ladder with their winning runs opening up a four-point gap back to the defending premiers in fourth position.

All of the top four have won at least four of their last five games and are hitting their straps at the right time of the year, while Canberra, Newcastle, South Sydney and Cronulla also consolidated their spots inside the top eight.

With just seven matches remaining this year, time is running out for Manly (9th), Wests Tigers (10th) and the New Zealand Warriors (11th) while the likes of the Titans, Cowboys, Broncos and Bulldogs are all fighting to avoid the wooden spoon.

ROUND 13 RESULTS

Sydney Roosters 24 def. St. George-Illawarra Dragons 16
New Zealand Warriors 26 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. Brisbane Broncos 12
Melbourne Storm 41 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10
Newcastle Knights 44 def. Wests Tigers 4
Penrith Panthers 28 def. Canberra Raiders 12
Gold Coast Titans 30 def. North Queensland Cowboys 10
Parramatta Eels 14 def. Cronulla Sharks 12

JUDICIARY CHARGES

On-loan Warriors forward Jack Hetherington is facing another lengthy ban after his high shot on Sea Eagles forward Martin Taupau. Hetherington is facing a four-to-five-match ban after being handed a Grade Three High Tackle - Careless charge.

Meanwhile, Bulldogs playmaker Lachlan Lewis will miss Sunday's clash against Wests Tigers after he was cited for a high shot in his side's loss to Melbourne.

Dragons forward Jackson Ford will miss two weeks for a tripping charge while Roosters duo Jake Friend and Ryan Hall, as well as Manly playmaker Lachlan Croker, can all escape suspension with early guilty pleas.

LATEST INJURY NEWS

It was another big week of injury news, with Wests Tigers utility Billy Walters set to miss the remainder of the season after tearing multiple ligaments in his side's loss to the Newcastle Knights. The likes of Cameron Munster, Tariq Sims and Addin Fonua-Blake also picked up injuries throughout the weekend's action.

Tariq Sims, SGI (shoulder)
Addin Fonua-Blake, MAN (knee)
Martin Taupau, MAN (concussion)
Cameron Munster, MEL (knee)
Jake Averillo, CBY (hip)
Billy Walters, WST (knee)
Siliva Havili, CAN (triceps)
Ronaldo Mulitalo, CRO (concussion)

ROUND 14 FIXTURES

Thursday, August 13

7:50pm — Sydney Roosters vs. Melbourne Storm

Friday, August 14

6:00pm — New Zealand Warriors vs. Penrith Panthers
7:50pm — Parramatta Eels vs. St. George-Illawarra Dragons

Saturday, August 15

3:00pm — Cronulla Sharks vs. Gold Coast Titans
5:30pm — North Queensland Cowboys vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
7:35pm — Canberra Raiders vs. Brisbane Broncos