Arabic version: ساوث سيدني يصمد أمام نايتس؛ كاوبويز والعاصفة يحققان انتصارات متأخرة
South Sydney held on for a narrow 26-24 victory over the Newcastle Knights in round 19, with a large crowd turning out at Stadium Australia to celebrate one of the match’s key figures.
According to ABC News, the Rabbitohs recorded the win in front of 30,113 fans as celebrations marked Jai Arrow’s 31st birthday following his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis. There was a party atmosphere at half-time with the Wiggles performing and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leading the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Arrow.
South Sydney captain Cam Murray praised his side’s focus on the field while acknowledging Arrow’s presence in the change room. Murray said the players “know how much [Arrow] means to us,” and that, despite the celebrations, they had to execute the game plan they had practised. David Fifita scored one of South Sydney’s five tries in the tight win.
The North Queensland Cowboys produced a dramatic finish at Brookvale, scoring two tries in the final 12 minutes to force extra time before fullback Scott Drinkwater nailed a 32-metre field goal in the 82nd minute to secure a 19-18 golden-point win over the Manly Sea Eagles. The result moved the Cowboys into eighth on the NRL ladder at the end of round 19 and dropped Manly to ninth.
At AAMI Park, the Melbourne Storm edged the Gold Coast Titans 22-18 after Nick Meaney barged over from close range in the 79th minute for the winning try. The Storm had led 18-6 before the Titans produced a late fightback to level the scores with 17 minutes remaining; Meaney’s late score ultimately decided the contest.
These results carry ladder and finals implications: the Cowboys’ victory lifted them into the top eight, while the Storm’s win kept their finals chances realistic and in touch with the top eight. With State of Origin now in the rear-view mirror, round 20 of the NRL season begins on Thursday and the competition’s run to the finals resumes.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | Victoria | New South Wales | Queensland
