Broncos Ride Roughshod Over Titans In NRL

Sydney, July 8 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jul, 2018 ) :The Brisbane Broncos, sparked by halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima, climbed to seventh spot in Australia's National Rugby League on Sunday with a crushing 34-0 win over the Gold Coast Titans.

The scrum-base duo put in one of their most dominant performances of the season to sink the Titans' faint finals hopes in the Queensland derby on the Gold Coast.

The Broncos were missing their State of Origin stars in this weekend's split round, but still had too much firepower for the Titans, who are now eight points behind Brisbane.

Defending champions Melbourne Storm made light of their missing Origin stars to beat the St George Illawarra Dragons 52-30 in Melbourne.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs moved to the top of the competition standings after the Dragons suffered only their fourth loss of the year.

With Cameron Munster and Billy Slater in the Queensland Origin training camp, young playmaker Jahrome Hughes stood up with a dynamic performance that included a try, 209 running metres, and an error-free display at fullback.

A total of 14 tries were scored in a frenetic display of football with the Dragons leading 30-28 with 20 minutes to play.

But the Storm kicked clear with four tries in the final stages.

Rookie Penrith scrum-half Jarome Luai scored two tries and set up another to help the Panthers cause one of the upsets of the season in a 36-4 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Penrith Stadium.

NSW Origin representatives Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Tyrone Peachey watched on from the sidelines as the under-strength side ran in six unanswered tries in the opening half.

But it was Luai who stole the show with a dynamic performance to help keep the Panthers in the NRL's top four.

A 24-point haul for Bulldogs back-rower Rhyse Martin was not enough for Canterbury as Canberra scored three tries in the last six minutes to seal a 32-28 comeback win at Belmore Sportsground.

Martin's three tries and six goals from six attempts looked to have sealed Canterbury's second straight win with a 28-14 lead but a sensational cameo off the interchange bench from Blake Austin hauled his side back into contention before a Joey Leilua try on full-time stole the win.

The final Origin game will be played in Brisbane on Wednesday with NSW chasing a 3-0 series clean sweep.