NRL champions Newcastle suffered their worst-ever defeat as they were overrun 64-14 by Cronulla on Sunday.

The result was the Sharks' record margin of victory, and their scrum-half Brett Kimmorley was the star, scoring 28 points in a game the Knights trailed 42-0 at half-time.

Kimmorley claimed two tries in that first-half rout, and contributed to several others as he outshone his Newcastle counterpart, Test captain Andrew Johns.

Cronulla, in fifth, are now just four points behind Newcastle in the race of fourth place and a home semi-final in the play-offs.

A win for the Bulldogs would have given them a league record for consecutive victories, but they were denied by a Warriors side, who took a second-half 16-4 lead after a David Myles try.

Canterbury narrowed the margin, but were unable to prevent defeat.

Menzies the hero

A dramatic late try from Northern Eagles captain Steve Menzies gave them a 20-18 victory over St George Illawarra.

The eighth-placed Eagles trailed 18-14 late in the game after conceding successive Mark Riddell penalty goals, but Menzies touched down with two minutes left from a Brandon Reeves kick, and Luke Williamson converted.

Canberra are still in play-off contention after beating Wests Tigers 26-6.

Winger Phil Graham scored a hat-trick of tries to leave the Raiders one tantalising point outside the top eight.

Melbourne won a high-scoring encounter 40-30 against struggling North Queensland.

Matt Sing had given the Cowboys an early lead with his 100th first-grade try.

But the Storm came back to take an 18-10 half-time advantage, and two touchdowns in the first two minutes of the second period proved decisive.

Bottom-placed South Sydney were hammered 54-0 by Parramatta, who secured their first win in two months.

Brett Hodgson and Luke Burt both managed two tries for and Eels team who stay seventh, with just a one-point margin on the ninth and 10th-placed teams.

National Rugby League results:

St.George-Illawarra 18-20 Northern Eagles
Canberra 26-6 Wests Tigers
Cronulla 64-14 Newcastle
North Queensland 30-40 Melbourne
Auckland 22-14 Bulldogs
Parramatta 54-0 South Sydney
Brisbane 18-28 Sydney City

Back to top