NRL: Late Barba try sends Sharks top

Omnisports

May 21, 2016 8:26 AM

Cronulla Sharks took advantage of Brisbane Broncos' defeat to move top of the NRL with victory on Saturday.

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Ben Barba's try with seven minutes remaining proved decisive as Cronulla Sharks moved top of the NRL with a hard-fought 20-12 victory over Manly Sea Eagles.

The Sharks looked to have been in complete control in the opening 40 minutes in Sydney as Sosaia Feki and Valentine Holmes crossed, while James Maloney kicked a penalty and a conversion to give them a 12-4 half-time advantage.

However, Tom Trbojevic's try late in the first half began Manly's revival and they were level 12 minutes after the restart as Jamie Buhrer and Brayden Wiliame touched down.

Both conversions were missed, though, and that proved costly as the Sharks finished with a flourish to take full advantage of Brisbane Broncos' defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys on Friday.

Canberra Raiders produced a stunning first-half display against New Zealand Warriors to move back into the top eight, scoring 22 unanswered points in the opening 40 minutes in Auckland.

The Warriors finally got on the board after the restart but Josh Papalii, Josh Hodgson and Edrick Lee added further tries for the Raiders as they cruised to a 38-12 win.

Luke Brooks starred for Wests Tigers as they kept their top-eight hopes alive, the halfback coming to the fore in the second 40 against bottom club Newcastle Knights.

With the Knights 12-10 ahead with 20 minutes to play, Brooks took the game by the scruff of its neck with a try and an assist as the Tigers ran out 20-12 winners, keeping them in touch with the top eight.

Omnisports

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