NRL: Major upsets make Week 13 one to remember

With players away on duty ahead of the State of Origin opener, there were certainly some surprising results in Week 13 of the 2024 NRL season.

The shocks did not come greater than at CommBank Stadium where the Parramatta Eels caused a stir at the top end of the NRL ladder.

Sharks stunned by Eels

The Cronulla Sharks squandered an opportunity to stay top of the NRL standings last week as they suffered a shock 34-22 defeat at the hands of the Parramatta Eels in Sydney.

Sione Katoa got the Sharks off to a perfect start with the opening try in the fourth minute but the visitors would only hold the lead for the following six minutes in the entire contest.

A Maika Sivo brace saw the Eels storm into the lead and they never looked back, as they inflicted just the third loss of the season on the Sharks.

Missing the likes of Cameron McInnes and Nico Hynes to Origin duty was a blow, but the Sharks were still expected to overcome an Eels side that had on won three of their opening 11 games of the campaign.

The Sharks will be looking to respond but it won’t be easy as they next face the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Cronulla 9.00 to win the grand final this season, while the Broncos are available at 4.75 to claim the title this year.

Dragons fight back to shock Panthers

Leading 10-0 at the break on home soil, the clash between reigning champions Penrith Panthers and St George/Illawarra Dragons was going how many envisaged.

What few would have expected was to see the Panthers fail to score a single point in the second-half at Penrith Stadium and for the Dragons to score three tries on their way to a 22-10 victory.

The Dragons deserve great credit for their comeback while the Panthers will still be wondering where that performance in the second 40 minutes came from.

Again missing the likes of Jarome Luai, Isaiah Yeo and Brian To’o due to Origin duty, the Panthers were still expected to win this one.

It was another exciting game and a major upset in Week 13 but the Panthers remain the 3.10 favourites to retain the NRL title this season.

Roosters reeling from Cowboys defeat

Another upset occurred at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, with the North Queensland Cowboys coming back from 14-4 down at halftime to win 18-16 against the Sydney Roosters.

Just over 13,800 fans were in the stadium to witness a thrilling contest, in which a late try for Kulikefu Finefeuiaki was a key moment, before a Scott Drinkwater penalty goal in the 73rd minute secured the victory.

A setback for the Roosters but they didn’t lose ground on the likes of the Panthers and the Sharks at the top end of the table.

The Roosters are 6.00 to win the title this season, while the Cowboys are outsiders at 29.00 to claim a shock grand final victory.

Week 13 also saw the Canterbury Bulldogs romp to a 32-2 win at the Newcastle Knights, while the Canberra Raiders edged a 26-25 golden point thriller at the Dolphins.