Stocks: Sea Eagles crash, Bunnies survive, Yeo injured

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

Stocks up: For about 20 minutes after halftime, this looked like Canterbury at their best. Bailey Hayward's break sparked Jacob Kiraz, Lachlan Galvin sliced through to put them in front, and when Kiraz crossed again the Bulldogs suddenly had an 18-8 lead and all the momentum.

Stocks down: Then they let it disappear. Seventeen errors eventually proved too much, and two Roosters tries in the space of a few minutes flipped the game into a 20-18 loss. Sitili Tupouniua re-injuring his hamstring just five minutes into his return only added to the frustration. For a side trying to cement a finals spot, this was one they'll feel they absolutely should have closed out.

-- Isaac Issa

Cronulla Sharks

Stocks up: The Sharks have been flying and would have already marked the two points in the book as they took the short drive to visit the wooden spoon-bound Dragons. Looking for positives, this shock result could be ticked off as the loss they had to have on the way to a successful finals run.

Stocks down: Sloppy throughout, the Sharks might have been expecting a much easier afternoon at Kogarah. Halfback Nicho Hynes was closing in on Hazem El Masri's record for most consecutive goals kicked. When he missed his first attempt five minutes into the game, it foreshadowed a tough afternoon. Just when we thought the Sharks had shaken off their inconsistency tag, they produce this shocker.

-- Darren Arthur

Dolphins

Stocks up: Dolphins fans will tell you the result was never in doubt, giving the Broncos a 24-point head-start was designed to make the game more interesting. It certainly made for a thrilling spectacle as the Dolphins unleashed the full breadth of their attacking genius to run down the Broncos. They are going to be dangerous in the finals, if they can tighten up their defence.

Stocks down: This was always going to be a tough encounter for the Dolphins, with the Broncos never happy to lose to their neighbours. No one expected the paper-thin defensive effort on display in the first half as the Broncos ran riot in piling up a 24-0 lead after 22 minutes. The Dolphins are heading towards their first ever finals appearance, waving through attacking raids just won't cut it against the top sides.

-- Darren Arthur

Gold Coast Titans

Stocks up: Why are they letting Phillip Sami go, again? It's not quite as high-profile as Alofiana Khan-Pereira going out the door at the end of 2025, but he is another bloke who looks like he belongs in this backline far more than some other players, based on recent performances.

Stocks down: The last tackle options were dire, really highlighting the absence of Zane Harrison. I guess that's a good thing in the long run, given that he's their halfback of the future, but it was tough to watch at times as a disjointed attack failed to find their way back into a game they easily could have.

-- Matt Bungard

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Stocks up: For 30 minutes, Manly were terrific. Haumole Olakau'atu was causing chaos, Brandon Wakeham scored on his return, and Tolu Koula helped them build a deserved 14-0 lead.

Stocks down: Everything after that was disastrous. The Sea Eagles conceded 42 straight points before a late consolation try, completely losing control once Melbourne found some rhythm. It's now five consecutive defeats, and with their finals hopes already fading, this 42-20 loss feels particularly damaging. The early footy showed what they're capable of, but the collapse showed why their season is slipping away.

-- Isaac Issa

Melbourne Storm

Stocks up: This was some response. Melbourne were 14-0 down, had made eight errors inside the opening half-hour and looked completely rattled - then Cameron Munster helped change the entire feel of the game. The Storm scored 42 unanswered points from there, with Sua Fa'alogo causing havoc and youngster Hayden Watson scoring his first NRL try before later laying on another. Munster's return after four games out could hardly have been more timely for a side that has looked unusually vulnerable this season.

Stocks down: That opening half-hour was still ugly. Melbourne's errors gifted Manly repeated chances and forced them to dig out of a sizeable hole; against a better finishing side, the comeback might never have been available.

-- Isaac Issa

Newcastle Knights

Stocks up: This Newcastle revival keeps getting more impressive. They jumped out quickly, survived Canberra's comeback in awful conditions, and then found another gear when the game was there to be won. Dominic Young was enormous with two tries and a hand in another, while Tyson Frizell celebrated his 300th game with a win that keeps the Knights firmly in the finals race after finishing last in 2025.

Stocks down: They did make life difficult for themselves. A 12-0 lead disappeared, Kalyn Ponga's error helped Canberra back into the contest, and they had to chase the game again after falling six behind in the second half. But right now, Newcastle keep finding answers.

-- Isaac Issa

New Zealand Warriors

Stocks up: The first half was the best they've played all year -- and that's a high bar. We've seen in a couple of Penrith's losses this year to the Cowboys and Bulldogs that they're slightly more susceptible to being physically out-muscled, but it's still very difficult to do. Erin Clark's early try was a massive statement and despite the madcap last 20 minutes, they should be absolutely delighted with the outcome.

Stocks down: This is not the first time a late Panthers flurry has put the fear of God into a team, and it won't be the last - and while the final score doesn't truly indicate how dominant the Warriors were, a win is a win. In fact, I think copping that Penrith mini-comeback will have them ever more locked in for when these teams meet again.

-- Matt Bungard

North Queensland Cowboys

Stocks up: It wasn't the prettiest game but the Cowboys had some very pretty moments, particularly the wrap-around for Heilum Luki's second try, and Jaxon Purdue's length-of-the-field effort. This was a vital game for Todd Payten's team to keep their season alive as they took one giant step towards the finals.

Stocks down: For the back end of the first half, I thought we were going to see one of those games when North Queensland drop the ball fifty times and get blown off the park. The Titans were kind enough to not take advantage of the 20-minute spell where the Cowboys couldn't hold on to anything, but stronger teams in the finals won't let that slide so easily.

-- Matt Bungard

Parramatta Eels

Stocks up: You would have thought when they were 28-0 down at halftime, with nothing to play for, that the rest of this game was only going to go one way. Credit to them though, it takes a lot of character to come back out of the sheds and not only put the gloves up, but almost win the game.

Stocks down: The injury to Isaiah Iongi is yet another for the club that's had more players miss time this year than any other. They did their best without him, but with a fully-fledged backline in the second half they may well have completed the most improbable of comebacks. And despite how good they were after halftime, giving themselves an almost impossible task with a brutal first half of errors, penalties and lack of forward thrust really put them behind the eight ball.

-- Matt Bungard

Penrith Panthers

Stocks up: It was a loss, and one in which they looked more vulnerable than ever before - but they still had that second-half burst to remind people what they're capable of. Other than that, not a whole lot to be excited about.

Stocks down: The loss is one thing but the injury to Isaah Yeo is another -- how do they get back to the level they need to be without their co-captain and forward pack leader? Even with all the chopping and changing that this team has had, with so many players going to other clubs, Yeo is one of the handful of untouchables that I think needs to be there if they're going to win it all.

-- Matt Bungard