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The Parramatta Eels have edged the North Queensland Cowboys in Darwin, following the Roosters' thrilling two-point win over Newcastle and the Warriors' handsome win over Manly.
Look back at how all the action unfolded in our NRL ScoreCentre.
Eels hold off Cowboys in Darwin
Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne has celebrated his anticipated injury comeback in style, scoring two tries and playing a hand in a third in the Eels' 20-14 NRL win over North Queensland in Darwin.
Playing his first match since round seven, a sharp Hayne showed no ill effects of the problematic hamstring injury that had limited him to just four games in his return to Parramatta.
But more importantly, the code-hopper was involved in three of the Eels' four tries on Saturday night as the bottom-placed outfit snapped a five-game losing streak.
The defeat for Cowboys, who were twice denied tries due to questionable forward-pass calls, all but extinguishes the playoff hopes of last year's grand finalists in Johnathan Thurston's farewell year.
Cowboys coach Paul Green opted to rest star Michael Morgan, but it mattered little as his side completed just 58 per cent of their sets.
Parramatta were leading by four points with half-an-hour to go when Hayne soared to take a Corey Norman kick for his second try of the night.
Cowboys second-rower Gavin Cooper appeared to have levelled the scores only for the referee to controversially rule Thurston's pass forward in the 59th minute.
Kyle Feldt bombed a certain try off a Thurston kick not long after.
Eels centre Michael Jennings sealed the win when Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote fumbled a regulation Clint Gutherson bomb in the 69th minute.
Cowboys pair Matt Scott and Enari Tuala crossed in the final two minutes, but it was little consolation for a side needing to win their remaining 11 games to reach the traditional 30-point finals mark.
Parramatta started the stronger, with Norman twice forcing line dropouts before Hayne earned a penalty and powered his way over from the ensuing quick tap.
Feldt was then denied a try by another dubious forward pass ruling, while Michael Jennings also duffed a certain four-pointer of his own.
However, Feldt made no mistake with his next chance, scoring a trademark try in the corner to ensure scores were level at 4-4 at halftime.
Eels forward Sosaia Vave was put on report for a possible cannonball tackle on Cowboys winger Antonio Winterstein early in the second half.
AAP
Roosters edge Knights in thriller
Utility Jamie Buhrer has suffered a possible season-ending knee injury during a deflating 18-16 NRL loss by Newcastle to the Sydney Roosters.
Winger Blake Ferguson was the hero for the Roosters for the second week running, with tries either side of halftime.
The game went down to the wire after Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga scored with four minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish but the Knights wasted their chances in the final moments.
The loss — their fifth in their past six games — came at a cost after Buhrer came from the field in the first half with a suspected ACL tear to his right knee.
There are fears the 28-year-old's season is over and it would be a bitter blow for the former NSW representative after he had his 2014 and 2015 seasons ended by ACL tears.
Trent Robinson's men continue their charge up the ladder after racking up their fifth win in six outings.
They were made to do it tough after skipper Boyd Cordner was a late withdrawal after pulling up sore following Wednesday's State of Origin opener.
His fellow Blues Latrell Mitchell — who set up the opening try for Luke Keary with a powerful individual effort in just the fourth minute — and James Tedesco were also outstanding.
Dylan Napa, who was also backing up, was sin-binned in the 54th minute under dubious circumstances.
When he grabbed Herman Ese'ese close to his own line, he had his arm trapped in the tackle but was marched for not getting up quick enough.
However the Roosters shook off their setbacks to collect a valuable two points.
Ferguson gave his side a 12-8 halftime lead when he ran onto a sweetly-time Keary ball.
And then two minutes after the resumption he pushed his side further in front when he took the ball down the short side and ran over Ken Sio.
The Knights got back within two when Ponga threw a cut-out pass for Sione Mata'utia before backing up on the inside.
AAP
Warriors too strong for Manly in Christchurch
An inspired Warriors have welcomed the return of Shaun Johnson's spark in a dominant 34-14 NRL win over Manly in Christchurch.
In his 150th match, Johnson scored a try and laid on three to vie with rampaging wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a for man of the match honours on Saturday.
Fusitu'a crossed three times in nine minutes in the second spell to storm to a competition-leading 15 tries.
The Warriors' ninth win ensures they remain fourth while the luckless Manly continues to languish in the bottom four with a third loss in a row and 10th defeat overall.
Up 8-0 after dominating the opening quarter, the Sea Eagles' hopes took a sizeable blow when early try-scorer Api Koroisau limped off with a foot injury.
His absence was obvious in a fraying defensive line as the Warriors began to rule the collisions in a welcome departure from some recent lacklustre forward performances.
It took a storming 50m kick return from Maumalo to spark his side's first try, with Isaiah Papali'i put across the stripe by Blake Green later in the set.
The former Manly five-eighth was at again it soon after, sending Tohu Harris over to put the Warriors 12-8 up at the break after playing into a stiff breeze.
The second half was the Johnson-Fusitu'a show down the Warriors' lethal right edge as a tired-looking Manly offered little resistance.
A Fusitu'a bust set up a 43rd minute try for his halfback, whose speed to finish suggested he has overcome the ankle problem that sidelined him for three weeks.
The Warriors managed five tries after the break and six overall on a freezing South Island evening, with Fusitu'a the three-time beneficiary of his team's late control and Johnson's range of skills.
Brian Kelly crossed for a Manly consolation try as his team's streak of seven successive wins over the Warriors ground to an emphatic halt.
AAP
Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, new-zealand, nsw, australia, qld, darwin-0800, nt, newcastle-2300, townsville-4810
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