NRL Snapshot: Round 3

A string of comeback victories, a brainsnap from superstar Greg Inglis and a scary injury to Sam Burgess were the main talking points coming out of Round 3 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Two early tries indicated a long night for the Roosters, but they competed manfully until the stroke of half-time where a late Lachlan Coote try opened the floodgates. A glut of errors from the Roosters and a monstrous effort from the Cowboys forward pack helped them to a dominant 40-0 shutout. 

Injuries to Roosters duo Dale Copley (pectoral) and an ugly leg injury to Ian Henderson on full-time compounded a tough night for the Tricolours. 

Parramatta winger Semi Radradra stole the show against the Bulldogs with a freakish acrobatic try assist - then scored two of his own for good measure including a barnstorming, tackle-breaking run straight through the heart of Canterbury's defence. Michael Jennings also scored his first try in Eels colours. 

Canberra jumped out to a big lead and were seemingly cruising in Newcastle, but the Knights fired home to take a surprise lead late in the contest. Trent Hodkinson kicked a tough conversion to give the Knights a surprising six-point lead before the Raiders rallied to score with only two minutes remaining and for the second week in a row, Jarrod Croker nailed a clutch conversion to level the scores. Extra-time could not separate the two despite numerous field goal attempts and a 50 metre penalty goal attempt from Croker. It was Jarrod Mullen's 200th NRL game. 

Anthony Milford threatened to tear the game apart early, as he continues to prove he is one of the game's best halves. But the Panthers fought back from a 16-point deficit before debutant Te Maire Martin scored a try and then kicked a field goal on debut to give his side their first win of the season.

It looked like business as usual when the Wests Tigers raced to an early 10-point lead, but a try just before half-time to Daniel Mortimer changed everything. From there the Titans ran riot with Ashley Taylor having his best game in first grade and Ryan James made a massive impact off the bench.

Late withdrawals of Issac Luke and Manu Vatuvei didn't help the Warriors cause, while Cameron Munster scored a try after taking Billy Slater's No.1 jersey. A field goal to Cooper Cronk and a late try to Marika Koribete as the Warriors chased the game put the Storm on top of the NRL ladder.

The iconic SCG was waterlogged for this encounter and the Dragons received an early blow with Benji Marshall pulling out with a hamstring injury before the game. But the contest will be forever remembered for Greg Inglis inexplicably taking a shot at field goal with the last play of the game with his side trailing by two points. No-one could believe what they had seen. 

Sam Burgess fell awkwardly in a tackle and was stretchered from the field, but has since revealed that the injury is not as bad as first feared.

Brett Stewart played his first game of the season and his inclusion sparked Manly into gear as they came over the top of the Sharks in the second half. Trent Barrett made a host of changes to the team to earn his first victory as an NRL coach. 'The Prince of Brookvale' Stewart scored his 87th try from just 95 games at the venue. Martin Taupau will have a nervous wait after hitting Jack Bird high and late, with the Sharks star failing to return to the field. 

Michael Ennis became just the 100th player to play 250 NRL games, but he couldn't get his team over the line to mark the milestone.

 Round 3 Bailey Ladder