CHANTAY KIRIA-RATU was the golden-point hero as her field-goal completed a remarkable CRONULLA SHARKS comeback to defeat NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 19-18 and climb to third in the table.

Cronulla trailed 4-18 with just nine minutes remaining but scored three tries in succession, the first two by Georgia Ravics to complete a hat-trick.

After Georgia Hannaway failed to convert any of the three prior efforts, Kiria-Ratu stepped up to take the game into extra-time when Brooke Anderson crossed in the final minute.

And Kiria-Ratu then calmly slotted from 20 metres out in the first set of golden-point after Talei Holmes’ crucial burst put them in position to strike.

Lilly-Ann White’s treble, along with a Sheridan Gallagher try and one Jesse Southwell conversion from four attempts, proved not to be enough for fifth-placed Newcastle.

The top two will still take some stopping, however, not least unbeaten leaders SYDNEY ROOSTERS, who won 0-30 in Townsville against an in-form NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS.

The Roosters only led by eight at half-time, via Jayme Fressard and Amber Hall tries, but were too good in the second half.

Jessica Sergis scored twice, followed by Rima Butler and Taina Naividi efforts, while Jocelyn Kelleher kicked three goals.

The only downside was Sydney captain Isabelle Kelly suffering a suspected broken jaw early on.

BRISBANE BRONCOS, their closest challengers in second, also enjoyed a flawless defensive performance in beating CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 44-0, while Tamika Upton dazzled in attack.

Brilliant fullback Upton scored four of their nine tries, the others coming from Hayley Maddick, Julia Robinson, Kerri Johnson and Gayle Broughton with four converted by Romy Teitzel.

GOLD COAST TITANS opened up a valuable three-point buffer in sixth – the final play-off place – with two rounds remaining via a 26-10 success over PARRAMATTA EELS.

Georgia Grey, Phoenix-Raine Hippi, Shaylee Bent and Taliah Fuimaono tries, two improved by Lauren Brown, put them 20-0 up before Martha Mataele pulled four points back on the stroke of half-time.

Hippi’s second try and Brown’s third goal boosted the Titans’ cushion and although Rachael Pearson converted a Ryvrr-Lee Alo try for Parramatta, the home defence held on well under pressure in the final 20 minutes.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS are one of five teams still in with an outside chance of catching Gold Coast after beating NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 26-18 to halt a five-game losing run.

In an error-riddled match, the Dragons managed five tries from Maria Paseka, Teagan Berry (two), Tori Shipton and Jayme Millard, who converted three.

Payton Takimoana scored two of the Warriors’ three tries, Patricia Maliepo also touching down and converting them all.

CANBERRA RAIDERS join both of those sides on six points, but only after Zahara Temara’s field-goal earned a 17-16 golden-point victory over bottom side WESTS TIGERS.

Elise Simpson’s second try got the Raiders level before captain Temara, on her 50th NRLW appearance, struck from in front of the posts two minutes into added time.

They initially let a 10-0 lead, established through Simpson and Jordyn Preston tries converted by Temara, slip, Caitlin Turnbull scoring two Tigers tries either side of Salma Nour’s score and Emily Bass converting two.

Results
Saturday 30 August
Canberra Raiders 17 Wests Tigers 16
St George Illawarra Dragons 26 New Zealand Warriors 18
North Queensland Cowboys 0 Sydney Roosters 30
Sunday 31 August
Cronulla Sharks 19 Newcastle Knights 18
Brisbane Broncos 44 Canterbury Bulldogs 0
Gold Coast Titans 26 Parramatta Eels 10

Fixtures
Friday 5 September
Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders (8.40am)
Saturday 6 September
St George Illawarra Dragons v North Queensland Cowboys (3.45am)
Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks (8.15am)
Sunday 7 September
New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos (3.00am)
Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans (4.45am)
Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers (9.15am)
(All UK time, all on Sky Sports and Watch NRL)

Table
Sydney Roosters 18 pts
Brisbane Broncos 16 pts
Cronulla Sharks 12 pts
North Queensland Cowboys 12 pts
Newcastle Knights 10 pts
Gold Coast Titans 9 pts
New Zealand Warriors 6 pts
St George Illawarra Dragons 6 pts
Parramatta Eels 6 pts
Canberra Raiders 6 pts
Canterbury Bulldogs 5 pts
Wests Tigers 2 pts