Justin O’Neill Ni Vanuatu stars as NRL season opens

Justin O'Neill and National Squad Member Robert Franklin in the dressing rooms on Sunday after Melbourne's 30-10 victory over St.George Illawarra Dragons. Robert attended the match and viewed first hand Justin's two tries.

Justin O’Neill and National Squad Member Robert Franklin in the dressing rooms on Sunday after Melbourne’s 30-10 victory over St.George Illawarra Dragons. Robert attended the match and viewed first hand Justin’s two tries.

Vanuatu’s Justin O’Neill has starred in Melbourne Storms 30-10 victory over the St.George Illawarra Dragons in Melbourne on Sunday. O’Neill was the only of the Vanuatu contingent to play in the NRL over the weekend, with Alehana Mara missing selection for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and instead playing for the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup. O’Neill’s younger brother Samson O’Neill made his debut in the U/20′s competition for the North Queensland Cowboys.

Justin O’Neill started in the centres for the Melbourne Storm and played all 80 minutes starred with 2 tries. His first try came in the 34th minute after backing up a break by Ryan Hoffmann to score under the posts and his second try came in the 55th minute when he took an intercept and raced 70 metres to score. O’Neill made 12 runs for 190metres, 5 tackles and only 1 error.

Samson O’Neill had an impressive debut despite the Cowboys losing 40-20 to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. Samson played all 80 minutes in the centres, making 9 runs for 63 metres and making 23 tackles, missing only 2. Alehana’s Auckland Vulcans went down to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 26-24 in the NSW Cup.

The NRL season kicked off last Thursday night in the highly anticipated clash that saw the return to Rugby League of Sonny Bill Williams. Despite scoring a try in his return, it wasn’t enough for his Sydney Roosters as they went down to the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-10. On Friday night Brisbane Broncos were upset by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium 22-14.

Saturday’s games saw the Parramatta Eels under new coach Ricky Stuart crush the New Zealand Warriors 40-10, while the North Queensland Cowboys beat last season’s Grand Finalists the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 24-12. In Sunday’s other games Penrith Panthers easily accounted for the Canberra Raiders 32-10, while the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks held on for a narrow 12-10 victory over the Gold Coast Titans.

The final round of the NRL saw the Newcastle Knights hammer the Wests Tigers 42-10 in Newcastle on Monday night.