SYDNEY (AP) The Melbourne Storm won their sixth consecutive match and moved provisionally into first place in the National Rugby League with a 24-6 victory over the Penrith Panthers on Saturday.
The Storm, who trailed 6-0 early, are two points ahead of the Cronulla Sharks, who will have a chance to pull level on points with the Storm when they conclude the 13th round on Monday against the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Earlier Saturday, the defending champion North Queensland Cowboys moved past their state rivals Brisbane and into third place with a 46-16 win over Newcastle, their seventh straight win at home. It was Newcastle's seventh loss in a row.
The Cowboys had four players in the lineup, including halfback Johnathan Thurston, who were playing on just two days of rest after Queensland's 6-4 win Wednesday over New South Wales in the first State of Origin match.
The New Zealand Warriors handed Brisbane its worst loss of the season, beating the Broncos 36-18. The Warriors led 18-0 after 25 minutes at Auckland's Mt. Smart Stadium, where a minute's silence was observed before the match to honor Muhammad Ali, who had died a few hours earlier in Phoenix, Arizona.
On Friday, Canberra beat Manly 30-18, winning for the third time in a row and handing the Sea Eagles their fourth consecutive loss.
The Sydney Roosters play the Wests Tigers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Gold Coast Titans in matches Sunday.
St. George Illawarra and Parramatta had weekend byes.
