Live NRL 2016: Super Saturday - Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks

You may have noticed that a few of last year's bells and whistles were missing tonight.

There were a number of reasons for this: I did not have access to the NRL app to live blog the media conferences, I was working on new equipment and I felt rather ill all day!

Now that we have the basics down despite these handicaps, the features you know and love from last year - like live blogging of pressers, video, photos as they come in and more audio and live audio will be added.

Thanks for your patience!

Cronulla's hopes of ending a 49 year premiership drought have taken a blow with captain Paul Gallen suffering a knee injury in the narrow loss to world champs North Queensland.

Lock Gallen came off midway through the second half of a match the Cowboys won via second rower Ethan Lowe's late try. It was immediately diagnosed as a knee ligament problem.

The Sharks came back from 12-0 down to give Paul Green's boys a fright. It was 14-14 for a big chunk of the second stanza

Ethan Lowe looks to have scored the match winner but the Space Coast is being consulted. Did he get it down cleanly? The bunker says he did. T-R-Y. Thurston with the goal. North Queensland 20-14

Paul Gallen has knee ligament damage and won't be back tonight. No news on whether it's medial or cruciate. James Maloney has missed a field goal attempt. Michael Ennis has charge down a Johnathan Thurston field goal attempt. 14-14

Holding down penalty against the Cowboys and we're all tied up with Maloney's goal. 14-14

Did Jack Bird get the ball down? Cape Canaveral is deliberating. Wish Chris Houston was still in the NRL .. "We have a problem, Houston". The try is given. James Maloney with the goal. We have a contest. Luke Lewis is off with concussion. North Queensland 14-12

@therealsteavis no try no way #bunkerwrong

— Greg O'Keefe (@GregOKeefe1) March 5, 2016

Penalty to North Queensland and Thurston takes his time lining it up before piloting it between the sticks. North Queensland 14-6

Here's a fan haka from Campbelltown earlier this evening 

Moving haka performed by our fans at full time. #NRL #WarriorNation pic.twitter.com/b7UdT24QPW

— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) March 5, 2016

Halftime match stats: Cronulla four offloads to nil.

Andrew Fifita nine runes for 92 metres

NQ have turned down several kicks. I bet they won't turn down the next one. I'm on first score of the second stanza a penalty...

— Rod Studd (@Rod_Studd) March 5, 2016

A late Chad Townsend try has given Cronulla a sniff as North Queensland kick off their premiership defence.

With four minutes remaining in the first half, Johnathan Thurston's men looked well in control at 12-0. But Lachlan Coote's fumble allowed Townsend to dive over for a converted try.

The Cowboys are fielding the exact same squad that beat Brisbane in last year's grand final.

Chad Townsend appears to have scored North Queensland's first try, after Lachlan Coote failed to take a bomb. Bunker time. The light is green and this is just waht the Sharkies needed a couple of minutes short of the break. Maloney goal. North Queensland 12-6

Kyle Feldt is over after the Cowboys expertly strip Cronulla's numbers but Ben Cummins calls it forward. No try. North Queensland 12-0 

Another try, to centre Kane Linnett, off Thurston's pass, to the left of the posts. The Golden Boot holder gets the extras. The Cowboys are riding hard. North Queensland 12-0

This looks more like a try. Justin O'Neill chases a kick from Ethan Lowe, who clearly can do more with his foot than kick goals. Caoe Canaveral says yes. Johnathan Thurston converts. The North Queensland premiership defence is off and running. North Queensland 6-0

Jason Taumalolo looked to unload, there was no-one there, so the North Queensland locl went himself. Initially he was held up but after struggling appeared to get it down. Over to the bunker - and it's 'no try'. 0-0

Six minutes gone and it's nip and tuck. While Johnathan Thurston told colleague Andrew Webster he did not fancy playing in the World Club Series again unless it was for a trophy, there's one English convention he clearly likes. Thursday walked out with a personal mascot, something all Super League teams do. North Queensland 0 Cronulla 0

Here're the teams for tonight's final game, North Queensland v Cronulla at 1300SMILES Stadium:

NQ: Lachlan Coote; Kyle Feldt, Justin O'Neill, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein; Michael Morgan, Johnathan Thurston; Jason Taumalolo, Ethan Lowe, Gavin Cooper, James Tamou, Jake Granville, Matt Scott. Res: Rory Kostjaysn, John Asiata, Scott Bolton, Ben Hannant.

CRONULLA: Ben Barba; Sosaia Feki, Jack Bird, Ricky Leutele, Valentine Holmes; James Maloney, Chad Townsend; Paul Gallen (c), Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Matt Prior,, Michael Ennis, Andrew Fifita. Res: Chris Heighington,  David Fifita, Jayson Bukuya, Sam Tagataese.

Referees: Ben Cummins/Adam Devcich

Wests Tigers tipped to finish last this season by many, have survived a grandstand comback by the star-studded Warriors seal victory with a late James Tedesco try.

Andrew McFadden's men trailed 28-4 at halftime but narrowed the margin to two with 10 remaining before James Tedesco streaked away to score on the siren.

It was a free-wheeling, gripping contest which strongly indicated the new interchange rules will mean more entertainment for fans.

What a finale! Johnson risks it all with the chip-and-chase i mid-field and after the ball richochets around in the air, Tedesco comes up with it and streaks away to score and guarantee his side victory in a en epic. Mitchell Moses converts and it's a win to the team many tipped to finish last this season. Wests Tigers 34-26

Would you believe they're in again! Length of the field movement and Solomone Kata accepts the final pass from Mannering to score. Lolohea converts. Wests Tigers 28-26 

The best part of this game is that I don't support either team #rugbyleague

— Rabbit World Order (@RabWorldOrder) March 5, 2016