A thrilling draw, amazing fightbacks and glimpses of stars of the future - the opening round of the NRC had something for everyone as the Super Saturday quadruple-header played out across the country.
NSW Country burst out of the blocks to start a scoring spree in the opening match that ended with almost 100 points notched up in Perth in an entertaining round of competition which showcased many of the best young stars of the sport.
Fresh from their success at the World Rugby U20 championships in Argentina earlier this year, many of the Junior Wallabies showed signs they are set to emerge as stars of the open ranks, with Canberra's Noah Lolesio, Brisbane City's Isaac Lucas and Queensland Country's Harry Wilson among the stars of the opening round.
Missed any of the action this weekend? We've got you covered with the highlights and full replays of every match.
WESTERN FORCE vs QUEENSLAND COUNTRY
HIGHLIGHTS
The Western Force snatched a miraculous come-from-behind win to beat Queensland Country 50-49 in a high scoring NRC thriller in Perth.
Fifteen tries were scored in the match, with the Force grabbing the lead for the first time in the 74th minute after winger Jonah Placid diving on an Andrew Deegan chip kick just centimetres from the dead ball line to seal the match.
Country held a 16-point lead midway through the second half but could not put the Force away, with some flimsy defence allowing the home side a pair of tries to set up Deegan and Placid's late heroics.
Catch the full replay below.
FULL REPLAY
RESULT
Western Force 50
Tries: Jooste 2, Tessman, McGregor, Tizzano, Hardman, Lee-Warner, Placid
Cons: Deegan 5
Queensland Country 49
Tries: Daugunu 2, Fittock, James, Blyth, McDermott, Saifoloi
Cons: Saifoloi 7
NSW COUNTRY vs SYDNEY
HIGHLIGHTS
Earlier, NSW Country notched the first win of the 2019 NRC, staving off a fast-finishing Sydney side in a 38-33 victory.
The Eagles burst out of the blocks with four tries in 17 minutes to take a 26-0 lead over their local rivals before Sydney hit back with four unanswered scores of their own, levelling things up in the 54th minute.
NSW Country, though, held their nerve and two late tries, to hooker David Vea and replacement nine Jack Grant, ultimately proved to be enough for them to take a first-up win.
Watch the full replay right here.
FULL REPLAY
RESULT
NSW Country 38
Tries: Vea 2, Clements, Sandell, Bell, Grant
Cons: Kane 4
Yellow Card: Hanigan (49’)
Sydney 33
Tries: Swinton, Harrison, Vui, Foketi, Poidevin
Cons: Harrison 3, Donaldson
MELBOURNE RISING vs CANBERRA VIKINGS
HIGHLIGHTS
The Vikings gave a glimpse of the generation next in Canberra with young guns stepping up in a dominant 47-22 victory over the Melbourne Rising at Box Hill.
Junior Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio showed himself to be a star of the future - and the potential replacement for Christian Lealiifano at the Brumbies next season - with a superb outing at no.10. The 20-year-old steered the Vikings around nicely and scored one of the Canberrans’ seven tries in their emphatic win.
The Vikings forwards came into the match expected to flex their muscles but it was the backline who did the damage; every single player in the backs bar halfback Ryan Lonergan crossed for a try, and most picked up try assists for each other as well.
Watch every moment of the match here.
FULL REPLAY
RESULT
Vikings 47
Tries: Wright, Lolesio, Samu, Pulu, Muirhead, Hansen, Simone
Cons: Lonergan 6
Rising 22
Tries: Masters, Tupou, Haylett-Petty
Cons: Maloney 2
BRISBANE CITY vs FIJIAN DRUA
HIGHLIGHTS
Brisbane City played out a thrilling 22-22 draw with defending NRC champions Fijian Drua, with neither side able to capitalise on attacking raids after the 80th minute.
Young gun Isaac Lucas put Nick Chapman over in the 76th minute to level the scores but could not slot the conversion, pushing the ball out to the left to leave the teams sharing the points from an entertaining opening round.
Lucas fired the first shots in what will be a season-long audition for the Reds' no.10 jersey, finding Chapman with a neat cutout pass, as well as setting up Teti Tela's first-half try after darting through a gap before finding the trailing centre with a neat pop-up ball.
Got a bit of time? Watch the full replay here.
FULL REPLAY
RESULT
Brisbane City 22
Tries: Paisami, Tela, Naivalu, Chapman
Cons: Lucas
Fijian Drua 22
Tries: Necebe 2, Veitayaki Jr
Cons: Vularika
Pens: Vularika
Every match of the 2019 NRC will be LIVE on RUGBY.com.au.
