Monday?s Expert League
Wrap - Round 12, 2006

Wednesday?s thrilling State of Origin saw New South Wales draw first blood with a narrow 17-16 win over Queensland. Afterwards we got back to the business of NRL football and two days later, Friday night football kicked off in Newcastle with the St George Illawarra Dragons cruising to a 38-12 victory over the Knights.

Saturday afternoon rugby league saw a nail biter with the Canberra Raiders upsetting the North Queensland Cowboys by 15-14 in Townsville. Not so close was the Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bulldogs clash with the Broncos running out 25-6 at old Lang Park. Meanwhile the Cronulla Sharks got the points in defeating the New Zealand Warriors by 34-20 at Toyota Park.

Sunday football saw the third match of the week decided by a field goal with the Storm pipping the Penrith Panthers 17-16 in Melbourne. Meanwhile, the Eels posted a much needed win in hanging on to defeat the Sydney Roosters 22-20 in Parramatta. The round wrapped up at Telstra Stadium with Wests Tigers thrashing the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 44-4.

After 12 rounds of football, the NRL ladder has the Broncos leading the way on 18 points. Second-placed Melbourne Storm are also on 18 points. The Cowboys, Knights and Bulldogs are one win away on 16 points. The Sharks, Sea Eagles and Dragons are all 14 points to complete the top eight.

All match results and details are listed below.

LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards
The LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards are hotting up with full back Greg Inglis (Storm), five eighth Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) on 17 points and sharing top spot on the leader board. Not far away is Storm hooker Cameron Smith on 16 points. Meanwhile Knights half back Andrew Johns is well within striking range on 15 points.

Also well in contention is half back Matt Orford (Sea Eagles) on 14 points. Adam Dykes (Sharks) is on 13 points while goal-kicking winger Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs) is on 12 points. A number of players have jumped up to 11 points with Mark Gasnier (Dragons), Karmichael Hunt (Broncos), Darren Lockyer (Broncos) and Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders) all throwing down the challenge.

The full leader board is below.

The Leagueunlimited.com players of the match are decided by our live score updaters and tallied here each week on Monday?s Expert League wrap.

Want to be a live score updater? For further enquiries, email us.

League Wrap: Round 12, 26 ? 28 May 2006
MATCH RESULTS:

New South Wales: 17
Tries: Matt King, Brett Finch, Willie Mason
Goals: Brett Hodgson 2/4
Field Goals: Brett Finch
Queensland: 16
Tries: Greg Inglis(2), Steve Bell
Goals: Jonathon Thurston 2/3
Half time: NSW 14-0
Venue: Telstra Stadium
Crowd: 72,773
Referee: Sean Hampstead

Newcastle Knights: 12
Tries: Kurt Gidley, Andrew Johns
Goals: Andrew Johns 2/2
St George Illawarra Dragons: 38
Tries: Trent Barrett, Mark Gasnier, Ben Hornby(2), Corey Payne(2), Danny Wicks
Goals: Aaron Gorrell 4/5, Ben Hornby 1/1, Mark Gasnier 0/1
Half time: Dragons 20-6
Venue: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Crowd: 23,356
Referee: Tony Archer
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Mark Gasnier (Dragons)
2 - Trent Barrett (Dragons)
1 - Daryl Millard (Dragons)

North Queensland Cowboys: 14
Tries: Johnathan Thurston, Gavin Cooper
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 3/3
Canberra Raiders: 15
Tries: Phillip Graham, David Howell
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 3/3
Field Goals: Todd Carney
Half time: Raiders 12-8
Venue: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Crowd: 16,971
Referee: Gavin Badger
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)
2 - Phillip Graham (Raiders)
1 - Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)

Brisbane Broncos: 25
Tries: Shaun Berrigan, Darren Lockyer, Tame Tupou (2), Darius Boyd
Goals: Corey Parker 2/6
Field Goals: Darren Lockyer
Canterbury Bulldogs: 6
Tries: Reni Maitua
Goals: Hazem El Masri 1/1
Half time: Broncos 18-0
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 30,589
Referee: Steven Clark
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Darren Lockyer (Broncos)
2 - Corey Parker (Broncos)
1 - Karmichael Hunt (Broncos)

Cronulla Sutherland Sharks: 34
Tries: Phil Bailey, Greg Bird, David Simmons, Nigel Vagana, Darren Albert (2)
Goals: Luke Covell 5/6
New Zealand Warriors: 20
Tries: Sione Faumuina, Wairangi Koopu (2), Simon Mannering
Goals: Tony Martin 2/4
Half time: Sharks 24-4
Venue: Toyota Park
Crowd: 9,490
Referee:Ben Cummins>
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Darren Albert (Sharks)
2 - Paul Gallen (Sharks)
1 - Wairangi Koopu (Warriors)

Melbourne Storm: 17
Tries: Matt Geyer, Greg Inglis, Jake Webster
Goals: Matt Geyer 1/1, Cameron Smith 1/2
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk
Penrith Panthers: 16
Tries: Rhys Wesser, Nick Youngquest, Michael Gordon
Goals: Preston Campbell 2/3
Half time: Storm 12-10
Venue: Olympic Park Melb
Crowd: 7,899
Referee: Shayne Hayne
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Greg Inglis (Storm)
2 - Luke Lewis (Panthers)
1 - Matt Geyer (Storm)

Parramatta Eels: 22
Tries: John Morris, Chad Robinson, Daniel Wagon, Brett Delaney
Goals: Brett Delaney 3/4
Sydney Roosters: 20
Tries: Ryan Cross, Chris Flannery, Amos Roberts, Craig Wing
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 1/1, Amos Roberts 1/3
Half time: Eels 22-0
Venue: Parramatta Stadium
Crowd: 13,044
Referee: Sean Hampstead
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels)
2 - Timana Tahu (Eels)
1 - Craig Wing (Roosters)

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 4
Tries: Nathan Merritt
Wests Tigers: 44
Tries: Dean Collis, Robert Farah, Chris Heighington, Brett Hodgson, Scott Prince(3), Taniela Tuiaki
Goals: Brett Hodgson 5/7, Taniela Tuiaki 1/1
Half time: Tigers 18-0
Venue: Telstra Stadium
Crowd: 13,460
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Scott Prince (Tigers)
2 - Brett Hodgson (Tigers)
1 - Robert Farah (Tigers)

Manly Sea Eagles ? Bye

FULL DRAW, RESULTS & LINKS TO LIVE SCORES ? CLICK HERE

Upcoming matches:
Round 13, 2-4 June 2006
Fri 7:30 DRAGONS v EELS - OKI Jubilee Stadium
Sat 5:30 STORM v ROOSTERS - Olympic Park
Sat 7:30 BULLDOGS v KNIGHTS - Telstra Stadium
Sat 7:30 RAIDERS v RABBITOHS - Canberra Stadium
Sun 2:00 (NZ) 12:00 (AEST) WARRIORS v BRONCOS - Ericsson Stadium
Sun 2:30 PANTHERS v SEA EAGLES - CUA Stadium
Sun 3:00 TIGERS v COWBOYS - Telstra Stadium
SHARKS v BYE

FOR LATEST CENTREBET ODDS

CLICK HERE

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM PLAYER AWARDS 2006
LEADER BOARD
The Leagueunlimited.com players awards are decided by our live score updaters.
Want to be a live score updater? For further enquiries, email us.

17 points
Greg Inglis (Storm), Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)

16 points
Cameron Smith (Storm)

15 points
Andrew Johns (Knights)

14 points
Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)

13 points
Adam Dykes (Sharks)

12 points
Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)

11 points
Mark Gasnier (Dragons), Karmichael Hunt (Broncos), Darren Lockyer (Broncos), Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)

10 points
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys), Danny Buderus (Knights)

9 points
Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels), Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles), Willie Mason (Bulldogs)

8 points
Corey Parker (Broncos)

7 points
Steve Bell (Sea Eagles), Preston Campbell (Panthers), Paul Gallen (Sharks)

6 points
Cooper Cronk (Storm), Robert Farah (Tigers), Craig Gower (Panthers), Mathew Head (Dragons), Brett Hodgson (Tigers), Ruben Wiki (Warriors)

5 points
Roy Asotasi (Bulldogs), Trent Barrett (Dragons), Petero Civoniceva (Broncos), Nathan Fien (Warriors), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Steve Menzies (Sea Eagles), Luke O'Donnell (Cowboys), Steve Price (Warriors), Scott Prince (Tigers), Amos Roberts (Roosters), Jason Smith (Raiders), Alan Tongue (Raiders), Rhys Wesser (Panthers)

4 points
Darren Albert (Sharks), Brian Carney (Knights), Aaron Gorrell (Dragons), Luke Lewis (Panthers), Adam MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Mark O?Meley (Bulldogs), Luke Priddis (Panthers), Steve Simpson (Knights), Jamie Soward (Roosters), Anthony Tupou (Roosters), Paul Whatuira (Tigers)

3 points
Luke Covell (Sharks), Michael Crocker (Storm), Brett Finch (Roosters), Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters), Phillip Graham (Raiders), Clint Greenshields (Dragons), Reni Maitua (Bulldogs), Milton Thaiday (Knights), Lance Thompson (Sharks), Tame Tupou (Broncos), Matthew Utai (Bulldogs), Brent Webb (Warriors), Lincoln Withers (Raiders)

2 points
Luke Bailey (Dragons), Brenton Bowen (Cowboys), George Carmont (Knights), Peter Cusack (Rabbitohs), Daniel Fitzhenry (Tigers), Awen Guttenbeil (Warriors), Ashley Harrison (Roosters), Brett Kearney (Sharks), Wairangi Koopu (Warriors), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Tony Martin (Warriors), Wade McKinnon (Eels), Anthony Minichiello (Roosters), Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs), Aaron Payne (Cowboys), Josh Perry (Knights), Todd Polglase (Rabbitohs), Luke Rooney (Panthers), John Skandalis (Tigers), David Simmons (Sharks), Matt Sing (Cowboys), Craig Smith (Knights), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Steven Southern (Cowboys), John Sutton (Rabbitohs), Timana Tahu (Eels), Brad Thorn (Broncos), Clinton Toopi (Warriors), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Trent Waterhouse (Panthers), Craig Wing (Roosters), Dean Young (Dragons)

1 point
Paul Bowman (Cowboys), Nathan Cayless (Eels), Matt Cooper (Dragons), Shayne Dunley (Sea Eagles), Michael Ennis (Broncos), Matt Geyer (Storm), Kurt Gidley (Knights), Matthew Gidley (Knights), Tony Grimaldi (Bulldogs), Lee Hookey (Panthers), Brett Kimmorley (Sharks), Matt King (Storm), Luke MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Benji Marshall (Tigers), Daryl Millard (Dragons), Fuifui Moimoi (Eels), Luke Patten (Bulldogs), Shane Rodney (Panthers), Brent Sherwin (Bulldogs), Billy Slater (Storm), Tim Smith (Eels), Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles), Shane Tronc (Cowboys), Simon Woolford (Raiders), William Zillman (Raiders)