Monday?s Expert League
Wrap - Round 18, 2006

With Queensland defeating New South Wales 16-14 on Wednesday night at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, and claiming the 2006 State of Origin series, we were able to get back to the business of NRL football.

Victorians got a double dose of rugby league with round 18 kicking off at Olympic Park, Melbourne on Friday night. Locals were treated to an entertaining, albeit low scoring match, with the Storm overcoming northern neighbours the Brisbane Broncos by 10-4.

Saturday afternoon took us to Aussie Stadium in Sydney with the Manly Sea Eagles clobbering the Roosters 33-16. Later that evening, the Parrramatta Eels rained on Joey?s parade with a smashing 46-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights. The match saw Knights half back Andrew Johns surpass the all time points scoring record in what was an otherwise dismal night for Newcastle supporters. Meanwhile at Penrith, the Panthers were overcoming the Canberra Raiders in posting a 24-12 victory.

Sunday football kicked off at Telstra Stadium in Homebush with the Canterbury Bulldogs pipping the New Zealand Warriors by 22-18 in extra time. Meanwhile down in the Shire, Wests Tigers ran in four tries to one in defeating the Cronulla Sharks 22-10. Round 18 wrapped up with the St George Illawarra Dragons defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 38-28 in a high scoring encounter at Kogarah Jubilee.

With just eight rounds remaining before the finals, the Melbourne Storm are riding high in first position on the NRL ladder with 30 competition points. The Dragons are in outright second position on 26 points. On 24 points are the Broncos and the Bulldogs while the Sharks are in fifth position on 22 points. The Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Knights are all on 20 points to make up the top eight. What follows is a log jam of teams pressing their claims with the Tigers, Panthers and Raiders all on 18 points while the Eels are not far away on 16 points. Six points adrift of the top eight are the Warriors and Roosters on 14 points while the Rabbitohs are well out of it on four points.

All match results and details are listed below.

LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards
Raiders full back Clinton Schifcofske still heads up the leader board on 21 points in this year?s LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards. Hooker Cameron Smith and his Melbourne his team mate Greg Inglis are running equal second on 20 points.

The big mover this week is Sea Eagles half back Matt Orford who has stepped up to 19 points. Winner of the LeagueUnlimited.com Players Awards in 2003, and again in 2004, Orford is throwing down the gauntlet this year with an outstanding individual performance on the weekend.

With eight rounds remaining, early leader Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) is seemingly anchored on 17 points. He is joined by Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles) who is making his move on the leader board.

Last year?s winner Andrew Johns (Knights) is on 15 points and he is joined by Willie Mason (Bulldogs). Mark Gasnier (Dragons) and Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels) are still well in contention on 14 points.

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

MATCH RESULTS:

State of Origin III - 5 July 2005
Wed 8:00 NSW BLUES v QLD MAROONS - Telstra Dome, Melbourne

New South Wales: 14
Tries: Matt King, Eric Grothe(2)
Goals: Brett Hodgson 1/3
Queensland: 16
Tries: Darren Lockyer, Brent Tate, Adam Mogg
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 2/3
Half time: 4-all
Venue: Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Crowd: 54,833
Referee: Steve Clark
Leagueunlimited.com player of the match: Darren Lockyer (Maroons)
NSWRL-QRL player of the match: Brent Tate (Maroons)
NSWRL-QRL player of the series: Darren Lockyer (Maroons)

League Wrap: Round 18, 7 June ? 9 July 2006

Melbourne Storm: 10
Tries: Ryan Hoffman, Steve Turner
Goals: Cameron Smith 1/4
Brisbane Broncos: 4
Tries: Greg Eastwood
Half time: Storm 6-0
Venue: Olympic Park, Melbourne
Crowd: 15,479
Referee: Sean Hampstead
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Cameron Smith (Storm)
2 - Billy Slater (Storm)
1 - Ryan Hoffman (Storm)

Sydney Roosters: 16
Tries: Mickey Paea, Iosia Soliola, Ashley Harrison
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2, Josh Lewis 1/1
Manly Sea Eagles: 33
Tries: Chris Hicks, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart, Matt Orford, George Rose
Goals: Matt Orford 6/6
Field Goals: Matt Orford
Half time: Sea Eagles 14-0
Venue: Aussie Stadium
Crowd: 8,824
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)
2 - Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles)
1 - Steve Matai (Sea Eagles)

Parramatta Eels: 46
Tries: Eric Grothe, John Morris(2), Luke O'Dwyer, Tim Smith , Jarryd Hayne(4)
Goals: John Morris 1/3, Mark Riddell 4/6
Newcastle Knights: 12
Tries: Adam Woolnough, Riley Brown
Goals: Andrew Johns 2/2
Half time: Eels 20-6
Venue: Parramatta Stadium
Crowd: 13,167
Referee: Ben Cummins
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
2 - John Morris (Eels)
1 - Tim Smith (Eels)

Penrith Panthers: 24
Tries: Preston Campbell, Rhys Wesser, Michael Gordon(2)
Goals: Preston Campbell 1/2, Michael Gordon 3/3
Canberra Raiders: 12
Tries: Phillip Graham, Clinton Schifcofske
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 2/2
Half time: Panthers 10-0
Venue: CUA Stadium, Penrith
Crowd: 9,111
Referee: Tony Archer
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Michael Gordon (Panthers)
2 - Preston Campbell (Panthers)
1 - Joel Clinton (Panthers)

Canterbury Bulldogs: 22
Tries: Mark O'Meley, Cameron Phelps, Andrew Ryan, Willie Tonga
Goals: Hazem El Masri 3/3
New Zealand Warriors: 18
Tries: Wairangi Koopu, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei
Goals: Tony Martin 3/4
Half time: Warriors 18-12
Venue: Telstra Stadium
Crowd: 14,076
Referee: Shayne Hayne
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Willie Mason (Bulldogs)
2 - Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs)
1 - Steve Price (Warriors)

Cronulla Sutherland Sharks: 10
Tries: Kevin Kingston
Goals: Luke Covell 3/3
Wests Tigers: 22
Tries: Dean Collis, Shane Elford, Daniel Fitzhenry, Ben Galea
Goals: Brett Hodgson 3/4
Half time: Sharks 8-6
Venue: Toyota Park
Crowd: 15,070
Referee: Steve Clark
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Brett Hodgson (Tigers)
2 - Keith Galloway (Tigers)
1 - Robert Farah (Tigers)

St George Illawarra Dragons: 38
Tries: Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier(2), Clint Greenshields, Daryl Millard, Brett Morris, Charles Leaneo
Goals: Aaron Gorrell 3/4, Mathew Head 2/3
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 28
Tries: John Sutton(2), Nathan Merritt, Paul Mellor, Stuart Webb
Goals: Ben Walker 4/5
Half time: Dragons 22-16
Venue: OKI Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Crowd: 13,126
Referee: Jason Robinson
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Mathew Head (Dragons)
2 - Mark Gasnier (Dragons)
1 - David Peachey (Rabbitohs)

NQ Cowboys v Bye

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

UPCOMING MATCHES:
Round 19, 14-16 July 2006
Fri 7:30 DRAGONS v BULLDOGS - OKI Jubilee Stadium
Sat 7:30 (NZ) 5:30 (AEST) WARRIORS v EELS - Ericsson Stadium
Sat 7:30 PANTHERS v COWBOYS - CUA Stadium Penrith
Sat 7:30 RABBITOHS v SEA EAGLES - Telstra Stadium
Sun 2:30 KNIGHTS v STORM - EnergyAustralia Stadium
Sun 3:00 ROOSTERS v SHARKS - Aussie Stadium
Sun 3:00 RAIDERS v TIGERS - Canberra Stadium
BRONCOS 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.

21 points
Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)

20 points
Greg Inglis (Storm), Cameron Smith (Storm)

19 points
Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)

17 points
Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles), Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)

15 points
Andrew Johns (Knights), Willie Mason (Bulldogs)

14 points
Mark Gasnier (Dragons), Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels)

13 points
Adam Dykes (Sharks), Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs), Darren Lockyer (Broncos)

12 points
Preston Campbell (Panthers)

11 points
Cooper Cronk (Storm), Danny Buderus (Knights), Karmichael Hunt (Broncos)

10 points
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys), Petero Civoniceva (Broncos), Robert Farah (Tigers)

9 points
Paul Gallen (Sharks), Mathew Head (Dragons), Brett Hodgson (Tigers), Steve Price (Warriors)

8 points
Brett Kimmorley (Sharks), Corey Parker (Broncos), Ruben Wiki (Warriors), Dean Young (Dragons)

7 points
Roy Asotasi (Bulldogs), Steve Bell (Sea Eagles), Mark O?Meley (Bulldogs), Scott Prince (Tigers), Amos Roberts (Roosters), Jason Smith (Raiders), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs)

6 points
Craig Gower (Panthers), Nathan Fien (Warriors), Luke Lewis (Panthers), Steve Menzies (Sea Eagles), Grant Rovelli (Warriors), Lance Thompson (Sharks), Alan Tongue (Raiders)

5 points
Trent Barrett (Dragons), Peter Cusack (Rabbitohs), Aaron Gorrell (Dragons), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Wade McKinnon (Eels), Luke O'Donnell (Cowboys), Aaron Payne (Cowboys), Brad Thorn (Broncos), Brent Webb (Warriors), Rhys Wesser (Panthers)

4 points
Darren Albert (Sharks), Brian Carney (Knights), Sione Faumuina (Warriors), David Kidwell (Storm), Ryan Hoffman (Storm), Ben Hornby (Dragons), Anthony Laffranchi (Tigers), Adam MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Fuifui Moimoi (Eels), David Peachey (Rabbitohs), Luke Priddis (Panthers), Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs), David Simmons (Sharks), Steve Simpson (Knights), Jamie Soward (Roosters), Anthony Tupou (Roosters), Paul Whatuira (Tigers), Lincoln Withers (Raiders)

3 points
Luke Bailey (Dragons), Greg Bird (Sharks), Darius Boyd (Broncos), Dean Collis (Tigers), Matt Cooper (Dragons), Luke Covell (Sharks), Michael Crocker (Storm), Greg Eastwood (Broncos), Brett Finch (Roosters), Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters), Michael Gordon (Panthers), Phillip Graham (Raiders), Clint Greenshields (Dragons), Jarryd Hayne (Eels), Nathan Hinton (Knights), Brett Kearney (Sharks), Luke MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Reni Maitua (Bulldogs), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Manase Manuokafoa (Rabbitohs), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Billy Slater (Storm), Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles), Milton Thaiday (Knights), Tame Tupou (Broncos), Matthew Utai (Bulldogs), Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)

2 points
Brenton Bowen (Cowboys), George Carmont (Knights), Todd Carney (Raiders), Daniel Fitzhenry (Tigers), Keith Galloway (Tigers), Awen Guttenbeil (Warriors), Ashley Harrison (Roosters), Scott Hill (Storm), Wairangi Koopu (Warriors), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Tony Martin (Warriors), Anthony Minichiello (Roosters), Clint Newton (Knights), Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs), Benji Marshall (Tigers), John Morris (Eels), Luke Patten (Bulldogs), Josh Perry (Knights), Todd Polglase (Rabbitohs), Luke Rooney (Panthers), John Skandalis (Tigers), Matt Sing (Cowboys), Craig Smith (Knights), Tim Smith (Eels), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Steven Southern (Cowboys), John Sutton (Rabbitohs), Timana Tahu (Eels), Clinton Toopi (Warriors), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Trent Waterhouse (Panthers), Shane Webcke (Broncos), Michael Weyman (Raiders), Craig Wing (Roosters)

1 point
Paul Bowman (Cowboys), Nathan Cayless (Eels), Joel Clinton (Panthers), Ben Creagh (Dragons), Shayne Dunley (Sea Eagles), Michael Ennis (Broncos), Nathan Friend (Storm), Matt Geyer (Storm), Kurt Gidley (Knights), Matthew Gidley (Knights), Tony Grimaldi (Bulldogs), Daniel Holdsworth (Bulldogs), Lee Hookey (Panthers), Matt King (Storm), Todd Lowrie (Knights), Steve Matai (Sea Eagles), Daryl Millard (Dragons), Ryan O'Hara (Tigers), Shannon McDonnell (Tigers), Mark Riddell (Eels), Shane Rodney (Panthers), Brent Sherwin (Bulldogs), Brent Tate (Broncos), Shane Tronc (Cowboys), Ben Walker (Rabbitohs), Simon Woolford (Raiders), William Zillman (Raiders)