Monday's Expert - weekend wrap

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Monday's Expert is back - with a full wrap of everything happening around the rugby league traps this Monday 18 March 2019.

First things first...

The results are in. Check out how Round 1 played out in our one-page results wrap.

Our match reports for the opening round can be found here. And while we're on it, a huge huge thank you to our dedicated volunteer updaters - Rob Crosby, Andrew Jackson, Sam Bourke, Justin Davies, Andrew Ferguson, Josh Robertson & Mick Radojkovic.

Match review

Next up, let's have a squiz at the charge sheet from the weekend so far.

Matt Lodge (Broncos). 1st minute, Grade 2 Dangerous Contact (other) on Cameron Munster.
Base penalty 200 points
40% loading for two non-similar prior offences.
Guilty / no contest 280 points (two matches)
Early guilty plea 210 points (two matches)
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. Suspended two matches.

Latrell Mitchell (Roosters). 55th minute, Grade 1 Careless High Tackle on Sam Burgess.
Base penalty $1,500 fine
40% loading for two non-similar prior offences.
Guilty / no contest $2,100 fine
Early guilty plea $1,650
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. $1,650 fine.

Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles). 8th minute, Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (other) on Benji Marshall.
Base penalty 100 points
20% loading for one non-similar prior offences.
Guilty / no contest 120 points (one match)
Early guilty plea 90 points (no suspension)
AND 36th minute, Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (other) on Russell Packer.
Base penalty 100 points
20% loading for one non-similar prior offences.
Guilty / no contest 120 points (one match)
Early guilty plea 90 points (no suspension)
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. Suspended one match.

Joel Thompson (Sea Eagles). 52nd minute, Grade 1 Tripping on Corey Thompson.
Base penalty $1,500 fine
20% loading for one non-similar prior offences.
Guilty / no contest $1,800 fine
Early guilty plea $1,350 fine
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. $1,350 fine.

Waqa Blake (Panthers). 59th minute, Grade 1 Contrary Conduct on Mitch Moses
Base penalty $1,500 fine
20% loading for one non-similar prior offence.
Guilty / no contest $1,800 fine
Early guilty plea $1,350 fine
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. $1,350 fine.

Michael Jennings (Eels). 54th minute, Grade 2 Careless High Tackle on Isaah Yeo
Base penalty 150 points
No loading (no similar or non-similar prior offences last 2 years)
Guilty / no contest 150 points (one match)
Early guilty plea 112 points (one match)
OUTCOME: Early guilty plea. Suspended one match.

There were no charges from the Knights-Sharks, Warriors-Bulldogs, Cowboys-Dragons or Titans-Raiders matches.

The LU Leaderboard

At the conclusion of each match our reporters choose their best three players from the match. You can views those points in each match in their respective match reports. Each week we'll update the leaderboard:

3 points - Kenny Bromwich (MEL), David Klemmer (NEW), Adam Reynolds (SOU), Blake Green (WAR), Robbie Farah (WST), Jason Taumalolo (NQL), Blake Ferguson (PAR), Jarrod Croker (CAN)

2 points - Cameron Munster (MEL), Edrick Lee (NEW), Cameron Murray (SOU), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (WAR), Benji Marshall (WST), Michael Morgan (NQL), Dylan Brown (PAR), Josh Papali'i (CAN)

1 point - Corey Oates (BRI), Briton Nikora (CRO), Sam Burgess (SOU), Nathaniel Roache (WAR), Russell Packer (WST), John Asiata (NQL), Daniel Alvaro (PAR), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (CAN)

Sore points

As always, there was some frustrating and even sad injury news to come out of the opening round. Perhaps the most bizarre was Tyson Frizell - the Dragons back-rower rupturing a testicle and looking likely to miss up to six weeks.

Tyson Frizell (SGI) - ruptured testicle, 4-6 weeks

Nathan Brown (PAR) - suspected torn pectoral, approx 3 months

Hame Sele (PEN) - scans ruled out bone break in arm, hopeful of playing Round 2

Tyrone Roberts (GLD) - achilles, 2-3 weeks

Tom Eisenhuth (MEL) - fractured larynx. Had surgery today, out indefinitely

Daniel Saifiti (NEW) - knee & foot, 2-4 weeks

Metrics Metrics Metrics

Each week we'll do our best to keep you across the crowd figures and TV ratings which are often the most talked-about parts of the game.

Round 1 attendance (times are AEDT)

Round 1 ratings

Note: Ratings figures courtesy of Mediaweek Australia on Twitter and TV Tonight.

One last thing...

Kudos to 130,000+ fans at all venues this weekend - in particular Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium - for their respectful acknowledgement of last week's tragic terror attack in Christchurch. The thoughts of the LU team and the entire rugby league community are with all those affected.