Monday's Expert - 2021 NRL Round 2

Monday's Expert is here for the second time in 2021 - with the full results from NRL Round 2, along with Match Review charges, LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year leaderboard, injury news, crowd and TV ratings info.

All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.

Round 1 NRL Results

Parramatta Eels 16
Melbourne Storm 12

Venue: Bankwest Stadium
Crowd: 10416
Date: Thursday 18 March 2021 at 8:05pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Maika Sivo (2), Junior Paulo
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (2/3)

MELBOURNE STORM (12)
Tries: Reimis Smith, Justin Olam
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (2/2)

Felise Kaufusi (Storm) - Grade 2 Dangerous Contact (head/neck) in the 46th minute on Ryan Matterson.
Base penalty 300pts. Guilty / no contest = 300pts (3 matches), Guilty - early plea = 225pts (2 matches). OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. 2 match suspension, 25 carryover points accrued.

Christian Welch (Storm) - Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (other) in the 69th minute on Isaiah Papali'i.
Base penalty $1500. 1 non-similar prior offence (+20%). Guilty / no contest = $1800, Guilty - early plea = $1350. OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. $1350 fine.

Warriors 16
Newcastle Knights 20

Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Crowd: 4595
Date: Friday 19 March 2021 at 6:00pm

WARRIORS (16)
Tries: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Adam Pompey, Ken Maumalo
Conversions: Kodi Nikorima (2/2), Adam Pompey (0/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (20)
Tries: Jayden Brailey, Hymel Hunt (2)
Conversions: Mitchell Barnett (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Barnett (1/1)

Phoenix Crossland (Knights) - Grade 2 Crusher Tackle in the 2nd minute on David Fusitu'a
Base penalty 350pts. Guilty / no contest 350pts (3 matches), Guilty - early plea 262pts (2 matches) .OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. 2 match suspension, 62 carryover points.

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Warriors) - Grade 2 Crusher Tackle in the 9th minute on Hymel Hunt
Base penalty 350pts. 1 x non-similar prior offence (+20%). 40 carryover points to add. Guilty / no contest 460pts (4 matches), Guilty - early plea 355pts (3 matches). OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. 3 match suspension, 55 carryover points.

Tyson Frizell (Knights) - Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (head/neck) in the 35th minute on Eliesa Katoa
Base penalty $1500. Guilty / no contest $1500, Guilty - early plea $1150. OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. $1150 fine.

Gold Coast Titans 28
Brisbane Broncos 16

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 17822
Date: Friday 19 March 2021 at 8:05pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (28)
Tries: Jarrod Wallace, David Fifita (2), Erin Clark, Jaimin Jolliffe
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/5)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (16)
Tries: Tesi Niu, Xavier Coates, Tevita Pangai Junior
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (2/3)

No match review charges

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0
Penrith Panthers 28

Venue: Bankwest Stadium
Crowd: 5062
Date: Saturday 20 March 2021 at 3:00pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (0)

PENRITH PANTHERS (28)
Tries: Viliame Kikau (2), Tyrone May, Paul Momirovski (2)
Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (0/1)
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2/3), Stephen Crichton (2/2)

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs) - Grade 2 Careless High Tackle in the 71st minute on Nathan Cleary
Base penalty 200pts. 1 x similar prior offence (+50%). Guilty / no contest 300pts (3 matches), Guilty - early plea 225pts (2 matches). OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. 2 match suspension, 25 carryover points accrued.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26

Venue: Lottoland
Crowd: 3218
Date: Saturday 20 March 2021 at 5:30pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (12)
Tries: Lachlan Croker, Martin Taupau
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (2/2)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (26)
Tries: Cody Walker, Adam Reynolds, Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Alex Johnston
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (1/3), Latrell Mitchell (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (0/1)

No match review charges

North Queensland Cowboys 18
St George Illawarra Dragons 25

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Crowd: 15120
Date: Saturday 20 March 2021 at 7:35pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Coen Hess, Valentine Holmes, Jake Granville
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (25)
Tries: Mikaele Ravalawa, Zac Lomax, Josh Kerr, Ben Hunt
Field Goals: Corey Norman (1/1)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (4/4)

Kyle Feldt (Cowboys) - Grade 2 Dangerous Throw in the 32nd minute on Jack Bird
Base penalty 300pts. 1 x non-similar prior offence (+20%). Guilty / no contest 360pts (3 matches), Guilty - early plea 270pts (2 matches). OUTCOME: Guilty - early plea. 2 match suspension, 70 carryover points accrued.

Wests Tigers 6
Sydney Roosters 40

Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Crowd: 6107
Date: Sunday 21 March 2021 at 4:05pm

WESTS TIGERS (6)
Tries: Jacob Liddle
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (40)
Tries: James Tedesco (2), Brett Morris (3), Sitili Tupouniua, Fletcher Baker
Conversions: James Tedesco (2/2), Siosiua Taukeiaho (4/5)

Match review charges TBC Monday

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10
Canberra Raiders 12

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Crowd: 3145
Date: Sunday 21 March 2021 at 6:15pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (10)
Tries: Will Kennedy, Josh Dugan
Conversions: Chad Townsend (0/2)
Penalty Goals: Chad Townsend (1/2)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (12)
Tries: Sebastian Kris, Hudson Young
Conversions: George Williams (2/2)

Match review charges TBC Monday

RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.

Injury report

Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors) - foot - 'extended period'
Bayley Sironen (Warriors) - arm - monitored
James Roberts (Tigers) - shoulder - monitored
Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles) - suspected ACL - scans
Cade Cust (Sea Eagles) - concussion - monitored
Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles) - head cut - monitored
Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) - concussion - monitored
Jaxson Paulo (Rabbitohs) - concussion - monitored
Api Koroisau (Panthers) - hand - approx 6 weeks
Nathan Cleary (Panthers) - concussion - monitored
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Bulldogs) - ankle - scans
Dallin-Watene Zelezniak (Bulldogs) - calf - monitored
Waqa Blake (Eels) - calf - 3-4 weeks
Ryan Matterson (Eels) - concussion - monitored
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) - hand - 4-5 weeks
Hudson Young (Raiders) - knee - monitored

On the way back

Players listed below could be returning as soon as Round 3, whether from injury or suspension!
Raiders - Jarrod Croker
Sharks - Royce Hunt, Siosifa Talakai
Knights - Kurt Mann
Rabbitohs - Liam Knight, Hame Sele
Roosters - Angus Crichton, Victor Radley
Warriors - Kane Evans, Jack Murchie, Jackson Frei
Tigers - Zane Musgrove

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field. Below is the running tally for the season...

6 points - George Williams (Raiders)

5 points - Luke Keary (Roosters), Will Kennedy (Sharks)

4 points - Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)

3 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Jarome Luai (Panthers), James Tedesco (Roosters), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Bradman Best (Knights), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), David Fifita (Titans)

2 points - Chad Townsend (Sharks), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Maika Sivo (Eels), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Hudson Young (Raiders), Blake Ferguson (Eels), Brett Morris (Roosters), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Bayley Sironen (Warriors), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Josh Kerr (Dragons)

1 point - Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Andrew McCullough (Dragons), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Isaiah Papali'i (Eels), Connor Watson (Knights), Brian To'o (Panthers), Ryan James (Raiders), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs), Paul Momirovski (Panthers)

Metrics Metrics Metrics

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

Crowds - Round 2

Parramatta Eels (16) v Melbourne Storm (12)
Thu 18 Mar 8:05PM at Bankwest Stadium (Crowd: 10,416)

Warriors (16) v Newcastle Knights (20)
Fri 19 Mar 6:00PM at Central Coast Stadium (Crowd: 4,595)

Gold Coast Titans (28) v Brisbane Broncos (16)
Fri 19 Mar 8:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium (Crowd: 17,822)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (0) v Penrith Panthers (28)
Sat 20 Mar 3:00PM at Bankwest Stadium (Crowd: 5,062)

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (12) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (26)
Sat 20 Mar 5:30PM at Lottoland (Crowd: 3,218)

North Queensland Cowboys (18) v St George Illawarra Dragons (25)
Sat 20 Mar 7:35PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Crowd: 15,120)

Wests Tigers (6) v Sydney Roosters (40)
Sun 21 Mar 4:05PM at Campbelltown Stadium (Crowd 6,107)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (10) v Canberra Raiders (12)
Sun 21 Mar 6:15PM at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (Crowd: 3,145)

Round 2 total: 65,485
Round 2 average: 8,186

2021 cumulative attendance: 181,426
2021 average: 11,339

Ratings - Round 2

STV ratings (Foxtel)

Thu 8:05pm PAR v MEL - 273K
Fri 6:00pm WAR v NEW - 196K
Fri 8:05pm GLD v BRI - 234K
Sat 3:00pm CBY v PEN - 197K
Sat 5:30pm MAN v SOU - 254K
Sat 7:35pm NQL v SGI - 270K
Sun 4:05pm WST v SYD - 220K
Sun 6:15pm CRO v CAN - 256K

Round 2 STV total: 1.9m

FTA ratings (Nine Network)

Thu 8:05pm PAR v MEL - 664K (425K metro, 239K regional)
Fri 8:05pm GLD v BRI - 527K (345K metro, 182K regional)
Sun 4:05pm WST v SYD - 439K (264K metro, 175K regional)

Round 2 FTA total: 1.63m