Monday's Expert - 2021 NRL Round 18

Monday's Expert - with the full results from NRL Round 18, along with Match Review charges, LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year leaderboard, crowd and TV ratings info.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

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

Round 18 NRL Results

Gold Coast Titans 8
Parramatta Eels 26

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 15038
Date: Friday 16 July 2021 at 6:00pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (8)
Tries: Brian Kelly, David Fifita
Conversions: Patrick Herbert (0/2)

PARRAMATTA EELS (26)
Tries: Dylan Brown, Shaun Lane, Reed Mahoney, Haze Dunster, Ryan Matterson
Conversions: Clinton Gutherson (3/5)

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32
St George Illawarra Dragons 18

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 15038
Date: Friday 16 July 2021 at 8:05pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (32)
Tries: Morgan Harper, Haumole Olakau'atu, Kieran Foran, Cade Cust, Brad Parker
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (18)
Tries: Tyrell Sloan, Josh Mcguire, Gerard Beale
Conversions: Jack Bird (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jack Bird (1/1)

North Queensland Cowboys 18
Sydney Roosters 34

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Crowd: 15933
Date: Saturday 17 July 2021 at 3:00pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Javid Bowen, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reece Robson
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (3/3)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (34)
Tries: Angus Crichton, Sam Walker, Billy Smith, Joseph Manu, Matt Ikuvalu (2), Sitili Tupouniua
Conversions: Sam Walker (3/6), Billy Smith (0/1)

Canberra Raiders 34
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 3874
Date: Saturday 17 July 2021 at 5:30pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (34)
Tries: Jordan Rapana, Jack Wighton, Hudson Young, Xavier Savage, Semi Valemei
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (3/3)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (3/3)

Melbourne Storm 48
Newcastle Knights 4

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 3874
Date: Saturday 17 July 2021 at 7:35pm

MELBOURNE STORM (48)
Tries: Justin Olam (2), Nicholas Hynes, Cameron Munster, George Jennings (2), Jahrome Hughes, Reimis Smith
Conversions: Nicholas Hynes (8/8)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (4)
Tries: Dominic Young
Conversions: Jake Clifford (0/1)

Warriors 16
Penrith Panthers 30

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 24894
Date: Sunday 18 July 2021 at 1:50pm

WARRIORS (16)
Tries: Wayde Egan, Reece Walsh, Rocco Berry
Conversions: Reece Walsh (2/3)

PENRITH PANTHERS (30)
Tries: Viliame Kikau (2), Brian To'o, Charlie Staines (2), Liam Martin
Conversions: Stephen Crichton (3/6)

Brisbane Broncos 24
Wests Tigers 42

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 24894
Date: Sunday 18 July 2021 at 4:05pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (24)
Tries: Corey Oates, Jordan Riki, Thomas Flegler, Kotoni Staggs
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)

WESTS TIGERS (42)
Tries: Luciano Leilua, David Nofoaluma (2), Daine Laurie, Tommy Talau (2), Junior Pauga, Stefano Utoikamanu
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (5/8)

South Sydney Rabbitohs 32
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: TBC
Date: Sunday 18 July 2021 at 6:15pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (32)
Tries: Taane Milne, Alex Johnston (2), Jacob Host, Cameron Murray, Mark Nicholls
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/6)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (24)
Tries: Aaron Schoupp, Corey Allan, Jayden Okunbor, Bailey Biondi-Odo
Conversions: Jake Averillo (4/4)

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

Match Review Charges - Round 18

RESULTS

Suspensions (early pleas):
Tolman (CRO) - 1 match, 40 carryovers

Fines (early pleas):
$1900 - Napa (CBY)
$1600 - Proctor (GLD), Lewis (CBY)
$1350 - Herbert (GLD), Lewis (MEL), Koroisau (PEN)
$1150 - Wright (NQL), Mikaele (WST)

Judiciary challenges:
None

Who's back?

A quick whip around all 16 clubs, with who's possibly returning this coming weekend according to NRL.com's Casualty Ward.

Broncos: Albert Kelly (hamstring), Teui Robati (leg), Xavier Coates (rested after Origin III)

Raiders: Elliott Whitehead (shoulder), Jack Wighton (ribs)

Bulldogs: Adam Elliott (cheek), Brad Deitz (hamstring), Jeremy Marshall-King (suspension)

Titans: Greg Marzhew

Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic (rested after Origin III), Jake Trbojevic (hip)

Storm: Josh Addo-Carr, Christian Welch (rested after Origin III), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension), Tyson Smoothy (knee)

Knights: David Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga (HIA), Daniel Saifiti (ribs)

Cowboys: Reuben Cotter (foot), Ben Hampton (pec), Heilum Luki (suspension)

Eels: Mitchell Moses, Junior Paulo (rested after Origin III)

Panthers: James Fisher-Harris (neck), Jarome Luai (knee)

Dragons: Matt Dufty (suspension), Tyrell Fuimaono (suspension)

Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell (rested after Origin III)

Roosters: Siosiua Taukeiaho (hamstring), James Tedesco (rested after Origin III)

Warriors: Tom Ale (ankle), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (HIA)

Wests Tigers: James Roberts (COVID stand-down)

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field. 

26 points - Nathan Cleary (Blues 2, Panthers 24)

23 points - Tom Trbojevic (Blues 6, Sea Eagles 17)

22 points - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

20 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels)
19 points - Will Kennedy (Sharks), Ben Hunt (Maroons 3, Dragons 16)
17 points - Nicholas Hynes (Storm)
16 points - Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
15 points - Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
14 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels)
13 points - David Fifita (Titans), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
12 points - Sam Walker (Roosters), Latrell Mitchell (Blues 2, Rabbitohs 10)
11 points - Brandon Smith (Storm), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Brian To'o (Panthers), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Jarome Luai (Blues 2, Panthers 9)
10 points - Reece Walsh (Warriors), Cameron Munster (Storm), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali'i (Eels), James Tedesco (Roosters)
9 points - Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Joseph Manu (Roosters)
8 points - Shaun Johnson (Sharks), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), George Williams (Raiders), Payne Haas (Broncos)
7 points - Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Matthew Dufty (Dragons), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)
6 points - Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Harry Grant (Storm), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Christian Welch (Storm), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos)
5 points - Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Jamal Fogarty (Titans), Luke Keary (Roosters), Brett Morris (Roosters), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Corey Harawira-Naera (Raiders), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (2 Maroons, 3 Titans)
4 points - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Dale Finucane (Storm), Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Tyrone Peachey (Titans), Matt Burton (Panthers), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Luke Thompson (Bulldogs), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Nathan Brown (Eels), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Maika Sivo (Eels), Jayden Brailey (Knights)
3 points - Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Jake Granville (Cowboys), Josh Hodgson (Raiders), Bradman Best (Knights), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Ashley Taylor (Titans), Sam Williams (Raiders), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Connor Watson (Knights), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Adam Clune (Dragons), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Ryan Sutton (Raiders)
2 points - Jack Bird (Dragons), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Waqa Blake (Eels), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Bayley Sironen (Warriors), Hudson Young (Raiders), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Matthew Lodge (Broncos), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Bailey Simonsson (Raiders), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Victor Radley (Roosters), Tyrone May (Panthers), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Blake Ferguson (Eels), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Marata Niukore (Eels), Josh Morris (Roosters), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Tom Starling (Raiders), Dylan Napa (Bulldogs), Junior Paulo (Eels), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs), Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Josh Kerr (Dragons), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Phillip Sami (Titans)
1 point - Enari Tuala (Knights), Felise Kaufusi (Storm), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Dylan Brown (Eels), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Francis Molo (Cowboys), Kurt Mann (Knights), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Corey Thompson (Titans), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Paul Momirovski (Panthers), Mathew Feagai (Dragons), Ryan James (Raiders), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Shane Wright (Cowboys), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Moses Leota (Panthers), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Brodie Jones (Knights), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Emre Guler (Raiders), Xavier Coates (Broncos), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Albert Kelly (Broncos), Nat Butcher (Roosters), Andrew McCullough (Dragons)

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 18

Gold Coast Titans (8) v Parramatta Eels (26), Fri 16 Jul 6:00PM
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (32) v St George Illawarra Dragons (18), Fri 16 Jul 8:05PM
Double Header at Cbus Super Stadium (Crowd: 15038)

North Queensland Cowboys (18) v Sydney Roosters (34)
Sat 17 Jul 3:00PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Crowd: 15933)

Canberra Raiders (34) v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (18), Sat 17 Jul 5:30PM
Melbourne Storm (48) v Newcastle Knights (4), Sat 17 Jul 7:35PM
Double Header at Cbus Super Stadium (Crowd: 3874)

Warriors (16) v Penrith Panthers (30), Sun 18 Jul 1:50PM
Brisbane Broncos (24) v Wests Tigers (42), Sun 18 Jul 4:05PM
Double Header at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 24894)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (32) v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (24)
Sun 18 Jul 6:15PM at Cbus Super Stadium (Crowd: 2979)

Round 18 total: 62718
Round 18 average per game - 8 games: 7840
(Round 18 average per event - 5 events: 12543)

2021 cumulative attendance (to R18, 129 matches): 1687842
2021 average (to R18, 129 matches): 13084

Note: average does not include seven zero-crowd matches played up to Round 17 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Average calculated per game where crowds permitted, double headers count as 2 games.

Ratings - Round 18

STV ratings (Foxtel)

Fri 6:00pm - GLD v PAR - 239K
Fri 8:05pm - MAN v SGI - 243K
Sat 3:00pm - NQL v SYD - 296K
Sat 5:30pm - CAN v CRO - 177K
Sat 7:35pm - MEL v NEW - 207K
Sun 1:50pm - WAR v PEN - 178K
Sun 4:05pm - BRI v WST - 253K
Sun 6:15pm - SOU v CBY - 222K

Round 18 STV total: 1.815M

FTA ratings (Nine Network)

Wed 8:05pm - Origin III - 2.52M (metro 1.746M, regional 774,000), 9Now 213,000

Fri 7:55pm - MAN v SGI - 541K (368K metro, 173K regional)
Sun 4:05pm - BRI v WST - 307K (metro only)

Round 18 FTA total: TBC

Next week - Round 19

Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders
Thu 22 Jul 7:50PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights
Fri 23 Jul 6:00PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium
North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm
Fri 23 Jul 7:55PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Warriors
Sat 24 Jul 3:00PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Sat 24 Jul 5:30PM at Suncorp Stadium
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos
Sat 24 Jul 7:35PM at Suncorp Stadium

St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 25 Jul 1:50PM at Cbus Super Stadium
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sun 25 Jul 4:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Full 2021 NRL draw & results