Monday's Expert - 2021 NRL Round 20

Monday's Expert - with the full results from NRL Round 20 along with Match Review charges, LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year leaderboard, injury news, crowd and TV ratings info and next week's draw.

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

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

Round 20 NRL Results

Sydney Roosters 28
Parramatta Eels 0

Venue: BB Print Stadium Mackay
Crowd: 4926
Date: Thursday 29 July 2021 at 7:50pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (28)
Tries: Josh Morris, Sitili Tupouniua, Sam Walker, Daniel Tupou, Joseph Manu
Conversions: Adam Keighran (3/4), Sam Walker (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Adam Keighran (0/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (0)

Wests Tigers 16
Warriors 18

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 12443
Date: Friday 30 July 2021 at 6:00pm

WESTS TIGERS (16)
Tries: David Nofoaluma, Adam Doueihi, Moses Mbye
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (2/3)

WARRIORS (18)
Tries: Euan Aitken (2), Bunty Afoa
Conversions: Reece Walsh (3/3)

Brisbane Broncos 37
North Queensland Cowboys 18

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 29136
Date: Friday 30 July 2021 at 8:05pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (37)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako, Alex Glenn, Kotoni Staggs (2), Brodie Croft, Jordan Riki
Field Goals: Tyson Gamble (1/1)
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Jake Granville, Tom Dearden, Kyle Feldt
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Scott Drinkwater (1/1)

Note: the Queensland Government called a snap lockdown of South-East Queensland to commence 4pm on Saturday 31 July. Subsequently, the NRL postponed games scheduled for Saturday and played them all at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, with Sunday's matches moved to Monday night.

Newcastle Knights 34
Canberra Raiders 24

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday 1 August 2021 at 1:50pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (34)
Tries: Enari Tuala (3), Bradman Best, Kurt Mann, Kalyn Ponga
Conversions: Jake Clifford (4/6)
Penalty Goals: Jake Clifford (1/1)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Harley Smith-Shields, Josh Papali'i, Hudson Young, Emre Guler
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (4/4)

Melbourne Storm 37
Penrith Panthers 10

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday 1 August 2021 at 4:05pm

MELBOURNE STORM (37)
Tries: Reimis Smith, Dean Ieremia (3), Jesse Bromwich, Harry Grant
Field Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1/1)
Conversions: Nicholas Hynes (1/2), Cameron Munster (1/1), Ryan Papenhuyzen (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (10)
Tries: Brent Naden, Scott Sorensen
Conversions: Matt Burton (1/2)

St George Illawarra Dragons 14
South Sydney Rabbitohs 50

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday 1 August 2021 at 6:25pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (14)
Tries: Billy Burns, Tyrell Fuimaono, Tyrell Sloan
Conversions: Corey Norman (1/2), Jayden Sullivan (0/1)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (50)
Tries: Latrell Mitchell (2), Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Taane Milne, Jaydn Su'A, Josh Mansour, Jai Arrow, Keaon Koloamatangi
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (7/9)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6
Gold Coast Titans 34

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Monday 2 August 2021 at 6:00pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (6)
Tries: Bailey Biondi-Odo
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (1/1)

GOLD COAST TITANS (34)
Tries: Ashley Taylor, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Esan Marsters, Brian Kelly (2), Greg Marzhew
Conversions: Toby Sexton (5/6)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Monday 2 August 2021 at 8:05pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (22)
Tries: Will Kennedy (2), Braydon Trindall (2)
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (3/4)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (40)
Tries: Jason Saab (2), Reuben Garrick, Morgan Harper, Tom Trbojevic (3)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (6/7)

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

Match Review Charges - Round 20

* denotes player not eligible for fine due to at least 2 fine-related prior offences during this season

RESULTS

Suspensions (early pleas):
1 game:
Kaufusi (MEL) 5 carryovers
Crichton (PEN) 27 carryovers
Fuimaono (SGI) 42 carryovers
Peachey (GLD) 20 carryovers

Fines (early pleas):
$1700 - Taukieaho (SYD), Paseka (MAN)
$1600 - Hess (NQL), Su'A (SOU)
$1350 - Ofahengaue (WST), Rudolf (CRO), Capewell (PEN)
$1150 - Bullemor (BRI), Trindall (CRO), Luai & Hopgood (PEN)

Judiciary challenges:
Waerea-Hargreaves (SYD) - not guilty. OUTCOME: not guilty at judiciary, free to play
Levi (BRI) - not guilty. OUTCOME: not guilty at judiciary, no fine payable.

Who's back?

A quick whip around all 16 clubs, with who's possibly returning from injury or suspension (or being rested) this coming weekend according to NRL.com's Casualty Ward.

Raiders: Dunamis Lui (calf), Bailey Simonsson (toe)

Bulldogs: Brad Deitz (hamstring)

Sharks: Matt Moylan (calf)

Titans: Erin Clark (elbow), Patrick Herbert (suspension)

Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai (suspension)

Storm: Ryley Jacks (ankle)

Knights: Mitchell Pearce (hamstring)

Cowboys: Reuben Cotter (foot)

Eels: Mitchell Moses (back)

Panthers: Api Koroisau (suspension), Isaah Yeo (concussion)

Dragons: Daniel Alvaro, Zac Lomax (COVID protocols), Jack Bird, Jack de Belin, Blake Lawrie, Josh McGuire (suspension), Cody Ramsey (wrist)

Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham, Liam Knight (concussion), Cameron Murray (suspension)

Warriors: Addin Fonua-Blake (hand), Chad Townsend (shoulder), Chanel Harris-Tavita (pec), Jack Murchie (concussion)

Wests Tigers: James Tamou (foot)

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

28 points - Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles 22, NSW 6)

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

23 points - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

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

Sydney Roosters (28) v Parramatta Eels (0)
Thu 29 Jul 7:50PM at BB Print Stadium Mackay (Crowd: 4926)
Wests Tigers (16) v Warriors (18)
Fri 30 Jul 6:00PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 12443)
Brisbane Broncos (37) v North Queensland Cowboys (18)
Fri 30 Jul 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 29136)

Round 20 total: 46505
Round 20 average per game - 3 games: 15501

2021 cumulative attendance (to R20, 140 matches): 1780478 
2021 average (to R20, 140 matches): 12718

Note: average does not include twelve zero-crowd matches played up to Round 20 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Average calculated per game where crowds permitted, double headers count as 2 games.

No crowds record for these matches played in front of no crowd, due to COVID-19 restrictions:

Newcastle Knights (34) v Canberra Raiders (24) Sun 1 Aug 1:50PM at Suncorp Stadium
Melbourne Storm (37) v Penrith Panthers (10) Sun 1 Aug 4:05PM at Suncorp Stadium
St George Illawarra Dragons (14) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (50) Sun 1 Aug 6:25PM at Suncorp Stadium
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6) v Gold Coast Titans (34) Mon 2 Aug 6:00PM at Suncorp Stadium
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (22) v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (40) Mon 2 Aug 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium

Ratings - Round 20

STV ratings (Foxtel)

Thu 7:50pm - SYD v PAR - 189K
Fri 6:00pm - WST v WAR - 209K
Fri 8:05pm - BRI v NQL - 174K
Sun 1:50pm - NEW v CAN - 145K
Sun 4:05pm - MEL v PEN - 242K
Sun 6:25pm - SGI v SOU - 164K*
Mon 6:00pm - CBY v GLD - 130K
Mon 8:05pm - CRO v MAN - 146K

Round 20 STV total: 1.399M

*note: due to match rescheduling and ratings coding, this figure may be corrected later.

FTA ratings (Nine Network)

Thu 7:50pm - SYD v PAR - 281K (metro only)
Fri 7:55pm - BRI v NQL - 400K (244K metro, 156K regional)
Sun 4:05pm - MEL v PEN - 379K (271K metro, 107K regional)

Round 20 FTA total: 1.060M (not incl. Thursday regional)

Next week - Round 21

Note: with COVID-19 lockdown extended in Queensland, these fixtures are subject to change.

Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos
Thu 5 Aug 7:50PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons
Fri 6 Aug 6:00PM at Cbus Super Stadium
Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 6 Aug 8:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Warriors v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sat 7 Aug 3:00PM at Suncorp Stadium
Sydney Roosters v Penrith Panthers
Sat 7 Aug 5:30PM at Suncorp Stadium
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm
Sat 7 Aug 7:35PM at Suncorp Stadium

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Sun 8 Aug 2:00PM at Moreton Daily Stadium
Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys
Sun 8 Aug 4:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Full 2021 NRL draw & results