Monday's Expert - 2021 NRL Round 22

Monday's Expert - with the full results from NRL Round 22 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 22 NRL Results

Melbourne Storm 26
Canberra Raiders 16

Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
Crowd: 2523
Date: Thursday 12 August 2021 at 7:50pm

MELBOURNE STORM (26)
Tries: Brandon Smith, Dean Ieremia, Chris Lewis
Conversions: Nicholas Hynes (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Nicholas Hynes (1/1), Ryan Papenhuyzen (3/3)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (16)
Tries: Bailey Simonsson (3)
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (0/1), Sam Williams (2/2)

St George Illawarra Dragons 16
Penrith Panthers 34

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 6653
Date: Friday 13 August 2021 at 6:00pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (16)
Tries: Mikaele Ravalawa, Jack Bird, Talatau Amone
Conversions: Zac Lomax (2/3)

PENRITH PANTHERS (34)
Tries: Brent Naden (2), Dylan Edwards (2), Matt Burton, Paul Momirovski
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (5/6)

Brisbane Broncos 20
Sydney Roosters 21

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 14314
Date: Friday 13 August 2021 at 8:05pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (20)
Tries: Payne Haas, Jordan Riki, Albert Kelly
Field Goals: Albert Kelly (0/1)
Conversions: Tyson Gamble (2/2), Selwyn Cobbo (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Selwyn Cobbo (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (21)
Tries: Isaac Liu, Dale Copley, James Tedesco
Field Goals: Sam Walker (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Keighran (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Adam Keighran (1/1)

South Sydney Rabbitohs 36
Gold Coast Titans 6

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 4117
Date: Saturday 14 August 2021 at 3:00pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (36)
Tries: Latrell Mitchell, Adam Reynolds, Josh Mansour (2), Braidon Burns (2)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (4/6)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (2/2)

GOLD COAST TITANS (6)
Tries: Corey Thompson
Conversions: Toby Sexton (1/1)

North Queensland Cowboys 16
Wests Tigers 24

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Crowd: 12663
Date: Saturday 14 August 2021 at 5:30pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (16)
Tries: Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Dearden, Ben Hampton
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (0/1)

WESTS TIGERS (24)
Tries: Stefano Utoikamanu, Ken Maumalo, Kelma Tuilagi, Tommy Talau
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (4/4)

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 56
Parramatta Eels 10

Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
Crowd: 3613
Date: Saturday 14 August 2021 at 7:35pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (56)
Tries: Brad Parker, Reuben Garrick (3), Tom Trbojevic, Dylan Walker, Jason Saab, Moses Suli (2), Haumole Olakau'atu
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (8/10)

PARRAMATTA EELS (10)
Tries: Tom Opacic, Waqa Blake
Conversions: Clinton Gutherson (1/2)

Warriors 24
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10

Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Crowd: 3332
Date: Sunday 15 August 2021 at 1:50pm

WARRIORS (24)
Tries: Josh Curran, Reece Walsh, Jazz Tevaga, Edward Kosi
Conversions: Reece Walsh (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Reece Walsh (1/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (10)
Tries: Aaron Schoupp, Jayden Okunbor
Conversions: Jake Averillo (1/2)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14
Newcastle Knights 16

Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Crowd: 3954
Date: Sunday 15 August 2021 at 4:05pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (14)
Tries: Jesse Ramien, Ronaldo Mulitalo
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Braydon Trindall (1/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (16)
Tries: Enari Tuala (2)
Conversions: Jake Clifford (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Jake Clifford (3/3)

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

Match Review Charges - Round 22

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

RESULTS

Suspensions (early pleas):
3 matches: Radley (SYD), 50 carryovers; Matterson (PAR), 82 carryovers; Harawira-Naera (CAN), 37 carryovers
2 matches: Gamble (BRI), 75 carryovers
1 match: Liddle (WST), 50 carryovers; Mikaele (WST), 80 carryovers; Neame (NQL), 50 carryovers; Frizell (NEW), 27 carryovers; Tolman (CRO), 72 carryovers

Fines (early pleas):
$1700: Luai (PEN), Sivo (PAR)
$1350: Mead (BRI), James (CBY), Walsh (WAR)
$1150: Chee Kam (WST), Cleary (PEN)
$750: Lussick (PAR), Hamlin-Uele (CRO)

Judiciary challenges:
Holmes (NQL) - not guilty. OUTCOME: Not guilty. No fine to pay.

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: Semi Valemei (throat), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (neck)

Bulldogs: Christian Crichton (knee), Chris Smith and Ofahiki Ogden (ankle), Luke Thompson (suspension)

Sharks: Mawene Hiroti (hand)

Titans: Jayden Campbell and Phillip Sami (ankle)

Sea Eagles: Zac Saddler (cheek), Toff Sipley (suspension)

Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring), George Jennings (knee), Aaron Pene (achilles)

Cowboys: Reuben Cotter (foot), Lachlan Burr and Murray Taulagi (HIA)

Eels: Oregon Kaufusi (HIA)

Panthers: Kurt Capewell (suspension), James Fisher-Harris (personal/COVID)

Dragons: Tariq Sims (suspension)

Rabbitohs: Dane Gagai and Alex Johnston (hamstring), Liam Knight (HIA)

Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (rested)

Warriors: Kane Evans (suspension)

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.

32 points - Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles 26, NSW 6)

29 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers 27, NSW 2)

28 points - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

20 points - Will Kennedy (Sharks), Clinton Gutherson (Eels)

19 points - Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), James Tedesco (Roosters), Ben Hunt (Dragons 16, QLD 3), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs 17, NSW 2)

17 points - Nicholas Hynes (Storm)

16 points - David Fifita (Titans), Jahrome Hughes (Storm)

15 points - Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Payne Haas (Broncos 13, NSW 1)

14 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels), Sam Walker (Roosters), Brandon Smith (Storm)

13 points - Alexander Brimson (Titans), Cameron Munster (Storm)

12 points - Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

11 points - Reed Mahoney (Eels), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jarome Luai (Panthers 9, NSW 2)

10 points - Joseph Manu (Roosters), Christian Welch (Storm), Harry Grant (Storm), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali'i (Eels)

9 points - Ashley Taylor (Titans), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)

8 points - Shaun Johnson (Sharks), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), George Williams (Raiders), Matt Burton (Panthers)

7 points - Matthew Dufty (Dragons), Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Viliame Kikau (Panthers)

6 points - Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Maika Sivo (Eels), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Bradman Best (Knights), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Luke Thompson (Bulldogs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos)

5 points - Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Corey Harawira-Naera (Raiders), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Josh Curran (Warriors), Luke Keary (Roosters), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Tom Starling (Raiders), Jamal Fogarty (Titans), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Brett Morris (Roosters), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans 3, QLD 2)

4 points - Tohu Harris (Warriors), Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs), Dale Finucane (Storm), Tyrone Peachey (Titans), Nathan Brown (Eels), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)

3 points - Toby Sexton (Titans), Adam Clune (Dragons), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Justin Olam (Storm), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Connor Watson (Knights), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Josh Hodgson (Raiders), Euan Aitken (Warriors), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Sam Williams (Raiders), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Jake Granville (Cowboys), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs)

2 points - Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Jack Williams (Sharks), Matthew Lodge (Broncos), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Liam Martin (Panthers), Jack Bird (Dragons), Bunty Afoa (Warriors), Victor Radley (Roosters), Tyrone May (Panthers), Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Waqa Blake (Eels), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Bailey Simonsson (Raiders), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Jesse Bromwich (Storm), Dylan Napa (Bulldogs), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Hudson Young (Raiders), Junior Paulo (Eels), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Josh Morris (Roosters), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Josh Kerr (Dragons), Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Marata Niukore (Eels), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Blake Ferguson (Eels), Phillip Sami (Titans), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Bayley Sironen (Warriors)

1 point - Xavier Coates (Broncos), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), David Klemmer (Knights), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Ryan James (Raiders), Beau Fermor (Titans), Isaac Liu (Roosters), Shawn Blore (Wests Tigers), Tesi Niu (Broncos), Dean Ieremia (Storm), Joe Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers), Andrew McCullough (Dragons), Paul Momirovski (Panthers), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Mathew Feagai (Dragons), Albert Kelly (Broncos), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Nat Butcher (Roosters), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Shane Wright (Cowboys), Moses Leota (Panthers), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Emre Guler (Raiders), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), Corey Thompson (Titans), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Brodie Jones (Knights), Francis Molo (Cowboys), Felise Kaufusi (Storm), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Enari Tuala (Knights), Kurt Mann (Knights), Dylan Brown (Eels)

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 22

Melbourne Storm (26) v Canberra Raiders (16)
Thu 12 Aug 7:50PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium (Crowd: 2523)

St George Illawarra Dragons (16) v Penrith Panthers (34)
Fri 13 Aug 6:00PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 6653)
Brisbane Broncos (20) v Sydney Roosters (21)
Fri 13 Aug 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 14314)

South Sydney Rabbitohs (36) v Gold Coast Titans (6)
Sat 14 Aug 3:00PM at Cbus Super Stadium (Crowd: 4117)
North Queensland Cowboys (16) v Wests Tigers (24)
Sat 14 Aug 5:30PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Crowd: 12663)
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (56) v Parramatta Eels (10)
Sat 14 Aug 7:35PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium (Crowd: 3613)

Warriors (24) v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (10)
Sun 15 Aug 2:00PM at Moreton Daily Stadium (Crowd: 3332)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (14) v Newcastle Knights (12)
Sun 15 Aug 4:05PM at Moreton Daily Stadium (Crowd: 3954)

Round 22 total: 51,169
Round 22 average: 6,396

2021 cumulative attendance (to R22, 148 matches): 1,831,647
2021 average (to R22, 148 matches): 12,375

Note: average does not include twenty zero-crowd matches played up to Round 21 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Average calculated per game where crowds permitted, double headers count as 2 games.

Ratings - Round 22

STV ratings (Foxtel)

Thu 7:50pm - MEL v CAN - 225K
Fri 6:00pm - SGI v PEN - 243K
Fri 8:05pm - BRI v SYD - 277K
Sat 3:00pm - SOU v GLD - 174K
Sat 5:30pm - NQL v WST - 262K
Sat 7:35pm - MAN v PAR - 266K
Sun 1:50pm - WAR v CBY - 154K
Sun 4:05pm - CRO v NEW - 229K

Round 22 STV total: 1.83M

FTA ratings (Nine Network)

Thu 7:50pm - MEL v CAN - 373K (metro only)
Fri 7:55pm - BRI v SYD - 565K (351K metro, 214K regional)
Sat 7:35pm - MAN v MEL - 387K (238K metro, 149K regional)
Sun 4:05pm - CRO v NEW - 405K (231K metro, 174K reigonal)

Round 22 FTA total: 1.73M

Next week - Round 23

Gold Coast Titans v Melbourne Storm
Thu 19 Aug 7:50PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Canberra Raiders v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Fri 20 Aug 6:00PM at Suncorp Stadium
Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 20 Aug 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium

Wests Tigers v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sat 21 Aug 3:00PM at Browne Park, Rockhampton
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Newcastle Knights
Sat 21 Aug 5:30PM at Cbus Super Stadium
Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
Sat 21 Aug 7:35PM at Cbus Super Stadium

St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Sun 22 Aug 2:00PM at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Brisbane Broncos v Warriors
Sun 22 Aug 4:05PM at Suncorp Stadium

Full 2021 NRL draw & results