Monday's Expert - 2021 NRL Round 24

Monday's Expert - with the full results from NRL Round 24 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 24 NRL Results

Newcastle Knights 15
Gold Coast Titans 14

Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
Crowd: 2107
Date: Thursday 26 August 2021 at 7:50pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (15)
Tries: Kalyn Ponga, Mitchell Pearce
Field Goals: Jake Clifford (0/1), Mitchell Pearce (1/1)
Conversions: Jake Clifford (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jake Clifford (1/1)

GOLD COAST TITANS (14)
Tries: Phillip Sami, David Fifita
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamal Fogarty (2/2)

Warriors 16
Canberra Raiders 28

Venue: BB Print Stadium Mackay
Crowd: 4079
Date: Friday 27 August 2021 at 6:00pm

WARRIORS (16)
Tries: Sean O'Sullivan, Rocco Berry, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Field Goals: Reece Walsh (0/1)
Conversions: Reece Walsh (2/3)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (28)
Tries: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Sebastian Kris (2), Hudson Young
Conversions: Jordan Rapana (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Jordan Rapana (0/1)

Sydney Roosters 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs 54

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 5136
Date: Friday 27 August 2021 at 7:55pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (12)
Tries: Joseph Manu, Sam Verrills
Conversions: Siosiua Taukeiaho (1/1), Sam Walker (1/1)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (54)
Tries: Alex Johnston (3), Mark Nicholls (2), Latrell Mitchell (2), Jaxson Paulo (2)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (6/6), Latrell Mitchell (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

St George Illawarra Dragons 26
North Queensland Cowboys 38

Venue: Browne Park
Crowd: 4487
Date: Saturday 28 August 2021 at 3:00pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (26)
Tries: Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa (2), Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/5)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (38)
Tries: Reece Robson, Kyle Feldt (2), Ben Hampton, Tom Dearden, Heilum Luki, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (5/7)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24
Brisbane Broncos 16

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 8618
Date: Saturday 28 August 2021 at 5:30pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (24)
Tries: Sione Katoa, Braydon Trindall, Jesse Ramien, Connor Tracey
Field Goals: Braydon Trindall (0/1)
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Braydon Trindall (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (16)
Tries: Xavier Coates, Tesi Niu (2)
Conversions: Herbie Farnworth (2/3)

Melbourne Storm 10
Parramatta Eels 22

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 10246
Date: Saturday 28 August 2021 at 7:35pm

MELBOURNE STORM (10)
Tries: Reimis Smith, Isaac Lumelume
Conversions: Nicholas Hynes (1/1), Ryan Papenhuyzen (0/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (22)
Tries: Blake Ferguson (2), Haze Dunster, Joey Lussick
Field Goals: Mitchell Moses (0/1)
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (1/1)

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 36
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18

Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Crowd: 4910
Date: Sunday 29 August 2021 at 1:50pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (36)
Tries: Jason Saab (2), Haumole Olakau'atu, Tom Trbojevic (3)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Matt Doorey, Jayden Okunbor, Jackson Topine
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (3/3)

Penrith Panthers 30
Wests Tigers 16

Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Crowd: 5351
Date: Sunday 29 August 2021 at 4:05pm

PENRITH PANTHERS (30)
Tries: Moses Leota, Tevita Pangai Junior, Jarome Luai, Viliame Kikau, Brian To'o
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (5/5)

WESTS TIGERS (16)
Tries: Stefano Utoikamanu, Jake Simpkin, Ken Maumalo
Conversions: Luke Brooks (2/3)

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

Match Review Charges - Round 24

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

RESULTS

Suspensions (early pleas):
6 matches: Mitchell (SOU), 75 carryovers
4 matches: Flegler (BRI), 47 carryovers
2 matches: Knight (SOU), 70 carryovers; Piakura (BRI) 45 carryovers
1 match: Baker (SYD), 50 carryovers; Bromwich (MEL) 50 carryovers; Paulo (PAR) 80 carryovers

Fines (early pleas):
$2500: N Brown (PAR)
$1600: Gagai (SOU)
$1350: E Butcher (SYD), Ramien (CRO), B Smith (MEL)
$1150: Liu (SYD), H Grant (MEL)

Judiciary challenges:
Lodge (WAR) - not guilty. Hearing Tuesday

TBC - Aloiai (MAN), L Leilua (WST)

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.

Broncos: Jordan Riki (foot)
Raiders: Jarrod Croker (knee)
Bulldogs: Chris Smith (ankle), Dylan Napa & Corey Waddell (suspension), Jake Averillo (foot)
Sharks: Franklin Pele (foot)
Titans: Ash Taylor (hip)
Sea Eagles: Sean Keppie (personal reasons), Taniela Paseka (ankle)
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring), Dale Finucane (concussion)
Knights: David Klemmer (suspension)
Cowboys: Lachlan Burr (concussion)
Eels: Tom Opacic (ribs), Wiremu Greig (ankle)
Panthers: Matt Eisenhuth (ribs), Spencer Leniu (ankle)
Dragons: Ben Hunt (arm)
Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (knee), Adam Keighran (concussion), Angus Crichton (suspension)
Warriors: Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot), Taniela Otukolo (knee)

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

35 points - Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles/NSW)

32 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers/NSW)

28 points - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

22 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Will Kennedy (Sharks), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs/NSW)
20 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels)
19 points - Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Ben Hunt (Dragons/QLD)
18 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
17 points - Nicholas Hynes (Storm), Payne Haas (Broncos/NSW)
16 points - Jahrome Hughes (Storm), David Fifita (Titans), Cameron Munster (Storm)
15 points - Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
14 points - Brandon Smith (Storm), Sam Walker (Roosters), Jarome Luai (Panthers/NSW)
13 points - Alexander Brimson (Titans)
12 points - Isaiah Papali'i (Eels), Reece Walsh (Warriors)
11 points - Reed Mahoney (Eels), Brian To'o (Panthers)
10 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Christian Welch (Storm), Harry Grant (Storm), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Joseph Manu (Roosters)
9 points - Ashley Taylor (Titans), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
8 points - George Williams (Raiders), Matt Burton (Panthers), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Shaun Johnson (Sharks)
7 points - Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Matthew Dufty (Dragons), Luke Thompson (Bulldogs)
6 points - Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), Bradman Best (Knights), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Maika Sivo (Eels), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Jamal Fogarty (Titans)
5 points - Corey Harawira-Naera (Raiders), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Tom Starling (Raiders), Josh Curran (Warriors), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Luke Keary (Roosters), Brett Morris (Roosters), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans/QLD)
4 points - Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Liam Martin (Panthers), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Dale Finucane (Storm), Tyrone Peachey (Titans), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Nathan Brown (Eels), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
3 points - Toby Sexton (Titans), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers), David Klemmer (Knights), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Josh Hodgson (Raiders), Sam Williams (Raiders), Euan Aitken (Warriors), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Adam Clune (Dragons), Justin Olam (Storm), Anthony Milford (Broncos), Luke Metcalf (Sharks), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Tom Dearden (Broncos), Mark Nicholls (Rabbitohs), Jake Granville (Cowboys), Connor Watson (Knights), Blake Ferguson (Eels), Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs)
2 points - Bailey Simonsson (Raiders), Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs), Tyrone May (Panthers), Bunty Afoa (Warriors), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Waqa Blake (Eels), Peta Hiku (Warriors), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Hudson Young (Raiders), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Bayley Sironen (Warriors), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Marata Niukore (Eels), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Victor Radley (Roosters), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Josh Kerr (Dragons), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Moses Leota (Panthers), Jack Bird (Dragons), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Jack Williams (Sharks), Dylan Napa (Bulldogs), Junior Paulo (Eels), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Jesse Bromwich (Storm), Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Phillip Sami (Titans), Josh Morris (Roosters), Matthew Lodge (Broncos), Moses Suli (Sea Eagles)
1 point - Isaac Liu (Roosters), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Beau Fermor (Titans), Shawn Blore (Wests Tigers), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Dean Ieremia (Storm), Joe Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers), Tesi Niu (Broncos), Mitchell Dunn (Cowboys), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Matt Frawley (Raiders), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Corey Thompson (Titans), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), Brodie Jones (Knights), Kurt Mann (Knights), Francis Molo (Cowboys), Xavier Coates (Broncos), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Ryan James (Raiders), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Paul Momirovski (Panthers), Andrew McCullough (Dragons), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Felise Kaufusi (Storm), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Albert Kelly (Broncos), Emre Guler (Raiders), Enari Tuala (Knights), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Nat Butcher (Roosters), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Mathew Feagai (Dragons), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Shane Wright (Cowboys), Reece Robson (Cowboys), 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 24

Newcastle Knights (15) v Gold Coast Titans (14)
Thu 26 Aug 7:50PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium (Crowd: 2107)
Warriors (16) v Canberra Raiders (28)
Fri 27 Aug 6:00PM at BB Print Stadium Mackay (Crowd: 4079)
Sydney Roosters (12) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (54)
Fri 27 Aug 7:55PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 5136)
St George Illawarra Dragons (26) v North Queensland Cowboys (38)
Sat 28 Aug 3:00PM at Browne Park (Crowd: 4487)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (24) v Brisbane Broncos (16)
Sat 28 Aug 5:30PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 8618)
Melbourne Storm (10) v Parramatta Eels (22)
Sat 28 Aug 7:35PM at Suncorp Stadium (Crowd: 10246)
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (36) v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (18)
Sun 29 Aug 1:50PM at Moreton Daily Stadium (Crowd: 4910)
Penrith Panthers (30) v Wests Tigers (16)
Sun 29 Aug 4:05PM at Moreton Daily Stadium (Crowd: 5351)

Round 24 total: 44934
Round 24 average: 5617

2021 cumulative attendance (to R23, 164 matches): 1,915,939
2021 average (to R23, 164 matches): 11,683

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 24

STV ratings (Foxtel)

Thu 7:50pm - NEW v GLD - 176K
Fri 6:00pm - WAR v CAN - 214K
Fri 8:05pm - SYD v SOU - 287K
Sat 3:00pm - SGI v NQL - 152K
Sat 5:30pm - CRO v BRI - 249K
Sat 7:35pm - MEL v PAR - 298K
Sun 2:00pm - MAN v CBY - 191K
Sun 4:05pm - PEN v WST - 216K

Round 24 STV total: 1.783M

FTA ratings (Nine Network)

Thu 7:50pm - NEW v GLD - 501K (294K metro, 207K regional)
Fri 7:55pm - SYD v SOU - 557K (343K metro, 214K regional)
Sat 7:35pm - MEL v PAR - 517K (329K metro, 188K regional)
Sun 4:05pm - PEN v WST - 490K (306K metro, 185K regional)

Round 24 FTA total: 2.065M

Next week - Round 25

Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters
Thu 2 Sep 7:50PM at BB Print Stadium Mackay

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Melbourne Storm
Fri 3 Sep 6:00PM at Cbus Super Stadium
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers
Fri 3 Sep 8:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium

Brisbane Broncos v Newcastle Knights
Sat 4 Sep 3:00PM at Suncorp Stadium
North Queensland Cowboys v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 4 Sep 5:30PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sat 4 Sep 7:35PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Gold Coast Titans v Warriors
Sun 5 Sep 2:00PM at Cbus Super Stadium
Wests Tigers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun 5 Sep 4:05PM at Moreton Daily Stadium

Full 2021 NRL draw & results

Finals map

A look at how the finals race is panning out with just one week remaining. Only one team - Newcastle - are locked in to their position.