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Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 1
A full wrap of NRL Round 1, with the full scoresheet, ladder, stats leaders, match review, player of the year points, injury news, crowd stats, TV ratings and upcoming fixtures.
Click here for match reports from each game.
All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT).
RELATED: See the full list of 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.
Parramatta Eels 12
Melbourne Storm 16
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Crowd: 17301
Date: Thursday 2 March 2023 at 7:50pm
PARRAMATTA EELS (12)
Tries: Viliami Penisini, Junior Paulo
Field Goals: Mitchell Moses (0/1)
Two Point Field Goals: Mitchell Moses (0/1)
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (1/1)
MELBOURNE STORM (16)
Tries: Nick Meaney, Young Tonumaipea, Harry Grant
Field Goals: Nick Meaney (0/1), Cameron Munster (0/1)
Conversions: Nick Meaney (2/2)
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Blake, Lumelume; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Hodgson, Paulo (C), Cartwright, Doorey, Hopgood. Int: Momoisea, Murchie, Greig.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Tonumaipea, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Asofa-Solomona, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Wishart, MacDonald, Grant, Garlick.
Warriors 20
Newcastle Knights 12
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Crowd: 16676
Date: Friday 3 March 2023 at 6:00pm
WARRIORS (20)
Tries: Edward Kosi, Bunty Afoa, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Wayde Egan
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/4)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (12)
Tries: Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Hymel Hunt
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (2/2)
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Kosi, Wiliame, Pompey, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Afoa, Curran, Ale.
Newcastle: Miller, Hunt, Tuala, Best, Young; Ponga (C), Hastings; Saifiti, Brailey, Saifiti, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Mann. Int: Crossland, Elliott, Hetherington, Thompson.
Penrith Panthers 12
Brisbane Broncos 13
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Crowd: 17125
Date: Friday 3 March 2023 at 8:05pm
PENRITH PANTHERS (12)
Tries: Stephen Crichton, Soni Luke
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2/2)
BRISBANE BRONCOS (13)
Tries: Herbie Farnworth (2)
Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (2/2)
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yeo. Int: Luke, Sorensen, Leniu, Salmon.
Brisbane: Cobbo, Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Arthars; Mam, Reynolds (C); Jensen, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Paix, Palasia, Flegler, Taupau.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 31
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale
Crowd: 17278
Date: Saturday 4 March 2023 at 3:00pm
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (31)
Tries: Tom Trbojevic, Reuben Garrick, Daly Cherry-Evans (3)
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (1/1)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (0/1)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (6)
Tries: Reed Mahoney
Conversions: Matt Burton (1/1)
Manly: Trbojevic, Tuipulotu, Parker, Koula, Garrick; Johns, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Trbojevic, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Aloiai. Int: Keppie, Weekes, Trbojevic, Bullemor.
Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Addo-Carr; Burton (C), Flanagan; King, Mahoney, Sutton, Kikau, Faitala-Mariner, Brown. Int: Tanner, Waddell, Pele, Preston.
North Queensland Cowboys 19
Canberra Raiders 18
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Crowd: 19855
Date: Saturday 4 March 2023 at 5:30pm
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (19)
Tries: Murray Taulagi, Scott Drinkwater (2)
Field Goals: Chad Townsend (1/1)
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/2)
CANBERRA RAIDERS (18)
Tries: Emre Guler, Tom Starling, Jack Wighton
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (3/3)
North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Cotter, Hess, Nanai, Taumalolo. Int: Granville, Neame, Taunoa-Brown, Tamou.
Canberra: Kris, Cotric, Timoko, Smith-Shields, Rapana; Wighton, Fogarty; Saulo, Levi, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Harawira-Naera. Int: Starling, Mariota, Horsburgh, Guler.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18
South Sydney Rabbitohs 27
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware
Crowd: 12757
Date: Saturday 4 March 2023 at 7:35pm
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Braydon Trindall, Sione Katoa, Teig Wilton
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (3/3)
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (27)
Tries: Lachlan Ilias, Keaon Koloamatangi, Campbell Graham (2)
Field Goals: Latrell Mitchell (1/1)
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (1/1)
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Trindall; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Graham, Kaufusi, Williams.
Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson; Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Moale, Koloamatangi, Chee-Kam, Murray (C). Int: Burgess, Arrow, Taaffe, Mitchell.
Dolphins 28
Sydney Roosters 18
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Crowd: 32177
Date: Sunday 5 March 2023 at 4:05pm
DOLPHINS (28)
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako (2), Mark Nicholls, Connelly Lemuelu
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (4/5)
Penalty Goals:
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Joseph Suaalii, Drew Hutchison, Daniel Tupou
Conversions: Sam Walker (3/3)
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Niu; Katoa, O'Sullivan; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Wallace, Kaufusi, Bromwich, Gilbert. Int: Nicholls, Stone, Donoghoe, Lemuelu.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Hutchison, Paulo; Keary, Walker; Collins, Smith, Lodge, Butcher, Butcher, Radley. Int: Whyte, May, Turpin, Baker.
Wests Tigers 10
Gold Coast Titans 22
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
Crowd: 14667
Date: Sunday 5 March 2023 at 6:15pm
WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Adam Doueihi, Daine Laurie
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (0/2)
Penalty Goals: Adam Doueihi (1/1)
GOLD COAST TITANS (22)
Tries: Phillip Sami (2), Sam McIntyre, AJ Brimson
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (3/4)
Wests Tigers: Laurie, Nofoaluma, Naden, Talau, Staines; Doueihi, Brooks; Utoikamanu, Simpkin, Klemmer, Papali'i, Blore, Twal. Int: Koroisau (C), Ofahengaue, Pole, Kepaoa.
Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Schoupp, Sami, Fifita; Foran, Boyd; Jolliffe, Verrills, Fa'asuamaleaui (C), Fifita, Stimson, Liu. Int: Campbell, Clark, Fotuaika, McIntyre.
St George Illawarra Dragons had a bye this round.
Ladder after Round 1
| Team | P | W | L | D | B | F | A | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Manly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | 25 | 2 |
| 2. Gold Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 2 |
| 3. Dolphins | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 2 |
| 4. South Sydney | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 2 |
| 5. Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| 6. Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| 7. Brisbane | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 8. North Qld | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 2 |
| 9. St Geo Illa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10. Penrith | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 0 |
| 11. Canberra | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 0 |
| 12. Parramatta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 0 |
| 13. Newcastle | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 0 |
| 14. Cronulla | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 27 | -9 | 0 |
| 15. Sydney | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 0 |
| 16. Wests Tigers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 0 |
| 17. Canterbury | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 31 | -25 | 0 |
RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.
RLP Stats Leaders
Top Pointscorers
| # | Player | Team | P | T | G | FG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ISAAKO, Jamayne | DOL | 1 | 2 | 4 | - | 16 |
| 2 | GARRICK, Reuben | MAN | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | 14 |
| 3 | CHERRY-EVANS, Daly | MAN | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | 13 |
| 4 | MITCHELL, Latrell | SOU | 1 | - | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 5 | TRINDALL, Braydon | CRO | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | 10 |
| 6 | DRINKWATER, Scott | NQL | 1 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| FARNWORTH, Herbie | BRI | 1 | 2 | - | - | 8 | |
| GRAHAM, Campbell | SOU | 1 | 2 | - | - | 8 | |
| MEANEY, Nick | MEL | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 8 | |
| SAMI, Phillip | GLD | 1 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
Top Tryscorers
| # | Player | Team | P | T |
| 1 | CHERRY-EVANS, Daly | MAN | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | DRINKWATER, Scott | NQL | 1 | 2 |
| FARNWORTH, Herbie | BRI | 1 | 2 | |
| GRAHAM, Campbell | SOU | 1 | 2 | |
| ISAAKO, Jamayne | DOL | 1 | 2 | |
| SAMI, Phillip | GLD | 1 | 2 |
Courtesy Rugby League Project.
Match Review - Round 1
Wade Graham (Cronulla) and Jordan Rapana (Canberra) are both facing 3-4 weeks following charges from Saturday matches.
Graham has plead not guilty and will contest the charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night.
Rapana has entered an early plea and will miss 3 matches.
Egan Butcher (Sydney), Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne), Briton Nikora and Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla), Adam Elliott (Newcastle) and Kyle Feldt (North Qld) have submitted early pleas and received monetary fines.
Check out the full charges here.
Who could be back?
Here's who's in line to return to the field next weekend.
Brisbane: Reece Walsh
Canterbury: Declan Casey
Cronulla: Nicho Hynes
Gold Coast: Chris Randall
Melbourne: Tom Eisenhuth, Tariq Sims
Newcastle: Dane Gagai, Greg Marzhew
North Qld: Jack Gosiewski, Ben Hampton
Parramatta: Daejarn Asi, Nathan Brown, Haze Dunster, Bailey Simonsson
St Geo Illa: Jack Bird, Jack de Belin
Souths: Taane Milne
Sydney: Joey Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Warriors: Rocco Berry, Jazz Tevaga
LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings
Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field.
3 points - Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), AJ Brimson (Titans), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Nick Meaney (Storm)
2 points - Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Phillip Sami (Titans), Harry Grant (Storm), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Adam Reynolds (Broncos)
1 point - Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Payne Haas (Broncos)
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 1
| Thu 8:00pm | PAR v MEL | Commbank | 17,301 |
| Fri 8:00pm | WAR v NEW | Sky | 16,676 |
| Fri 8:05pm | PEN v BRI | Bluebet | 17,125 |
| Sat 3:00pm | MAN v CBY | 4 Pines | 17,278 |
| Sat 4:30pm | NQL v CAN | QLD C.B. | 19,855 |
| Sat 7:35pm | CRO v SOU | Pointsbet | 12,757 |
| Sun 3:05pm | DOL v SYD | Suncorp | 32,177 |
| Sun 6:15pm | WST v GLD | Leichhardt | 14,667 |
| ROUND TOTAL | 147,836 | ||
| ROUND AVG | 18,480 | ||
| SEASON TOTAL | 147,836 | ||
| SEASON AVG | 18,480 |
Ratings - Round 1
| - | - | NINE | FOX | TOTAL |
| Timeslot | Match | 000s | 000s | 000s |
| Thu 8:00pm | PAR v MEL | 756 | 552 | 1308 |
| Fri 8:00pm | WAR v NEW | - | 375 | 375 |
| Fri 8:05pm | PEN v BRI | 643 | 557 | 1200 |
| Sat 3:00pm | MAN v CBY | - | 450 | 450 |
| Sat 4:30pm | NQL v CAN | - | 545 | 545 |
| Sat 7:35pm | CRO v SOU | - | 635 | 635 |
| Sun 3:05pm | DOL v SYD | 611 | 572 | 1183 |
| Sun 6:15pm | WST v GLD | - | 528 | 528 |
| - | TOTALS | 2010 | 4214 | 6224 |
Around the grounds
Scores from state leagues and the UK
--> Check out all competition draws, results and ladders
Next week
NRL Round 2
Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Thu 9 Mar 8:00PM at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Parramatta Eels v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Fri 10 Mar 6:00PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys
Fri 10 Mar 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Sydney Roosters v Warriors
Sat 11 Mar 3:00PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Dolphins v Canberra Raiders
Sat 11 Mar 5:30PM at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Melbourne Storm v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sat 11 Mar 7:35PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Wests Tigers v Newcastle Knights
Sun 12 Mar 4:05PM at Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 12 Mar 6:15PM at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton