Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 2

A full wrap of NRL Round 2, 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 AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.

Penrith Panthers 16
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10

Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Crowd: 16906
Date: Thursday 9 March 2023 at 8:00pm

PENRITH PANTHERS (16)
Tries: Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago
Goals: Nathan Cleary 1/3, Stephen Crichton 1/1

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (10)
Tries: Alex Johnston, Isaiah Tass
Goals: Latrell Mitchell 1/2

Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yeo (C). Int: Luke, Eisenhuth, Leniu, Salmon.
Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson; Walker, Ilias; Moale, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Chee-Kam, Murray (C). Int: Suluka-Fifita, Taaffe, Cartwright, Mitchell.

Parramatta Eels 26
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Crowd: 16663
Date: Friday 10 March 2023 at 6:00pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (26)
Tries: Mitchell Moses 2, Maika Sivo 2, Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Goals: Mitchell Moses 3/5

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (30)
Tries: William Kennedy 3, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora
Goals: Braydon Trindall 5/5

Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Blake, Simonsson; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Hodgson, Paulo, Cartwright, Doorey, Hopgood. Int: Momoisea, Murchie, Greig, Makatoa.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Trindall; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Hunt, Kaufusi, Tracey.

Brisbane Broncos 28
North Queensland Cowboys 16

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Crowd: 43162
Date: Friday 10 March 2023 at 8:05pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (28)
Tries: Ezra Mam 2, Kurt Capewell, Kotoni Staggs, Reece Walsh
Goals: Adam Reynolds 4/6

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (16)
Tries: Jeremiah Nanai 2
Goals: Valentine Holmes 4/4

Brisbane: Walsh, Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Reynolds (C); Jensen, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Paix, Palasia, Flegler, Taupau, Arthars.
North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Cotter, Hess, Nanai, Taumalolo. Int: Granville, Neame, Taunoa-Brown, Tamou, Elliot.

Sydney Roosters 20
Warriors 12

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Crowd: 16267
Date: Saturday 11 March 2023 at 3:00pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (20)
Tries: Jaxson Paulo (2), Sam Walker
Conversions: Sam Walker (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Sam Walker (2/3)

WARRIORS (12)
Tries: Wayde Egan, Addin Fonua-Blake
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/2)

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Manu, Paulo; Keary, Walker; Collins, Smith, Baker, Butcher, Butcher, Whyte. Int: Turpin, Hutchison, May, Thomas.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Kosi, Wiliame, Pompey, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Afoa, Curran, Ale.

Dolphins 20
Canberra Raiders 14

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Crowd: 10023
Date: Saturday 11 March 2023 at 5:30pm

DOLPHINS (20)
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2), Tom Gilbert
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (14)
Tries: Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamal Fogarty (2/2)

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Niu; Katoa, O'Sullivan; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Wallace, Kaufusi, Bromwich, Gilbert. Int: Lemuelu, Nicholls, Teague, Donoghoe.
Canberra: Kris, Cotric, Timoko, Smith-Shields, Hopoate; Wighton, Fogarty; Saulo, Levi, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Harawira-Naera. Int: Starling, Mariota, Horsburgh, Guler.

Melbourne Storm 12
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Crowd: 17248
Date: Saturday 11 March 2023 at 7:35pm

MELBOURNE STORM (12)
Tries: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jahrome Hughes
Conversions: Nick Meaney (2/2)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (26)
Tries: Jacob Preston, Jacob Kiraz (2), Josh Addo-Carr, Jake Averillo
Conversions: Matt Burton (3/5)

Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Tonumaipea, Anderson; Wishart, Hughes; Asofa-Solomona, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Garlick, MacDonald, Grant, Bradley.
Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Addo-Carr; Burton (C), Flanagan; King, Mahoney, Sutton, Kikau, Faitala-Mariner, Preston. Int: Brown, Waddell, Pele, Okunbor.

Wests Tigers 12
Newcastle Knights 14

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
Crowd: 13214
Date: Sunday 12 March 2023 at 4:05pm

WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Asu Kepaoa, Stefano Utoikamanu
Field Goals: Luke Brooks (0/1)
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (2/2)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (14)
Tries: Dominic Young (2), Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (1/3)

Wests Tigers: Laurie, Nofoaluma, Naden, Talau, Staines; Doueihi, Brooks; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Kepaoa, Ofahengaue. Int: Simpkin, Seyfarth, Twal, Tumeth.
Newcastle: Miller, Hunt, Gagai, Best, Young; Ponga (C), Hastings; Saifiti, Brailey, Thompson, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Johns. Int: Saifiti, Crossland, Hetherington, Gamble.

St George Illawarra Dragons 32
Gold Coast Titans 18

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton
Crowd: 8538
Date: Sunday 12 March 2023 at 6:15pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (32)
Tries: Jacob Liddle, Ben Hunt, Mikaele Ravalawa, Tyrell Sloan, Blake Lawrie
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (3/3)

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sam Verrills, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (3/3)

St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Sullivan, Hunt (C); Molo, Mbye, Lawrie, Murdoch-Masila, Su'A, Bird. Int: Liddle, Musgrove, Couchman, Kerr.
Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Schoupp, Sami, Fifita; Foran, Boyd; Clark, Verrills, Fa'asuamaleaui (C), Fifita, Stimson, Liu. Int: Campbell, Fotuaika, McIntyre, Randall.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 2

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

RLP Stats Leaders

Top Tryscorers

Top Pointscorers

Courtesy Rugby League Project.

Match Review  - Round 2

Four players are guaranteed suspension from Round 2. Jacob Saifiti (Knights), Peta Hiku (Cowboys), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers) and Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins) will spend time on the sidelines whether they challenge their charges or take the early plea.

Jackson Hastings (Knights) and Maika Sivo (Eels) are set to be fined, while Joseph Suaalii (Roosters), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), and Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs) all can avoid suspension with an early plea, but could be suspended if they unsuccessfully challenge.

MONDAY UPDATE: Marshall-King and Hiku (2 matches), Drinkwater (3 matches), Kikau, Suaalii, Gilbert ($3000) and Sivo ($1000) have all entered early pleas. Tigers and Knights players' pleas are due on Tuesday.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Papali'i has now entered an early plea and will miss one match, Saifiti five and Hastings an $1800 fine. No players will front the judiciary.

Check out the full charges here.

Who could be back?

Here's who's in line to return to the field next weekend.

Canberra: Josh Papalii

Cronulla: Nicho Hynes, Jack Williams

Gold Coast: Brian Kelly

Manly: Viliami Fifita, Josh Schuster

Melbourne: Xavier Coates, Tom Eisenhuth, Tariq Sims

Newcastle: Mat Croker

North Qld: Jack Gosiewski, Ben Hampton

Parramatta: Daejarn Asi

St Geo Illa: Jack de Belin

Souths: Jai Arrow, Jacob Host, Hame Sele, Tevita Tatola

Sydney: Victor Radley, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

Warriors: Rocco Berry, Jazz Tevaga

Wests Tigers: Shawn Blore

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

4 points - Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), J'maine Hopgood (Eels)

3 points - Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Sam Walker (Roosters), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), AJ Brimson (Titans), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Nick Meaney (Storm), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)

2 points - Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Luke Keary (Roosters), Phillip Sami (Titans), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Harry Grant (Storm)

1 point - Leo Thompson (Knights), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Payne Haas (Broncos), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), William Kennedy (Sharks), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles)

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 2

Ratings - Round 2

Around the grounds

Scores from state leagues and the UK

--> Check out all competition draws, results and ladders

Next week

NRL Round 3

BYE: Penrith Panthers

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Parramatta Eels
Thu 16 Mar 8:00PM at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale

Newcastle Knights v Dolphins
Fri 17 Mar 6:00PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 17 Mar 8:05PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Gold Coast Titans v Melbourne Storm
Sat 18 Mar 3:00PM at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
North Queensland Cowboys v Warriors
Sat 18 Mar 5:30PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sat 18 Mar 7:35PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Sun 19 Mar 4:05PM at Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore
Canberra Raiders v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sun 19 Mar 6:15PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce

Full 2023 NRL draw & results