Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 3

A full wrap of NRL Round 3, 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). Subtract one hour for QLD local time, or add two ours for NZ local time.

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

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 34
Parramatta Eels 30

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale
Crowd: 13363
Date: Thursday 16 March 2023 at 8:00pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (34)
Tries: Reuben Garrick, Tom Trbojevic (2), Brad Parker, Haumole Olakau'atu (2)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (4/6)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (30)
Tries: Clinton Gutherson (2), Matt Doorey, Maika Sivo (2), Josh Hodgson
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (3/6)

Manly: Trbojevic, Tuipulotu, Parker, Koula, Garrick; Schuster, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Trbojevic, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Aloiai. Int: Weekes, Trbojevic, Bullemor, Keppie.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Blake, Simonsson; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Hodgson, Paulo, Cartwright, Doorey, Hopgood. Int: Momoisea, Murchie, Greig, Makatoa.

Newcastle Knights 20
Dolphins 36

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton
Crowd: 20093
Date: Friday 17 March 2023 at 6:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (20)
Tries: Tyson Gamble, Lachlan Miller (2)
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Lachlan Miller (1/1)

DOLPHINS (36)
Tries: Tesi Niu (3), Jamayne Isaako (2), Kodi Nikorima, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (4/7)

Newcastle: Miller, Hunt, Gagai (C), Best, Young; Gamble, Hastings (C); Saifiti, Crossland, Hetherington, Jones, Fitzgibbon, Thompson. Int: Rivett, Croker, Lucas, Cant.
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Niu; Katoa, O'Sullivan; Bromwich (C), Donoghoe, Lemuelu, Kaufusi, Bromwich, Gilbert. Int: Nikorima, Nicholls, Stone, Teague.

Sydney Roosters 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs 18

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Crowd: 36639
Date: Friday 17 March 2023 at 8:05pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (20)
Tries: Brandon Smith, Daniel Tupou, Jaxson Paulo (2)
Conversions: Sam Walker (2/4)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (18)
Tries: Keaon Koloamatangi, Alex Johnston, Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (1/2)

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Manu, Paulo; Keary, Walker; Baker, Turpin, Collins, Butcher, Butcher, Radley. Int: Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Hutchison, May.
Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson; Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Sele, Koloamatangi, Chee-Kam, Murray (C). Int: Burgess, Moale, Mitchell, Cartwright.

Gold Coast Titans 38
Melbourne Storm 34

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Crowd: 14483
Date: Saturday 18 March 2023 at 3:00pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (38)
Tries: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (2), Aaron Schoupp (2), Brian Kelly, Jo Vuna
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (5/5), Aaron Schoupp (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Tanah Boyd (2/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (34)
Tries: Jonah Pezet, Nick Meaney (2), Tariq Sims, Jahrome Hughes, Xavier Coates
Conversions: Nick Meaney (5/6)

Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Schoupp, Sami; Foran, Boyd; Fotuaika, Randall, Fa'asuamaleaui (C), Fifita, Stimson, Liu. Int: Campbell, Clark, Vuna, Fa'asuamaleaui.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates; Pezet, Hughes; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Wishart, MacDonald, Sims, Garlick.

North Queensland Cowboys 12
Warriors 26

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Crowd: 17818
Date: Saturday 18 March 2023 at 5:30pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (12)
Tries: Tomas Chester, Reece Robson
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/2)

WARRIORS (26)
Tries: Wayde Egan, Marcelo Montoya (2), Jazz Tevaga, Edward Kosi
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (3/5)

North QLD: Chester, Feldt, Holmes, Shibasaki, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Cotter, Hess, Nanai, Taumalolo. Int: Granville, Neame, Taunoa-Brown, Luki.
Warriors: Tuaupiki, Kosi, Vailea, Pompey, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Afoa, Barnett, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Sironen, Ale, Tevaga.

Brisbane Broncos 40
St George Illawarra Dragons 18

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Crowd: 26612
Date: Saturday 18 March 2023 at 7:35pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (40)
Tries: Kotoni Staggs (2), Cory Paix, Selwyn Cobbo, Reece Walsh (2), Ezra Mam
Two Point Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/7)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (18)
Tries: Mathew Feagai, Tyrell Sloan, Jayden Sullivan
Conversions: Zac Lomax (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (1/2)

Brisbane: Walsh, Arthars, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Reynolds (C); Flegler, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Jensen, Paix, Palasia, Taupau.
St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Sullivan, Hunt (C); Molo, Mbye, Lawrie, Murdoch-Masila, Su'A, Bird. Int: Liddle, Musgrove, Kerr, Molo.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26
Wests Tigers 22

Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore
Crowd: 16404
Date: Sunday 19 March 2023 at 4:05pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (26)
Tries: Hayze Perham, Josh Addo-Carr (2), Matt Burton
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Kyle Flanagan (1/1)

WESTS TIGERS (22)
Tries: Brent Naden, Luke Brooks, Fonua Pole, Charlie Staines
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (3/4)

Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Addo-Carr; Burton (C), Flanagan; King, Mahoney, Sutton, Kikau, Preston, Faitala-Mariner. Int: Waddell, Brown, Tanner.
Wests Tigers: Staines, Nofoaluma, Naden, To'a, Tupou; Doueihi, Brooks; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Kepaoa, Bateman, Pole. Int: Blore, Wakeham, Twal, Ofahengaue.

Canberra Raiders 24
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce
Crowd: 14134
Date: Sunday 19 March 2023 at 6:15pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Albert Hopoate, Corey Horsburgh (2), Matthew Timoko
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/4)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (20)
Tries: William Kennedy, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (2/3), Siosifa Talakai (0/1)

Canberra: Kris, Schiller, Timoko, Smith-Shields, Hopoate; Wighton, Fogarty; Guler, Levi, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Harawira-Naera. Int: Saulo, Starling, Mooney, Horsburgh.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Trindall; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Hunt, Kaufusi, Williams.

Penrith Panthers had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 3

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

RLP Stats Leaders

Top Tryscorers

Top Pointscorers

Thanks to RLP!

Match review

SUNDAY NIGHT: Eighteen players were charged across the first six games of Round 3.

Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins) and Joey Manu (Roosters) are the three players facing certain suspension, while the remaining 15 players can escape with fines.

MONDAY: Kaufusi has entered a guilty plea but is seeking to have his charge downgraded in order to avoid suspension. He will face the judiciary on Tuesday night. Manu has accepted the early plea and will miss Round 4, while teammate Fletcher Baker - who is only facing a $1500 fine - is contesting his Careless High Tackle charge at the judiciary.

Two South Sydney players charged - Cody Walker and Michael Chee Kam, have so far accepted fines, as have Cowboys back rower Jeremiah Nanai and Newcastle debutant Dylan Lucas. One further player was charged on Sunday - Canberra's Tom Starling who escaped with a fine.

Later on Monday, Melbourne confirmed that Hughes will seek a downgrade on Tuesday night for his Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge - if successful he would only receive a fine.

MONDAY 5PM: All pleas are in. Manu is the only player suspended, with Kaufusi and Hughes both headed to the judiciary for their hopes of a downgrade. Of the 16 players facing fines, all took the early plea except Baker, who will join Kaufusi and Hughes at Rugby League Central on Tuesday night.

TUESDAY: Kaufusi has been found GUILTY and no downgrade. 4 match suspension. Baker was found NOT GUILTY and receives no fine. Hughes was found GUILTY and no downgrade, suspended for 2 matches.

Check out the details for all charges and the results here.

Who could be back?

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

Canberra: Josh Papalii

Cronulla: Nicho Hynes

Dolphins: Herman Ese'ese, Edrick Lee

Manly: Viliami Fifita

Melbourne: George Jennings, Cameron Munster

Newcastle: Jayden Brailey, Jack Johns

North Qld: Jack Gosiewski, Ben Hampton

Parramatta: Ryan Matterson

Penrith: Scott Sorensen

St Geo Illa: Jack de Belin, Toby Couchman

Souths: Jacob Host

Warriors: Jackson Ford, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Wests Tigers: Daine Laurie, Ken Maumalo

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

6 points - AJ Brimson (Titans)

5 points - Adam Reynolds (Broncos)

4 points - Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Nick Meaney (Storm)

3 points - Reece Walsh (Broncos), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), James Tedesco (Roosters), Sam Walker (Roosters), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Payne Haas (Broncos), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Tyson Gamble (Knights)

2 points - Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Luke Keary (Roosters), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Harry Grant (Storm), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Phillip Sami (Titans), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Ezra Mam (Broncos)

1 point - Cory Paix (Broncos), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Leo Thompson (Knights), William Kennedy (Sharks), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders)

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 3

Ratings - Round 3

Scores from state leagues and the UK

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

Next week

NRL Round 4

BYE: Sydney Roosters

Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers
Thu 23 Mar 8:00PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

Melbourne Storm v Wests Tigers
Fri 24 Mar 6:00PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos
Fri 24 Mar 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton

North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans
Sat 25 Mar 5:30PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 25 Mar 7:35PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Warriors v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun 26 Mar 2:00PM at Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose
Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders
Sun 26 Mar 4:05PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton
St George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sun 26 Mar 6:15PM at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton

Full 2023 NRL draw & results