Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 5

A full wrap of NRL Round 5, with the full scoresheet, ladder, stats leaders, match review, player of the year points, injury news, crowd stats, TV ratings and upcoming fixtures.

All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT) Thursday to Saturday, changing to AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT) from Sunday.

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

Sydney Roosters 28
Parramatta Eels 20

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Crowd: 20866
Date: Thursday 30 March 2023 at 8:00pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (28)
Tries: Drew Hutchison, Daniel Tupou, Luke Keary (2), Jaxson Paulo
Conversions: Sam Walker (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Sam Walker (1/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (20)
Tries: Bailey Simonsson, Clinton Gutherson, Maika Sivo
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (1/1)

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Hutchison, Paulo; Keary, Walker; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Butcher, Butcher, Radley. Int: Turpin, Whyte, Allan, Baker, Thomas.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Blake, Simonsson; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Hodgson, Greig, Cartwright, Matterson, Hopgood. Int: Doorey, Hands, Murchie, Makatoa.

Canberra Raiders 12
Penrith Panthers 53

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce
Crowd: 15334
Date: Friday 31 March 2023 at 6:00pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (12)
Tries: Elliott Whitehead, Hudson Young
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (2/2)

PENRITH PANTHERS (53)
Tries: Sunia Turuva (2), Nathan Cleary, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago (2), Zac Hosking, Tyrone Peachey, Jaeman Salmon
Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (1/1)
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (8/9)

Canberra: Kris, Hopoate, Timoko, Smith-Shields, Rapana; Frawley, Fogarty; Papalii, Woolford, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Harawira-Naera. Int: Starling, Guler, Saulo, Horsburgh.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Hosking, Yeo (C). Int: Peachey, Smith, Leniu, Salmon.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 10
Melbourne Storm 18

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
Crowd: 11239
Date: Friday 31 March 2023 at 8:05pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (10)
Tries: Cody Walker, Campbell Graham
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (1/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (18)
Tries: Josh King, William Warbrick, Cameron Munster
Conversions: Nick Meaney (3/3)

Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson; Walker, Ilias; Suluka-Fifita, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Host, Murray (C). Int: Cartwright, Chee-Kam, Moale, Sele.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Pezet; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Garlick, MacDonald, Eisenhuth, Anderson.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32
Newcastle Knights 32

Venue: Glen Willow Regional Stadium, Mudgee
Crowd: 9024
Date: Saturday 1 April 2023 at 3:00pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (32)
Tries: Haumole Olakau'atu, Reuben Garrick, Christian Tuipulotu, Brad Parker, Kelma Tuilagi, Kaeo Weekes
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (0/2)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (4/6)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (32)
Tries: Greg Marzhew, Jack Johns, Dominic Young (4)
Field Goals: Jackson Hastings (0/1)
Two Point Field Goals: Jackson Hastings (0/1)
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (2/3), Lachlan Miller (2/3)

Manly: Trbojevic, Tuipulotu, Parker, Harper, Garrick; Johns, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Trbojevic, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Aloiai. Int: Weekes, Trbojevic, Bullemor, Keppie.
Newcastle: Miller, Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Brailey (C), Thompson, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Johns. Int: Crossland, Hetherington, Croker, Jones.

St George Illawarra Dragons 38
Dolphins 12

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Crowd: 16472
Date: Saturday 1 April 2023 at 5:30pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (38)
Tries: Jacob Liddle, Zac Lomax, Blake Lawrie, Ben Hunt, Mikaele Ravalawa (2), Tyrell Sloan
Conversions: Zac Lomax (5/7)

DOLPHINS (12)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/2)

St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt (C); Molo, Liddle, Lawrie, Murdoch-Masila, Su'A, Bird. Int: Mbye, Couchman, Kerr, De Belin.
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Bostock; Katoa, Milford; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Ese'ese, Bromwich, Lemuelu, Gilbert. Int: Wallace, Nicholls, Stone, Teague.

Brisbane Broncos 46
Wests Tigers 12

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Crowd: 27553
Date: Saturday 1 April 2023 at 7:35pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (46)
Tries: Jordan Riki (2), Kurt Capewell, Payne Haas, Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, Kotoni Staggs (2)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (7/8)

WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Isaiah Papali'i, Jake Simpkin
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (2/2)

Brisbane: Walsh, Arthars, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Reynolds (C); Flegler, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Paix, Palasia, Jensen, Taupau.
Wests Tigers: Doueihi, Staines, To'a, Kepaoa, Tupou; Wakeham, Brooks; Twal, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Utoikamanu, Simpkin, Matamua, Blore.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30
Warriors 32

Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware
Crowd: 10878
Date: Sunday 2 April 2023 at 4:05pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (30)
Tries: Teig Wilton, Ronaldo Mulitalo (2), Sione Katoa, William Kennedy
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/2)

WARRIORS (32)
Tries: Wayde Egan, Shaun Johnson, Marata Niukore, Edward Kosi, Josh Curran
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1)

Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Hunt, Williams, Trindall.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Kosi, Vailea, Pompey, Montoya; Volkman, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan (C), Afoa, Ford, Niukore, Tevaga. Int: Walker, Sironen, Ale, Curran.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 15
North Queensland Cowboys 14

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
Crowd: 9626
Date: Sunday 2 April 2023 at 6:15pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (15)
Tries: Jacob Preston (2), Josh Addo-Carr
Field Goals: Matt Burton (1/1)
Conversions: Jacob Preston (1/1), Matt Burton (0/2)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (14)
Tries: Tom Dearden, Tomas Chester
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/2)

Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Addo-Carr; Burton (C), Flanagan; King, Mahoney, Sutton, Faitala-Mariner, Preston, Waddell. Int: Reynolds, Pele, Okunbor, Morrin.
North QLD: Chester, Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Elliot; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Dunn, Hess, Luki, Taumalolo. Int: Neame, Granville, Taunoa-Brown, Price.

Gold Coast Titans had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 5

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

Stats leaders

Top tries

Top points

Thanks to RLP!

Match review

Only Bailey Simonsson (Parramatta) is facing sideline time among the first seven players charged from Round 5 up to Saturday night. Six others have been offered fines.

On Monday, three players were charged from Sunday's matches, all facing suspension for Dangerous Contact tackles ("hip-drops") - Dale Finucane (Cronulla), Jayden Okunbor (Canterbury) and Marata Niukore (Warriors).

By Monday night, Simonsson had accepted a two-game ban, while all six players charged from Saturday's games have entered early pleas to take the lower fines. Finucane, Okunbor and Niukore are due to submit pleas by 12pm Tuesday.

On Tuesday, all three remaining players entered early pleas and will serve suspensions. 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.

Cowboys: Reuben Cotter, Scott Drinkwater

Dolphins: Kodi Nikorima

Eels: Shaun Lane

Knights: Kurt Mann

Panthers: Luke Garner, Soni Luke, Liam Martin

Roosters: Joey Manu

Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster

Storm: Joe Chan, Jahrome Hughes, Tepai Moeroa

Warriors: Mitch Barnett, Te Maire Martin, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Brayden Wiliame

Wests Tigers: Tommy Talau

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

9 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Payne Haas (Broncos)

6 points - Adam Reynolds (Broncos), AJ Brimson (Titans), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)

5 points - Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Luke Keary (Roosters), Cameron Munster (Storm), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Harry Grant (Storm)

4 points - Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Nick Meaney (Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

3 points - Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Sam Walker (Roosters), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), James Tedesco (Roosters), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), William Kennedy (Sharks)

2 points - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Izack Tago (Panthers), Jonah Pezet (Storm), David Fifita (Titans), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Dominic Young (Knights), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Phillip Sami (Titans), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Tesi Niu (Dolphins)

1 point - Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Moses Leota (Panthers), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Cory Paix (Broncos), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Leo Thompson (Knights), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Dane Gagai (Knights), Edward Kosi (Warriors), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs)

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 5

Ratings - Round 5

Scores from state leagues and the UK

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

Next week

NRL Round 6

BYE: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters
Thu 6 Apr 7:50PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 7 Apr 4:00PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
North Queensland Cowboys v Dolphins
Fri 7 Apr 8:00PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Penrith Panthers v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 8 Apr 5:30PM at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders
Sat 8 Apr 7:35PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton

Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sun 9 Apr 4:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Newcastle Knights v Warriors
Sun 9 Apr 6:15PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton

Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels
Mon 10 Apr 4:00PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Full 2023 NRL draw & results