Wednesday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 8

A full wrap of NRL Round 8, 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 AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

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

South Sydney Rabbitohs 20
Penrith Panthers 18

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Crowd: 19548
Date: Thursday 20 April 2023 at 7:50pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (20)
Tries: Damien Cook, Latrell Mitchell (2), Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (2/4)
Penalty Goals:

PENRITH PANTHERS (18)
Tries: Stephen Crichton (3)
Conversions: Stephen Crichton (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Stephen Crichton (1/1)

Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Milne; Walker, Ilias; Arrow, Cook, Sele, Chee-Kam, Host, Murray (C). Int: Burgess, Cartwright, Suluka-Fifita, Moale.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Eisenhuth, Sorensen, Hosking, Yeo. Int: Luke, Smith, Leniu, Salmon.

Parramatta Eels 16
Brisbane Broncos 26

Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin / Larrakia
Crowd: 11864
Date: Friday 21 April 2023 at 8:00pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Clinton Gutherson, Maika Sivo, Sean Russell
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (2/3)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (26)
Tries: Adam Reynolds, Herbie Farnworth, Ezra Mam, Kotoni Staggs
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (3/3)

Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Hodgson, Paulo, Lane, Cartwright, Matterson. Int: Hopgood, Hands, Greig, Doorey.
Brisbane: Walsh, Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Reynolds (C); Flegler, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Paix, Jensen, Hetherington, Taupau.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 33

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Crowd: 12148
Date: Saturday 22 April 2023 at 5:30pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (20)
Tries: Braidon Burns, Declan Casey, Corey Waddell
Conversions: Matt Burton (2/2), Kyle Flanagan (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Matt Burton (1/1)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (33)
Tries: William Kennedy (3), Matt Moylan, Sione Katoa
Field Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

Canterbury: Perham, Casey, Averillo, Alamoti, Burns; Flanagan, Burton (C); King, Mahoney, Pangai Junior, Waddell, Preston, Faitala-Mariner. Int: Reynolds, Okunbor, Davey, Sutton.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes (C); Kaufusi, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes. Int: Graham, Williams, Hunt, Hazelton.

North Queensland Cowboys 18
Newcastle Knights 16

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Crowd: 17970
Date: Saturday 22 April 2023 at 7:35pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Reece Robson, Kyle Feldt, Tom Dearden
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (0/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (16)
Tries: Greg Marzhew, Dominic Young, Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Conversions: Lachlan Miller (2/3)

North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Hess, Gosiewski, Nanai, Granville. Int: Cotter, Chester, Taunoa-Brown, Dunn.
Newcastle: Miller, Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Frizell (C), Fitzgibbon, Mann. Int: Ponga (C), Saifiti, Croker, Hetherington.

Dolphins 28
Gold Coast Titans 26

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Crowd: 22034
Date: Sunday 23 April 2023 at 2:00pm

DOLPHINS (28)
Tries: Robert Jennings (2), Mark Nicholls, Jarrod Wallace, Euan Aitken
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (4/5)

GOLD COAST TITANS (26)
Tries: Tanah Boyd, Chris Randall, Isaac Liu, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Tanah Boyd (1/1)

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Jennings; Nikorima, Katoa; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Ese'ese, Kaufusi, Lemuelu, Gilbert. Int: Wallace, Nicholls, Stone, Donoghoe.
Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Sami, Fifita; Foran, Boyd; Fotuaika, Randall, Fa'asuamaleaui (C), Fifita, Stimson, Liu. Int: Campbell, Leeming, Clark, Mikaele.

Wests Tigers 16
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22

Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
Crowd: 10033
Date: Sunday 23 April 2023 at 4:05pm

WESTS TIGERS (16)
Tries: Charlie Staines, Apisai Koroisau, Starford To'a
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (2/3)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (22)
Tries: Daly Cherry-Evans, Haumole Olakau'atu, Jason Saab
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (2/2)

Wests Tigers: Bula, Staines, To'a, Kepaoa, Tupou; Wakeham, Brooks; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Ofahengaue, Twal, Talau, Simpkin.
Manly: Trbojevic, Saab, Parker, Harper, Garrick; Schuster, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Trbojevic, Olakau'atu, Bullemor, Aloiai. Int: Fainu, Keppie, Woods, Sipley.

Sydney Roosters 27
St George Illawarra Dragons 26

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Crowd: 40191
Date: Tuesday 25 April 2023 at 4:00pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (27)
Tries: James Tedesco, Victor Radley, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu
Field Goals: Luke Keary (1/1)
Conversions: Joseph Suaalii (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Joseph Suaalii (1/1)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (26)
Tries: Tautau Moga (3), Jack Bird, Tyrell Sloan
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/5)

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Momirovski, Paulo; Manu, Keary; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Butcher, Crichton, Radley. Int: Hutchison, Tupouniua, Lodge, Whyte.
St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Moga; Amone, Hunt (C); Molo, Mbye, Lawrie, Murdoch-Masila, Bird, De Belin. Int: Liddle, Couchman, Kerr, Hunt.

Melbourne Storm 30
Warriors 22

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Crowd: 23469
Date: Tuesday 25 April 2023 at 7:00pm

MELBOURNE STORM (30)
Tries: Cameron Munster, Justin Olam, Nick Meaney (2), Harry Grant
Conversions: Nick Meaney (5/5)

WARRIORS (22)
Tries: Jackson Ford, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2), Addin Fonua-Blake
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (3/4)

Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Sims, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Asofa-Solomona, Garlick, Pene, Wishart.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Montoya, Pompey, Kosi; Walker, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Lussick, Tevaga, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Sironen, Curran, Afoa, Ale.

Canberra Raiders had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 8

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

RLP stats leaders

Top tries

Top points

Thanks to RLP!

Match review

Broncos pair Ezra Mama and Payne Haas were both suspended for one match after 'hip drop' tackles in Friday night's win over Parramatta. Opposing forward J'maine Hopgood was fined for a similar tackle, while Murray Taulagai (Cowboys) and Aaron Woods (Manly) both received small fines for charges. Charges from Tuesday's matches are set to be reported Wednesday morning ahead of teamlist naming at 4pm that afternoon.

On Wednesday, two charges were issued for ANZAC Day games - Dylan Walker (2-3 matches) and Victor Radley ($3000-2 matches) both cited. They need a quick turnaround on their pleas (12pm).

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: Gehamat Shibasaki

Dolphins: Tesi Niu

Rabbitohs: Liam Knight, Tevita Tatola, Izaac Thompson

Canberra: Ata Mariota, Jordan Rapana

Roosters: Nat Butcher

Sea Eagles: Kelma Tuilagi, Christian Tuipulotu

Storm: Chris Lewis

Warriors: Wayde Egan

Wests Tigers: Rua Ngatikaura, Brandon Tumeth

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

14 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

12 points - Payne Haas (Broncos)

11 points - Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)

10 points - Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

9 points - Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Mitchell Moses (Eels)

8 points - AJ Brimson (Titans), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Cameron Munster (Storm), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

7 points - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Harry Grant (Storm)

6 points - Nick Meaney (Storm), James Tedesco (Roosters), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Luke Keary (Roosters)

5 points - Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Hudson Young (Raiders), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Phillip Sami (Titans), Greg Marzhew (Knights)

4 points - Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), David Fifita (Titans), William Kennedy (Sharks), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

3 points - Dane Gagai (Knights), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Sam Walker (Roosters), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles)

2 points - Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Dominic Young (Knights), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Izack Tago (Panthers), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins)

1 point - Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Tautau Moga (Dragons), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Brendan Hands (Eels), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Cory Paix (Broncos), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Leo Thompson (Knights), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Xavier Coates (Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Moses Leota (Panthers), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Edward Kosi (Warriors), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Josh Papali'i (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 8

Ratings - Round 8

Next week

NRL Round 9

BYE: Melbourne Storm

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys
Thu 27 Apr 7:50PM at PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights
Fri 28 Apr 6:00PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Brisbane Broncos v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 28 Apr 8:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Canberra Raiders v Dolphins
Sat 29 Apr 3:00PM at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga / Wiradjuri
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Gold Coast Titans
Sat 29 Apr 5:30PM at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal
Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers
Sat 29 Apr 7:35PM at Carrington Park, Bathurst / Wiradjuri

Warriors v Sydney Roosters
Sun 30 Apr 2:00PM at Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
St George Illawarra Dragons v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun 30 Apr 4:05PM at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal

Full 2023 NRL draw & results