Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 12

A full wrap of NRL Round 12 - Indigenous Round - 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.

Brisbane Broncos 4
Penrith Panthers 15

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Crowd: 33343
Date: Thursday 18 May 2023 at 7:50pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (4)
Tries: Selwyn Cobbo
Conversions: Kotoni Staggs (0/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (15)
Tries: Sunia Turuva, Nathan Cleary
Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (1/1)
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Nathan Cleary (1/1)

Brisbane: Walsh, Arthars, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Madden; Flegler, Walters, Haas, Capewell (C), Riki, Carrigan. Int: Paix, Jensen, Hetherington, Taupau.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Peachey, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Hosking, Yeo. Int: Luke, Smith, Martin, Salmon.

St George Illawarra Dragons 24
Sydney Roosters 22

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
Crowd: 9007
Date: Friday 19 May 2023 at 6:00pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (24)
Tries: Moses Suli, Ben Hunt, Jaydn Su'A, Mathew Feagai
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (22)
Tries: James Tedesco (2), Luke Keary (2)
Conversions: Joseph Suaalii (3/4)

St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt (C); De Belin, Liddle, Lawrie, Murdoch-Masila, Su'A, Molo. Int: Sullivan, Couchman, Kerr, Hunt.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Allan, Sua'ali'i, Smith, Paulo; Keary, Hutchison; Lodge, Turpin, Collins, Butcher, Tupouniua, Radley. Int: Smith, Butcher, Crichton, Brown.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Parramatta Eels 36

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Crowd: 27432
Date: Friday 19 May 2023 at 8:00pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Alex Johnston (2), Campbell Graham
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (2/3)

PARRAMATTA EELS (36)
Tries: Sean Russell, Bailey Simonsson (2), Bryce Cartwright, Dylan Brown, Viliami Penisini
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (6/6)

Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Milne; Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Sele, Chee-Kam, Arrow, Murray (C). Int: Host, Taaffe, Knight, Suluka-Fifita.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Brown, Moses; Greig, Hodgson, Paulo, Cartwright, Davey, Hopgood. Int: Ogden, Hands, Matterson, Makatoa.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26
Newcastle Knights 6

Venue: C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour / Gumbaynggirr
Crowd: 10156
Date: Saturday 20 May 2023 at 3:00pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (26)
Tries: William Kennedy, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Connor Tracey, Royce Hunt
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (6)
Tries: Kalyn Ponga
Conversions: Lachlan Miller (1/1)

Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Tracey, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Kaufusi, Brailey, Hunt, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: Williams, Graham, Hazelton, Hamlin-Uele.
Newcastle: Miller, Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Ponga (C), Hastings; Saifiti, Crossland, Hetherington, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Thompson. Int: Gamble, Saifiti, Elliott, Croker.

Wests Tigers 66
North Queensland Cowboys 18

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal
Crowd: 12247
Date: Saturday 20 May 2023 at 5:30pm

WESTS TIGERS (66)
Tries: Stefano Utoikamanu, Junior Tupou (2), David Nofoaluma (2), Jahream Bula, Fonua Pole, Starford To'a (2), Joe Ofahengaue, John Bateman
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (8/8), Luke Brooks (1/1), Apisai Koroisau (2/2)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Kyle Feldt, Luciano Leilua, Reuben Cotter
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)

Wests Tigers: Bula, Nofoaluma, To'a, Talau, Tupou; Wakeham, Brooks; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Ofahengaue. Int: Pole, Simpkin, Twal, Kepaoa.
North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Hess, Luki, Leilua, Cotter. Int: Gosiewski, Granville, Dunn, Finefeuiaki.

Dolphins 16
Melbourne Storm 24

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Crowd: 28325
Date: Saturday 20 May 2023 at 7:35pm

DOLPHINS (16)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako (2), Kodi Nikorima
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (2/3)

MELBOURNE STORM (24)
Tries: William Warbrick, Cameron Munster, Eliesa Katoa, Reimis Smith
Conversions: Nick Meaney (4/4)

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Aitken, Lee, Niu; Nikorima, Katoa; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Bromwich, Kaufusi, Lemuelu, Gilbert. Int: Wallace, Milford, Stone, Ese'ese.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Asofa-Solomona, Garlick, Pene, Anderson.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
Gold Coast Titans 18

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Crowd: 10815
Date: Sunday 21 May 2023 at 2:00pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (20)
Tries: Jake Averillo, Josh Addo-Carr, Jacob Kiraz, Jayden Okunbor
Conversions: Matt Burton (2/4)

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: David Fifita, Joe Stimson, Phillip Sami
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Tanah Boyd (1/1)

Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Addo-Carr; Oloapu, Burton (C); King, Mahoney, Pangai Junior, Waddell, Preston, Hughes. Int: Edwards, Okunbor, Wilson, Morrin.
Gold Coast: Campbell, Fifita, Kelly, Schoupp, Sami; Foran, Boyd; Fotuaika, Randall, Fa'asuamaleaui (C), Fifita, Stimson, Liu. Int: Leeming, Clark, Haas, Vuna.

Canberra Raiders 14
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 42

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
Crowd: 14730
Date: Sunday 21 May 2023 at 4:05pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (14)
Tries: Elliott Whitehead, Ata Mariota
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (42)
Tries: Tom Trbojevic (3), Reuben Garrick, Brad Parker, Josh Schuster, Jason Saab, Ben Condon
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (5/8)

Canberra: Kris, Hopoate, Croker (C), Timoko, Rapana; Wighton, Fogarty; Papalii, Levi, Tapine, Young, Whitehead, Horsburgh. Int: Starling, Guler, Saulo, Mariota.
Manly: Trbojevic, Saab, Parker, Koula, Garrick; Schuster, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Keppie, Olakau'atu, Trbojevic, Trbojevic. Int: Lawton, Fainu, Bullemor, Condon.

Warriors had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 12

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

RLP stats leaders

Top tries

Top points

Thanks to Rugby League Project

Match review

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins) is facing another long suspension after a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle, and Radley is looking at a similar suspension for striking. Three other players were fined across the first six games.

On Monday, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui escaped suspension with a Grade 1 charge attracting a fine, while Canberra's Elliott Whitehead was charged for two separate incidents in the last ten minutes of his side's loss to Manly.

By Monday evening, all players bar Whitehead had entered early pleas - Radley and Kaufusi suspended 3 games and the others accepting fines. Whitehead's plea is due by 12pm Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Canberra confirmed Whitehead would enter a 'no contest' plea to one charge and an early plea for the other. This will see him miss 2 matches and cop a $3000 fine.

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.

Brisbane's Corey Oates (knee) and Adam Reynolds (head)

North Queensland Jason Taumalolo (knee) and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (head)

Dolphins pair Jack Bostock (nose), Mark Nicholls (thumb)

St George Illawarra winger Tautau Moga (shoulder)

South Sydney back rower Jed Cartwright (head)

Canberra trio Nick Cotric (hamstring), Matt Frawley (hand) and Zac Woolford (head)

Manly's Cooper Johns (ankle) and Toff Sipley (return from suspension)

Warriors trio Jackson Ford (head), Ronald Volkman (finger) and Brayden Wiliame (calf)

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

17 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

15 points - Payne Haas (Broncos)

14 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels)

13 points - Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)

11 points - Cameron Munster (Storm), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Dylan Edwards (Panthers)

10 points - Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Reece Walsh (Broncos)

9 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

8 points - David Fifita (Titans), AJ Brimson (Titans), Hudson Young (Raiders), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins)

7 points - Briton Nikora (Sharks), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Harry Grant (Storm), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), William Kennedy (Sharks), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)

6 points - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Nick Meaney (Storm), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Luke Keary (Roosters), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

5 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Phillip Sami (Titans), Dylan Brown (Eels)

4 points - Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

3 points - Dane Gagai (Knights), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Sam Walker (Roosters), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Kieran Foran (Titans), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)

2 points - Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Braidon Burns (Bulldogs), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Dominic Young (Knights), Izack Tago (Panthers)

1 point - Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Xavier Coates (Storm), Freddy Lussick (Warriors), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Joseph Manu (Roosters), William Warbrick (Storm), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins), Moses Leota (Panthers), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Cory Paix (Broncos), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Brendan Hands (Eels), Tautau Moga (Dragons), Edward Kosi (Warriors), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Leo Thompson (Knights), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), 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 12

Round Total: 146,055 / Average per game 18,257

Season Total: 1,798,454 / Average per match: 18,734

Ratings - Round 12

Next week

NRL Round 13

BYES: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Gold Coast Titans, Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers

Dolphins v St George Illawarra Dragons
Thu 25 May 7:50PM at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe / Kabi Kabi

Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
Fri 26 May 8:00PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
Sat 27 May 5:30PM at McLean Park, Napier / Aotearoa
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders
Sat 27 May 7:35PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Newcastle Knights v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sun 28 May 4:05PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

Full 2023 NRL draw & results