Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 16

NRL24

A full wrap of NRL Round 16, 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.


North Queensland Cowboys 27
Penrith Panthers 23

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Crowd: 17277
Date: Friday 16 June 2023 at 8:00pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (27)
Tries: Scott Drinkwater (2), Tom Dearden, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Kyle Feldt
Field Goals: Chad Townsend (1/2)
Two Point Field Goals: Chad Townsend (0/1)
Conversions: Chad Townsend (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Kyle Feldt (0/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (23)
Tries: Izack Tago (2), Jaeman Salmon, Thomas Jenkins
Field Goals: Jack Cogger (1/3), Dylan Edwards (0/1)
Conversions: Jack Cogger (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Jack Cogger (1/1)

North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Laybutt, Hiku, Valemei; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Granville, Hess, Leilua, Luki, Taunoa-Brown. Int: Taumalolo, McIntyre, Neame, Finefeuiaki.
Penrith: Edwards (C), Turuva, Tago, Peachey, Jenkins; Salmon, Cogger; Leniu, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Hosking, Eisenhuth. Int: Luke, Smith, Garner, Henry.


Newcastle Knights 16
Sydney Roosters 18

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
Crowd: 21966
Date: Saturday 17 June 2023 at 3:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (16)
Tries: Bradman Best, Dominic Young (2)
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (2/3)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Nat Butcher, Joseph Manu, Daniel Tupou
Conversions: Luke Keary (2/2), Sandon Smith (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Sandon Smith (1/1)

Newcastle: Ponga (C), Young, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Lucas, Fitzgibbon, Elliott. Int: Mann, Hetherington, Croker, Jones.
Sydney: Manu, Tupou, Allan, Smith, Pauga; Keary (C), Smith; Waerea-Hargreaves, Turpin, Butcher, Butcher, Tupouniua, Whyte. Int: Hutchison, Brown, May, Crichton.


Parramatta Eels 34
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Crowd: 21296
Date: Saturday 17 June 2023 at 5:30pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (34)
Tries: Ofahiki Ogden, Clinton Gutherson, Bailey Simonsson (2), J'maine Hopgood, Makahesi Makatoa
Conversions: Clinton Gutherson (5/6)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (4)
Tries: Christian Tuipulotu
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (0/1)

Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Matterson, Asi; Campbell-Gillard, Hands, Ogden, Cartwright, Davey, Hopgood. Int: Moretti, Ofahengaue, Doorey, Makatoa.
Manly: Weekes, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Tuipulotu; Schuster, Arthur; Paseka, Croker (C), Sipley, Olakau'atu, Bullemor, Keppie. Int: Fainu, Lawton, Aloiai, Woods.


Wests Tigers 6
Melbourne Storm 28

Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
Crowd: 8517
Date: Saturday 17 June 2023 at 7:35pm

WESTS TIGERS (6)
Tries: Alex Twal
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (1/1)

MELBOURNE STORM (28)
Tries: William Warbrick (4), Tyran Wishart, Kane Bradley
Conversions: Nick Meaney (2/6)

Wests Tigers: Bula, Nofoaluma, Naden, Kepaoa, Tupou; To'a, Wakeham; Pole, Simpkin, Klemmer, Papali'i, Blore, Bateman (C). Int: Da Silva, Twal, Seyfarth.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Seve, Jennings; Pezet, Hughes (C); Kamikamica, Garlick, Asofa-Solomona, Loiero, Eisenhuth, King. Int: Sims, Wishart, Pene, Bradley.


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 48
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10

Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal
Crowd: 11901
Date: Sunday 18 June 2023 at 4:05pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (48)
Tries: Teig Wilton, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Cameron McInnes, Jack Williams, Thomas Hazelton, Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (7/8)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (10)
Tries: Kyle Flanagan, Kurtis Morrin
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (1/2)

Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Kaufusi, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Graham, Williams, Hazelton.
Canterbury: Perham, Kiraz, Averillo, Alamoti, Burns; Oloapu, Flanagan; Patolo, Mahoney (C), Pangai Junior, Okunbor, Preston, Morrin. Int: Rajab, King, Waddell, Pele.


Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans, Dolphins, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Warriors had a bye this round.


Ladder after Round 16

#TeamPWDLB+/-Pts
1Brisbane15110419324
2Penrith14905216722
3Melbourne1490526522
4Souths1590619920
5Cronulla1480627420
6Warriors1480623420
7Canberra148062-7120
8Parramatta15807110418
9Gold Coast136073-3318
10Dolphins147072-4718
11Sydney147072-8818
12Manly146172-817
13North Qld157081-6116
14Newcastle145182-3215
15St Geo Illa1440102-6112
16Canterbury1550101-15412
17Wests Tigers1430112-8110

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


RLP stats leaders

Top tries

RankPlayerTeamPT
1Maika SIVOPAR1516
Dominic YOUNGNEW1316
3Campbell GRAHAMSOU1414
Jamayne ISAAKODOL1414
5Clinton GUTHERSONPAR1513
Alofiana KHAN-PEREIRAGLD1213
Ronaldo MULITALOCRO1413

Top points

RankPlayerTeamPTGFGPts
1Jamayne ISAAKODOL141448-152
2Nick MEANEYMEL13849-130
3Reuben GARRICKMAN13945-126
4Mitchell MOSESPAR135502122
5Latrell MITCHELLSOU129411119

Thanks to Rugby League Project.


Match review

No players were charged in Round 16 of the NRL Premiership.


Who could be back?

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

Dolphins: Felise Kaufusi & Sean O'Sullivan

Dragons: Jack Bird & Jack de Belin

Knights: Daniel Saifiti

Panthers: Moses Leota

Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell & Cam Murray

Raiders: Trey Mooney

Roosters: Victor Radley

Storm: Christian Welch

Titans: David Fifita & Kieran Foran

Warriors: Rocco Berry, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin & Dylan Walker


LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

23 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

19 points - Payne Haas (Broncos), Mitchell Moses (Eels)

17 points - Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

16 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons)

15 points - Reece Walsh (Broncos)

13 points - Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Cameron Munster (Storm), Adam Reynolds (Broncos)

12 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

11 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), AJ Brimson (Titans), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

10 points - Harry Grant (Storm), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

9 points - Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

8 points - David Fifita (Titans), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), William Kennedy (Sharks), Hudson Young (Raiders), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs)

7 points - Dylan Brown (Eels), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)

6 points - Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Luke Keary (Roosters), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Nick Meaney (Storm), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers)

5 points - Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Phillip Sami (Titans), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys/Maroons)

4 points - William Warbrick (Storm), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)

3 points - Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Sam Walker (Roosters), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Dane Gagai (Knights), Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Kieran Foran (Titans), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys/Maroons)

2 points - Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Egan Butcher (Roosters), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Braidon Burns (Bulldogs), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Tevita Pangai Junior (Bulldogs), Bradman Best (Knights), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Izack Tago (Panthers), Dominic Young (Knights), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles)

1 point - Mason Teague (Dolphins), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Junior Pauga (Roosters), Josh Curran (Warriors), Wiremu Greig (Eels), Lindsay Smith (Panthers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Dale Finucane (Sharks), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Leo Thompson (Knights), Josh King (Storm), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Semi Valemei (Raiders), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs), Xavier Coates (Storm), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Brendan Hands (Eels), Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Tautau Moga (Dragons), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Cory Paix (Broncos), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Moses Leota (Panthers), Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Edward Kosi (Warriors), Freddy Lussick (Warriors), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Liam Martin (Blues/Panthers)


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 16

Fri 8:00pmNQL v PENQLD C.B.17,277
Sat 3:00pmNEW v SYDMcD Jones21,966
Sat 5:30pmPAR v MANCommBank21,296
Sat 7:35pmWST v MELC'town8,517
Sun 4:05pmCRO v CBYPointsbet11,901

Round Total: 80,957 / Average per game 16,191

Season Total: 2,250,376 / Average per match: 18,598

Ratings - Round 16

--NINEFOXTotal
TimeslotMatch000s000s000s
Fri 8:00pmNQL v PEN527463990
Sat 3:00pmNEW v SYD-339339
Sat 5:30pmPAR v MAN-446446
Sat 7:35pmWST v MEL-480480
Sun 4:05pmCRO v CBY424410834
-Totals95121553106

NRL Round 17

BYE: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Wests Tigers

St George Illawarra Dragons v Warriors
Fri 23 Jun 8:00PM at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal

Dolphins v Parramatta Eels
Sat 24 Jun 3:00PM at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Bokarina / Kabi Kabi
Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights
Sat 24 Jun 5:30PM at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug
Melbourne Storm v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 24 Jun 7:35PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 25 Jun 2:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys
Sun 25 Jun 4:05PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
Sun 25 Jun 6:15PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Full 2023 NRL draw & results