Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 21

A full wrap of NRL Round 21, 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.

St George Illawarra Dragons 18
Wests Tigers 14

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
Crowd: 7246
Date: Thursday 20 July 2023 at 7:50pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (18)
Tries: Tyrell Sloan, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/3)

WESTS TIGERS (14)
Tries: Junior Tupou (2), Apisai Koroisau
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (1/3)

St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt (C); Molo, Liddle, Lawrie, Burns, Russell, De Belin. Int: Mbye, Molo, Couchman, Bird.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Nofoaluma, To'a, Talau, Tupou; Laurie, Wakeham; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Da Silva, Seyfarth, Twal, James.

Warriors 21
Canberra Raiders 20

Venue: Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Crowd: 19112
Date: Friday 21 July 2023 at 6:00pm

WARRIORS (21)
Tries: Marata Niukore, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Field Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1)
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Shaun Johnson (2/2)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (20)
Tries: Hudson Young, Jordan Rapana, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/4)

Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Berry, Pompey, Montoya; Metcalf, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Afoa, Walker, Sironen, Curran.
Canberra: Kris, Hopoate, Croker (C), Timoko, Rapana; Wighton, Fogarty; Papalii, Woolford, Tapine, Young, Whitehead, Horsburgh. Int: Starling, Guler, Saulo, Mariota.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 20
Brisbane Broncos 36

Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Bokarina / Kabi Kabi
Crowd: 8931
Date: Friday 21 July 2023 at 8:00pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (20)
Tries: Alex Johnston, Campbell Graham, Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Blake Taaffe (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Blake Taaffe (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (36)
Tries: Kotoni Staggs (2), Adam Reynolds, Selwyn Cobbo, Reece Walsh, Xavier Willison
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (6/6)

Souths: Taaffe, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Milne; Walker, Ilias; Burgess, Cook, Sele, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray (C). Int: Havili, Host, Duncan, Moale.
Brisbane: Walsh, Arthars, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Reynolds (C); Palasia, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Carrigan, Taupau. Int: Smoothy, Jensen, Hetherington, Willison.

Gold Coast Titans 18
Sydney Roosters 36

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh
Crowd: 15362
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023 at 3:00pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Brian Kelly, Chris Randall, Erin Clark
Conversions: Jayden Campbell (3/3)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (36)
Tries: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Egan Butcher, James Tedesco, Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher, Fletcher Baker
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (1/1)

Gold Coast: Brimson (C), Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Fifita, Sami; Foran, Boyd; Fotuaika, Verrills, Randall, Fifita, Haas, Clark. Int: Liu, Campbell, Stimson, Fa'asuamaleaui.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Smith, Manu, Sua'ali'i; Keary, Smith; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Butcher, Butcher, Brown. Int: Turpin, Wong, May, Baker.

Newcastle Knights 26
Melbourne Storm 18

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
Crowd: 20392
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023 at 5:30pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (26)
Tries: Dominic Young, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Mathew Croker
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (2/5)
Penalty Goals: Kalyn Ponga (1/1)

MELBOURNE STORM (18)
Tries: Nick Meaney, Trent Loiero, Justin Olam
Conversions: Nick Meaney (3/3)

Newcastle: Ponga (C), Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Elliott. Int: Mann, Saifiti, Hetherington, Croker.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Asofa-Solomona, King. Int: Eisenhuth, Sims, MacDonald, Garlick.

North Queensland Cowboys 24
Parramatta Eels 16

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Crowd: 20710
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023 at 7:35pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (24)
Tries: Peta Hiku, Semi Valemei (2), Scott Drinkwater
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/1)

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

North QLD: Drinkwater, Valemei, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Hess, Leilua, Nanai, Cotter. Int: Granville, Neame, Taumalolo, Finefeuiaki.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Blake, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Asi, Moses; Ogden, Hands, Paulo, Lane, Cartwright, Hopgood. Int: Moretti, Ofahengaue, Davey, Matterson.

Penrith Panthers 44
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18

Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug
Crowd: 21525
Date: Sunday 23 July 2023 at 2:00pm

PENRITH PANTHERS (44)
Tries: Tyrone Peachey (2), Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o (2), Stephen Crichton, Scott Sorensen, Luke Garner
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (6/8)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Paul Alamoti, Jake Averillo, Jeral Skelton
Conversions: Matt Burton (3/3)

Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Peachey, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Martin, Yeo. Int: Luke, Smith, Leniu, Garner.
Canterbury: Perham, Wilson, Kiraz, Alamoti, Skelton; Burton (C), Averillo; King, Flanagan, Faitala-Mariner, Pangai Junior, Okunbor, Waddell. Int: Mahoney, Edwards, Morrin, Hughes.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30

Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal
Crowd: 10634
Date: Sunday 23 July 2023 at 4:05pm

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (26)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sione Katoa, Cameron McInnes, Jesse Ramien, William Kennedy
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (3/5)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Josh Aloiai, Reuben Garrick, Lachlan Croker, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula (2)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/6)

Cronulla: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Tracey, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Kaufusi, Brailey, Rudolf, Nikora, Colquhoun, Finucane (C). Int: McInnes, Williams, Hazelton, Hunt.
Manly: Garrick, Saab, Parker, Koula, Tuipulotu; Schuster, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Aloiai, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Trbojevic. Int: Matterson, Woods, Keppie, Lodge.

Dolphins had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 21

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

Twelve players have been hit with thirteen charges across the first six games of the round. Tariq Sims (Storm), Jesse Arthars and Martin Taupau (Broncos) are facing suspensions, with Sims facing a second charge attracting a fine. The remaining nine players should avoid suspension with fines.

Two NRLW players are facing suspension from the first three games of Round 1 as well.

From Sunday's matches, Cronulla's Jesse Colquhoun was the only player facing suspension out of four charges.

By Monday afternoon all players charged from the first six matches entered early pleas, with Taupau (3 games), Sims (2 games) and Arthars (1 game) all accepting suspensions with the others all receiving fines. The four players charged Sunday have until Tuesday to enter pleas. The four remaining players entered early pleas on Tuesday with Colquhoun accepting a one game ban.

Click here to find out the details on each and every charge.

Who could be back?

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

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

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

31 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

22 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)

20 points - Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

19 points - Payne Haas (Broncos), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Reece Walsh (Broncos/Maroons)

17 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Kalyn Ponga (Knights). Cody Walker (Rabbitohs/Blues)

16 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons), Adam Reynolds (Broncos)

15 points - Cameron Munster (Storm)

14 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

13 points - David Fifita (Titans), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

12 points - Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

11 points - Hudson Young (Raiders), AJ Brimson (Titans)

10 points - Harry Grant (Storm), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Izack Tago (Panthers)

9 points - Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys/Maroons)

8 points - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), William Kennedy (Sharks), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins)

7 points - Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Dylan Brown (Eels), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)

6 points - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Luke Keary (Roosters), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Nick Meaney (Storm), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Bradman Best (Knights/Blues), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys/Maroons)

5 points - Brian To'o (Panthers), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Kieran Foran (Titans), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Phillip Sami (Titans), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys/Maroons)

4 points - Egan Butcher (Roosters), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Xavier Coates (Storm), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), William Warbrick (Storm), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Lindsay Collins (Roosters/Maroons)

3 points - Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Viliami Penisini (Eels), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Phoenix Crossland (Knights), Tevita Pangai Junior (Bulldogs), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Dane Gagai (Knights), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Dominic Young (Knights), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Sam Walker (Roosters), Matt Moylan (Sharks)

2 points - Connor Tracey (Sharks), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Cameron McInnes (Sharks), Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Moses Leota (Panthers), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Junior Paulo (Eels), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Braidon Burns (Bulldogs), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs)

1 point - Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Knights), Jayden Brailey (Knights), Albert Hopoate (Raiders), Dale Finucane (Sharks), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Tyrone Munro (Rabbitohs), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles), Brendan Piakura (Broncos), Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Chris Randall (Titans), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs), Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Cory Paix (Broncos), Edward Kosi (Warriors), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Brendan Hands (Eels), Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Tautau Moga (Dragons), Freddy Lussick (Warriors), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Semi Valemei (Raiders), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Mason Teague (Dolphins), Lindsay Smith (Panthers), Josh King (Storm), Junior Pauga (Roosters), Josh Curran (Warriors), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Wiremu Greig (Eels), Leo Thompson (Knights), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Liam Martin (Panthers/Blues)

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 21

Round Total: 123,912 / Average per game 15,489

Season Total: 2,824,196 / Average per match: 18,104

Ratings - Round 21

Ratings data TBC

NRL Round 22

NOTE: Due to FIFA Women's World Cup stadium requirements, AAMI Park, Allianz Stadium and Suncorp Stadium, among other venues, are unavailable until late July.

Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters
Thu 27 Jul 7:50PM at The Gabba, Brisbane / Yuggera-Turrbal

Wests Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Fri 28 Jul 6:00PM at Scully Park, Tamworth / Kamilaroi
Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels
Fri 28 Jul 8:00PM at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights
Sat 29 Jul 3:00PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
St George Illawarra Dragons v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 29 Jul 5:30PM at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
Penrith Panthers v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sat 29 Jul 7:35PM at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Dolphins
Sun 30 Jul 2:00PM at Salter Oval, Bundaberg / Gurang
Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys
Sun 30 Jul 4:05PM at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

BYE: Warriors

Full 2023 NRL draw & results