Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 23

A full wrap of NRL Round 23, 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.

Sydney Roosters 26
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park / Gadigal
Crowd: 12197
Date: Thursday 3 August 2023 at 7:50pm

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (26)
Tries: Daniel Tupou (2), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Joseph Manu, Billy Smith
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (3/5)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (16)
Tries: Josh Schuster, Brad Parker, Tolutau Koula
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Smith, Manu, Sua'ali'i; Keary, Hutchison; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Wong, Butcher, Radley. Int: Smith, Brown, May, Baker.
Manly: Garrick, Saab, Parker, Koula, Tuaimalo Vaega; Schuster, Cherry-Evans (C); Sipley, Croker, Lodge, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Trbojevic. Int: Trbojevic, Woods, Matterson, Bullemor.

Gold Coast Titans 18
Warriors 28

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh
Crowd: 20877
Date: Friday 4 August 2023 at 6:00pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: David Fifita, Joe Stimson, Jayden Campbell
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (2/2), Jayden Campbell (1/1)

WARRIORS (28)
Tries: Shaun Johnson (2), Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (4/5)

Gold Coast: Campbell, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Schoupp, Sami; Foran (C), Boyd; Fotuaika, Randall, Liu, Fifita, Stimson, Clark. Int: Verrills, Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui, Kini.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Berry, Pompey, Montoya; Metcalf, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Sironen, Curran, Tevaga, Tuaupiki.

Penrith Panthers 26
Melbourne Storm 6

Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug
Crowd: 19953
Date: Friday 4 August 2023 at 8:00pm

PENRITH PANTHERS (26)
Tries: Brian To'o (2), Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Nathan Cleary (2/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (6)
Tries: Young Tonumaipea
Conversions: Nick Meaney (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Nick Meaney (1/1)

Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Hosking, Crichton, To'o; Luai, Cleary (C); Smith, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Martin, Yeo. Int: Leota, Luke, Eisenhuth, Salmon.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Seve, Tonumaipea, Jennings; Munster, Pezet; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Eisenhuth, King. Int: Asofa-Solomona, Moeroa, Katoa, Wishart.

North Queensland Cowboys 14
Brisbane Broncos 30

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Crowd: 22659
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 3:00pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (14)
Tries: Kyle Feldt (2), Heilum Luki
Conversions: Chad Townsend (0/3)
Penalty Goals: Chad Townsend (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (30)
Tries: Jesse Arthars, Patrick Carrigan, Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo
Conversions: Kotoni Staggs (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Kotoni Staggs (1/1)

North QLD: Drinkwater, Valemei, Feldt, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Leilua, Hess, Cotter. Int: Granville, Neame, Luki, Taunoa-Brown.
Brisbane: Walsh, Arthars, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Mam, Madden; Flegler, Walters, Haas, Capewell (C), Piakura, Carrigan. Int: Smoothy, Jensen, Palasia, Willison.

Dolphins 28
Newcastle Knights 30

Venue: Optus Stadium, Burswood / Whadjuk
Crowd: 42042
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 5:30pm

DOLPHINS (28)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako (3), Valynce Te Whare, Connelly Lemuelu
Field Goals: Sean O'Sullivan (0/1)
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (1/3), Sean O'Sullivan (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (30)
Tries: Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann, Jackson Hastings, Phoenix Crossland, Greg Marzhew
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (5/5)

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Nikorima, Te Whare, Niu; Katoa, O'Sullivan; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Nicholls, Kaufusi, Lemuelu, Bromwich. Int: Milford, Ese'ese, Kerr, Wallace.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Elliott. Int: Mann, Jones, Hetherington, Croker.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26

Venue: Optus Stadium, Burswood / Whadjuk
Crowd: 45814
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 7:35pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Alex Johnston, Lachlan Ilias, Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (2/3)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (26)
Tries: Mawene Hiroti, Sione Katoa, Braydon Trindall, Siosifa Talakai
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

Souths: Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Munro; Walker, Ilias; Arrow, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Chee-Kam, Murray (C). Int: Moale, Havili, Cartwright, Duncan.
Cronulla: Tracey, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Hiroti; Trindall, Hynes; Hamlin-Uele, Brailey, Rudolf, Nikora, Graham (C), McInnes. Int: Williams, Hazelton, Hunt, Colquhoun.

Parramatta Eels 26
St George Illawarra Dragons 20

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Crowd: 23596
Date: Sunday 6 August 2023 at 2:00pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (26)
Tries: Arthur Miller-Stephen, Bryce Cartwright (2), Sean Russell, Junior Paulo
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (3/5)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (20)
Tries: Mikaele Ravalawa (4)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (2/4)

Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Miller-Stephen, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Brown, Moses; Ofahengaue, Lussick, Paulo, Matterson, Cartwright, Hopgood. Int: Moretti, Davey, Greig, Makatoa.
St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Bird, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt (C); Molo, Liddle, Lawrie, Burns, Russell, Molo. Int: Muhleisen, Musgrove, Couchman, Murdoch-Masila.

Canberra Raiders 22
Wests Tigers 18

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
Crowd: 12841
Date: Sunday 6 August 2023 at 4:05pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (22)
Tries: Sebastian Kris (2), Hudson Young, Matthew Timoko
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (3/4)

WESTS TIGERS (18)
Tries: Charlie Staines, David Nofoaluma, Luke Brooks
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (3/3)

Canberra: Rapana, Hopoate, Kris, Timoko, Cotric; Wighton, Fogarty; Papalii, Woolford, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Horsburgh. Int: Trevilyan, Guler, Saulo, Mariota.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Nofoaluma, To'a, Tupou, Staines; Laurie, Brooks; Twal, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Simpkin, Matamua, James, Seyfarth.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 23

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

A controversial weekend.

Sent off pair Nathan Brown (Roosters, Thursday) and Mo Fotuaika (Titans, Friday) are both looking at a week on the sidelines; Penrith's Jarome Luai will escape suspension with a fine for a hitting on Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jake Granville (Cowboys) and Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Knights) are both looking at fines too, while Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess is going to be sidelined for 3-4 games.

Sunday's action saw three further players charged, with Jack Wighton (Raiders), Blake Lawrie and Ryan Couchman (Dragons) all looking at monetary penalties.

Three players were charged across NRLW Round 3, with Cronulla's Vanessa Foliaki likely to escape suspension, Newcastle forward Caitlan Johnston set to miss one game, and Parramatta's Kennedy Cherrington referred to the judiciary for a dangerous throw on Laishon Albert-Jones.

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

34 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

23 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

22 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

21 points - Payne Haas (Broncos), Reece Walsh (Broncos/Maroons)

19 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

17 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs/Blues)

16 points - Cameron Munster (Storm), Ben Hunt (Dragons)

14 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels)

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

12 points - Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Matt Burton (Bulldogs)

11 points - Hudson Young (Raiders), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), AJ Brimson (Titans)

10 points - Izack Tago (Panthers), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders)

9 points - Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys/Maroons)

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

7 points - Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Dylan Brown (Eels), Kieran Foran (Titans), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles)

6 points - Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Brian To'o (Panthers), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Luke Keary (Roosters), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Nick Meaney (Storm), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys/Maroons), Bradman Best (Knights/Blues)

5 points - Jackson Hastings (Knights), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Dane Gagai (Knights), Phillip Sami (Titans), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys/Maroons)

4 points - Xavier Coates (Storm), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Egan Butcher (Roosters), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), William Warbrick (Storm), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Lindsay Collins (Roosters/Maroons)

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

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

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

Metrics Metrics Metrics

Each week we'll also do our best to keep you across the crowd figures which are often the most talked-about parts of the game.

Crowds - Round 23

Note: a crowd figure was provided officially for Dolphins v Newcastle of 42,042.
Our per game average only counts the overall double header crowd of 45,814 as two games.

Round Total: 157,937 / Average per game 19,742

Season Total: 3,107,555 / Average per match: 18,067

NRL Round 24

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.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers
Thu 10 Aug 7:50PM at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Gold Coast Titans
Fri 11 Aug 6:00PM at PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal
Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels
Fri 11 Aug 8:00PM at The Gabba, Brisbane / Yuggera-Turrbal

South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sat 12 Aug 3:00PM at Barlow Park, Cairns / Yidinji
Wests Tigers v Warriors
Sat 12 Aug 5:30PM at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton / Aotearoa
Sydney Roosters v Dolphins
Sat 12 Aug 7:35PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
Sun 13 Aug 2:00PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Newcastle Knights v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun 13 Aug 4:05PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

BYE: North Queensland Cowboys

Full 2023 NRL draw & results