Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Round 25

A full wrap of NRL Round 25, 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 12
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 32

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Crowd: 17318
Date: Thursday 17 August 2023 at 7:50pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (12)
Tries: Scott Drinkwater, Semi Valemei
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (2/2)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (32)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, Nicho Hynes, Thomas Hazelton, Royce Hunt, Wade Graham
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Taulagi, Hiku, Valemei; Dearden, Townsend (C); McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Leilua, Nanai, Cotter. Int: Granville, Hess, Luki, Neame.
Cronulla: Tracey, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Graham (C), McInnes. Int: Williams, Hunt, Hazelton, Moylan.

Warriors 29
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22

Venue: Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Crowd: 24112
Date: Friday 18 August 2023 at 6:00pm

WARRIORS (29)
Tries: Tohu Harris, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (3), Marata Niukore
Field Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Pompey (4/5)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (22)
Tries: Jakob Arthur, Jason Saab (3)
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (0/1)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (0/1)

Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Berry, Pompey, Montoya; Metcalf, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Afoa, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Sironen, Curran, Lussick.
Manly: Garrick, Saab, Koula, Harper, Tuaimalo Vaega; Arthur, Cherry-Evans (C); Sipley, Croker, Keppie, Olakau'atu, Tuilagi, Trbojevic. Int: Schuster, Matterson, Woods, Bullemor.

Parramatta Eels 12
Sydney Roosters 34

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Crowd: 20076
Date: Friday 18 August 2023 at 8:00pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (12)
Tries: Bryce Cartwright, Clinton Gutherson
Conversions: Clinton Gutherson (2/2)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (34)
Tries: James Tedesco (2), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2), Siua Wong, Nat Butcher
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (5/6)

Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Asi, Brown; Campbell-Gillard, Lussick, Paulo, Hopgood, Cartwright, Ofahengaue. Int: Moretti, Matterson, Greig, Hands.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Smith, Manu, Sua'ali'i; Keary, Hutchison; Baker, Smith, Collins, Wong, Butcher, Radley. Int: Smith, May, Crichton, Napa.

Wests Tigers 24
Dolphins 23

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Crowd: 9245
Date: Saturday 19 August 2023 at 3:00pm

WESTS TIGERS (24)
Tries: Fonua Pole, Asu Kepaoa, Alex Seyfarth, Jake Simpkin
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Apisai Koroisau (1/1)

DOLPHINS (23)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako, Euan Aitken, Jack Bostock, Trai Fuller
Field Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (1/1)

Wests Tigers: Bula, Nofoaluma, Reilly, Kepaoa, Tupou; Laurie, Koroisau (C); Utoikamanu, Simpkin, Twal, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Klemmer, Seyfarth, Blore, Matamua.
Dolphins: Nikorima, Isaako, Bostock, Jennings, Niu; Katoa, O'Sullivan; Bromwich (C), Graham, Ese'ese, Kaufusi, Aitken, Nicholls. Int: Collins, Kerr, Wallace, Fuller.

Gold Coast Titans 14
Penrith Panthers 40

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh
Crowd: 19101
Date: Saturday 19 August 2023 at 5:30pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (14)
Tries: Klese Haas, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, David Fifita
Conversions: Jayden Campbell (1/3)

PENRITH PANTHERS (40)
Tries: Dylan Edwards (2), Isaah Yeo, Tyrone Peachey, Thomas Jenkins, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (6/7)

Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Schoupp, Sami; Campbell, Weaver; Fotuaika, Randall, Liu, Fifita, Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui (C). Int: Jolliffe, Leeming, Stimson, Alick.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Peachey, Crichton, Jenkins; Luai, Cleary (C); Leota, Cogger, Fisher-Harris, Hosking, Martin, Yeo. Int: Luke, Smith, Garner, Leniu.

St George Illawarra Dragons 28
Melbourne Storm 38

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
Crowd: 8326
Date: Saturday 19 August 2023 at 7:35pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (28)
Tries: Billy Burns (2), Tyrell Sloan, Talatau Amone, Mikaele Ravalawa
Conversions: Ben Hunt (4/5)

MELBOURNE STORM (38)
Tries: William Warbrick (3), Xavier Coates, Eliesa Katoa (2), Jahrome Hughes
Conversions: Nick Meaney (4/7)
Penalty Goals: Nick Meaney (1/1)

St George Illawarra: Sloan, Feagai, Suli, Feagai, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt (C); Molo, Muhleisen, Lawrie, Burns, Russell, Molo. Int: Liddle, Couchman, Murdoch-Masila, Musgrove.
Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Seve, Tonumaipea, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Kamikamica, Grant, Welch (C), Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Garlick, Eisenhuth, Moeroa, Asofa-Solomona.

Newcastle Knights 29
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
Crowd: 29018
Date: Sunday 20 August 2023 at 2:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (29)
Tries: Greg Marzhew (3), Daniel Saifiti, Adam Clune, Bradman Best
Field Goals: Adam Clune (1/1)
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (2/6)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (10)
Tries: Damien Cook, Shaquai Mitchell
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (1/2)

Newcastle: Ponga (C), Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Clune; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Elliott. Int: Mann, Saifiti, Hetherington, Croker.
Souths: L. Mitchell, Johnston, Tass, Graham, Milne; Walker, Ilias; Arrow, Cook, S. Mitchell, Koloamatangi, Host, Murray (C). Int: Duncan, Havili, Sele, Tatola.

Canberra Raiders 36
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
Crowd: 12402
Date: Sunday 20 August 2023 at 4:05pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (36)
Tries: Matthew Timoko (2), Jarrod Croker, Nick Cotric, Jordan Rapana, Josh Papali'i
Field Goals: Jamal Fogarty (0/1)
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (6/6)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (24)
Tries: Blake Wilson, Jacob Kiraz, Toby Sexton, Liam Knight
Conversions: Matt Burton (4/4)

Canberra: Rapana, Hopoate, Croker, Timoko, Cotric; Frawley, Fogarty; Guler, Woolford, Tapine, Young, Whitehead (C), Horsburgh. Int: Papalii, Starling, Schiller, Mariota.
Canterbury: Averillo, Wilson, Kiraz, Burns, Addo-Carr; Burton (C), Sexton; Thompson, Mahoney, Knight, Kikau, Waddell, Edwards. Int: King, Flanagan, Pangai Junior, Okunbor.

Brisbane Broncos had a bye this round.

Ladder after Round 25

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

Four players have been fined through the opening six games of the NRL round, while one NRLW player was charged from Saturday's matches.

From Sunday's matches, Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs) is set to miss Round 27 following his side's bye next round, after being hit with a Grade 2 charge. Two players were fined in the Raiders v Bulldogs match, while no NRLW players were charged following Sunday's two matches.

All players charged up to Saturday, as well as Canberra's Jordan Rapana, had taken the early plea by Monday afternoon, all receiving fines. The sole NRLW player charged accepted a warning. By Tuesday, Mitchell accepted a one-game ban and Burton accepted an $1800 fine.

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

36 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

26 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

25 points - Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

22 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Reece Walsh (Broncos/Maroons)

21 points - Payne Haas (Broncos)

20 points - James Tedesco (Roosters)

19 points - Cameron Munster (Storm), Mitchell Moses (Eels)

18 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

17 point - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs/Blues)

16 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons), Dylan Edwards (Panthers)

14 points - Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Clinton Gutherson (Eels)

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

12 points - Isaah Yeo (Panthers), AJ Brimson (Titans), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers)

11 points - Hudson Young (Raiders)

10 points - Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Izack Tago (Panthers)

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

8 points - Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), William Kennedy (Sharks), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Dane Gagai (Knights), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)

7 points - Kieran Foran (Titans), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Nick Meaney (Storm), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Dylan Brown (Eels)

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

5 points - Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Phoenix Crossland (Knights), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Phillip Sami (Titans), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys/Maroons), Lindsay Collins (Roosters/Maroons)

4 points - Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Egan Butcher (Roosters), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), William Warbrick (Storm), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Xavier Coates (Storm), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Tyson Gamble (Knights)

3 points - Brandon Smith (Roosters), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Viliami Penisini (Eels), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Tevita Pangai Junior (Bulldogs), Dominic Young (Knights), Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Isaiah Tass (Rabbitohs), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Lachlan Miller (Knights), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Sam Walker (Roosters)

2 points - John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Joey Lussick (Eels), Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Kurt Capewell (Broncos), Billy Smith (Roosters), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Roosters), Adam Elliott (Knights), Young Tonumaipea (Storm), Junior Paulo (Eels), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Cameron McInnes (Sharks), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Braidon Burns (Bulldogs), Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Moses Leota (Panthers), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Liam Martin (Panthers/Blues)

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

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 24

Round Total: 139,598 / Average per game 17,450

Season Total: 3,384,046 / Average per match: 18,000

NRL Round 26

Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels
Thu 24 Aug 7:50PM at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug

Warriors v St George Illawarra Dragons
Fri 25 Aug 6:00PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Dolphins v North Queensland Cowboys
Fri 25 Aug 8:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Melbourne Storm v Gold Coast Titans
Sat 26 Aug 3:00PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers
Sat 26 Aug 5:30PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos
Sat 26 Aug 7:35PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sun 27 Aug 2:00PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Newcastle Knights v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sun 27 Aug 4:05PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

Full 2023 NRL draw & results