Monday's Expert - 2023 NRL Finals Week 2

A full wrap of NRL Finals Week 2, 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.

Melbourne Storm 18
Sydney Roosters 13

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Crowd: 19534
Date: Friday 15 September 2023 at 7:50pm

MELBOURNE STORM (18)
Tries: Tyran Wishart, Marion Seve, William Warbrick
Field Goals: Tyran Wishart (0/1)
Conversions: Nick Meaney (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Nick Meaney (2/2)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (13)
Tries: Brandon Smith, Lindsay Collins
Field Goals: Sam Walker (1/1)
Conversions: Sam Walker (2/2)

Melbourne: Meaney, Warbrick, Seve, Olam, Smith; Munster, Wishart; Kamikamica, Garlick, Asofa-Solomona, Loiero, Katoa, King. Int: Grant, Welch (C), Eisenhuth, Sims.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Pauga, Momirovski, Allan, Paulo; Keary, Walker; Butcher, Smith, Collins, Wong, Butcher, Radley. Int: Baker, Smith, May, Crichton.

Warriors 40
Newcastle Knights 10

Venue: Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Crowd: 26083
Date: Saturday 16 September 2023 at 4:05pm

WARRIORS (40)
Tries: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Addin Fonua-Blake, Marcelo Montoya, Dylan Walker, Rocco Berry, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Bayley Sironen
Conversions: Adam Pompey (6/7)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (10)
Tries: Greg Marzhew, Dylan Lucas
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (1/2)

Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Berry, Pompey, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris (C). Int: Walker, Tevaga, Sironen, Curran.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Young, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Gamble, Clune; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Frizell, Lucas, Elliott. Int: Mann, Hetherington, Croker, Jones.

Match review

NRL: Only Tyson Frizell (Knights) was charged from the two matches - he escapes with a fine.

NRLW: Plenty of charges across the opening three games, with Pani Hopoate (Roosters) the only player certain to face suspension.

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

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field. Includes points accumulated during State of Origin series.

40 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

32 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

28 points - Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

26 points - Reece Walsh (Broncos)

25 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Adam Reynolds (Broncos)

22 points - Cameron Munster (Storm)

21 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Payne Haas (Broncos)

20 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

19 points - Mitchell Moses (Eels)

17 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

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

15 points - Harry Grant (Storm)

14 points - Isaah Yeo (Panthers), AJ Brimson (Titans)

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

12 points - Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Blayke Brailey (Sharks)

11 points - Hudson Young (Raiders), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles)

10 points - Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Kieran Foran (Titans), Izack Tago (Panthers), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)

9 points - Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Dane Gagai (Knights), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Nick Meaney (Storm)

8 points - Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), William Kennedy (Sharks)

7 points - Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Dylan Brown (Eels), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Lindsay Collins (Roosters)

6 points - Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Brian To'o (Panthers), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Sean O'Sullivan (Dolphins), Sam Walker (Roosters), Luke Keary (Roosters), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Bradman Best (Knights), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Wayde Egan (Warriors)

5 points - Phoenix Crossland (Knights), Phillip Sami (Titans), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Jackson Hastings (Knights), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Roosters), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins), Tanah Boyd (Titans), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles), Dominic Young (Knights), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)

4 points - Siua Wong (Roosters), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Taane Milne (Rabbitohs), William Warbrick (Storm), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Egan Butcher (Roosters), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Jonah Pezet (Storm), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Xavier Coates (Storm), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers)

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

2 points - Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Tepai Moeroa (Storm), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Joey Lussick (Eels), Sunia Turuva (Panthers), Victor Radley (Roosters), Junior Paulo (Eels), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys), Cameron McInnes (Sharks), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Adam Elliott (Knights), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Kurt Capewell (Broncos), Braidon Burns (Bulldogs), Moses Leota (Panthers), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Jack de Belin (Dragons), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Maika Sivo (Eels), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Young Tonumaipea (Storm), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Marcelo Montoya (Warriors), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Liam Martin (Panthers)

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

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 - Finals Week 2

Finals Fixtures

NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series - Week 3

Preliminary Final: Friday, September 22, 7.50pm (EST), Accor Stadium
Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm

Preliminary Final: Saturday, September 23, 7.50pm (EST), Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Broncos v Warriors

NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final

Sunday October 1, 7.30pm (EDT), Accor Stadium
Winner Panthers/Storm v Winner Broncos/Warriors

Full 2023 NRL Draw & Results.