MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2024 NRL Round 5

NRL24

A full wrap of the fourth round of the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership - packed with everything you need to know after Round 5.

All listed times are AEDT/AEST (NSW/VIC/ACT, incl QLD from Sunday).


RELATED: See the full list of 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.


Melbourne Storm 34
Brisbane Broncos 32

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

Date: Thu, 4th April.   Kickoff: 8:00 PM.   Halftime: Brisbane 18-16.   Penalties: Brisbane 7-4.   Referee: Ashley Klein.   Crowd: 20,698.

Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Warbrick, Smith, Meaney, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Kamikamica, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Wishart, Welch, MacDonald, Howarth.
Brisbane: Sailor, Arthars, Staggs, Cobbo, Mariner; Mam, Reynolds (C); Jensen, Walters, Baker, Hunt, Riki, Carrigan. Int: Smoothy, Te Kura, Hetherington, Oates.

MELBOURNE STORM (34)
Tries: Eliesa Katoa (2), Xavier Coates, William Warbrick, Tyran Wishart, Jahrome Hughes
Conversions: Nick Meaney (5/6)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (32)
Tries: Deine Mariner, Ezra Mam (2), Jesse Arthars, Benjamin Te Kura
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/3), Kotoni Staggs (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Kotoni Staggs (1/1)


Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30
Sydney Roosters 26

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Date: Fri, 5th April.   Kickoff: 6:00 PM.   Halftime: Canterbury 26-0.   Penalties: Sydney 6-5.   Referee: Grant Atkins.   Crowd: 7,169.

Canterbury: Taaffe, Kiraz, Xerri, Crichton (C), Tracey; Burton, Hutchison; King, Mahoney, Patolo, Kikau, Salmon, Mann. Int: Hughes, Curran, Edwards, Kautoga, Sexton.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Sua'ali'i, Manu, Young; Keary, Walker; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Tupouniua, Crichton, Radley. Int: Watson, Whyte, May, Butcher, Jennings.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (30)
Tries: Blake Taaffe, Matt Burton (3), Samuel Hughes
Conversions: Matt Burton (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Matt Burton (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (26)
Tries: Egan Butcher (2), Naufahu Whyte, Joseph Manu, Daniel Tupou
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2/2), Luke Keary (1/3)


Newcastle Knights 30
St George Illawarra Dragons 10

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

Date: Fri, 5th April.   Kickoff: 8:00 PM.   Halftime: Newcastle 24-10.   Penalties: Newcastle 5-3.   Referee: Belinda Sharpe.   Crowd: 9,448.

Newcastle: Ponga (C), Jenkins, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Cogger, Hastings; Saifiti, Brailey, Thompson, Lucas, Pearce-Paul, Elliott. Int: Crossland, Saifiti, Hetherington, Croker.
St Geo Illa: Sloan, Lomax, Suli, Bird, Ravalawa; Flanagan, Hunt (C); Molo, Liddle, De Belin, Leilua, Su'A, Lawrie. Int: Eisenhuth, Marschke, Molo, Faitala-Mariner.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (30)
Tries: Jackson Hastings, Kalyn Ponga, Enari Tuala, Daniel Saifiti, Dylan Lucas
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (5/5)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (10)
Tries: Zac Lomax, Ben Hunt
Conversions: Zac Lomax (1/2)


South Sydney Rabbitohs 4
Warriors 34

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Date: Sat, 6th April.   Kickoff: 3:00 PM.   Halftime: Warriors 18-4.   Penalties: Warriors 6-4.   Referee: Liam Kennedy.   Crowd: 13,181.

Souths: Mitchell, Thompson, Wighton, Tass, Milne; Walker, Hawkins; Tatola, Cook, Burgess, Koloamatangi, Host, Murray (C). Int: Chee-Kam, Duncan, Keppie, Mamouzelos.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuivasa-Sheck, Berry, Pompey, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Afoa, Ford, Barnett, Harris (C). Int: Ale, Tevaga, Laban, Harris-Tavita.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (4)
Tries: Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (0/1)

WARRIORS (34)
Tries: Rocco Berry, Shaun Johnson (2), Jackson Ford, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Te Maire Martin
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (5/6)


Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32
Penrith Panthers 18

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

Date: Sat, 6th April.   Kickoff: 5:30 PM.   Halftime: Manly 14-6.   Penalties: Manly 10-4.   Referee: Todd Smith.   Crowd: 17,381.

Manly: Trbojevic, Talau, Koula, Garrick, Paulo; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Aloiai, Olakau'atu, Trbojevic, Trbojevic. Int: Lawton, Waddell, Sipley, Brown.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, May, To'o; Luai, Schneider; Leota, Kenny, Smith, Garner, Martin, Yeo (C). Int: Fisher-Harris, Laurie, Henry, Eisenhuth.

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (32)
Tries: Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans, Tolutau Koula, Corey Waddell, Jaxson Paulo
Conversions: Daly Cherry-Evans (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (1/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (18)
Tries: Brad Schneider, Dylan Edwards (2)
Conversions: Dylan Edwards (3/3)


Dolphins 26
Wests Tigers 16

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Date: Sat, 6th April.   Kickoff: 6:35 PM.   Halftime: Dolphins 14-0.   Penalties: 6-all.   Referee: Gerard Sutton.   Crowd: 22,051.

Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Averillo, Farnworth, Bostock; Nikorima, Katoa; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Flegler, Kaufusi, Aitken, Bromwich. Int: Stone, Kerr, Donoghoe, Nicholls.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Staines, Faataape, Olam, Tupou; Sullivan, Sezer; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Fainu, Seyfarth, Twal, Fainu.

DOLPHINS (26)
Tries: Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kodi Nikorima, Kenny Bromwich
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (2/2)

WESTS TIGERS (16)
Tries: Solomona Faataape (2), Alex Seyfarth
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (2/3)


North Queensland Cowboys 35
Gold Coast Titans 22

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

Date: Sun, 7th April.   Kickoff: 4:05 PM.   Halftime: North QLD 16-0.   Penalties: 5-all.   Referee: Chris Butler.   Crowd: 18,870.

North QLD: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Laybutt, Taulagi; Dearden (C), Townsend; McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Finefeuiaki, Nanai, Cotter. Int: Granville, Neame, McIntyre, Gosiewski.
Gold Coast: Campbell, Smith-Shields, Kelly, Brimson, Fifita; Foran (C), Boyd; Fotuaika, Randall, Jolliffe, Fifita, Fermor, Haas. Int: Clark, Verrills, Stimson, Pahulu.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (35)
Tries: Zac Laybutt, Murray Taulagi, Scott Drinkwater (2), Reece Robson, Kyle Feldt
Field Goals: Chad Townsend (1/1)
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (5/6)

GOLD COAST TITANS (22)
Tries: Brian Kelly, Jayden Campbell, Klese Haas, Beau Fermor
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (3/4)


Canberra Raiders 41
Parramatta Eels 8

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Date: Sun, 7th April.   Kickoff: 6:15 PM.   Halftime: Canberra 13-0.   Penalties: Canberra 10-3.   Referee: Adam Gee.   Crowd: 13,907.

Canberra: Rapana, Schiller, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Papalii, Levi, Tapine (C), Young, Mariota, Smithies. Int: Starling, Horsburgh, Sasagi, Saulo, Weekes, Cotric, Mooney, Woolford, Guler.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Sivo, Penisini, Simonsson, Russell; Talagi, Brown; Campbell-Gillard, Lussick, Greig, Lane, Matterson, Hopgood. Int: Paulo, Moretti, Ofahengaue, Tuilagi, Harper, Asi, Hands, Makatoa.

CANBERRA RAIDERS (41)
Tries: Sebastian Kris, Xavier Savage, Matthew Timoko (2), Danny Levi, James Schiller, Hudson Young
Field Goals: Jamal Fogarty (1/1)
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/7)
Penalty Goals: Jamal Fogarty (2/2)

PARRAMATTA EELS (8)
Tries: Maika Sivo (2)
Conversions: Clinton Gutherson (0/2)


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks had a bye this round.


Round 5 ladder

#TeamPWDLB+/-Pts
1Dolphins43011398
2North Qld54010358
3Melbourne43011128
4Cronulla43011118
5Canberra53020476
6Warriors53020386
7Manly53020216
8Penrith53020146
9Wests Tigers42021-36
10Sydney52030354
11Brisbane5203024
12Newcastle52030-34
13Canterbury52030-54
14Parramatta52030-204
15St Geo Illa52030-484
16Gold Coast40041-852
17South Sydney51040-902

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

Stats leaders

Thanks to Rugby League Project!

Most tries

RankPlayerTeamPT
1Sunia TuruvaPenrith56
1Tyrell SloanSt Geo Illa56
3Hamiso Tabuai-FidowDolphins45
3Deine MarinerBrisbane55
5Ronaldo MulitaloCronulla44
5Xavier SavageCanberra54
5Joseph ManuSydney54
5Zac LomaxSt Geo Illa54
5Danny LeviCanberra54
5Dylan EdwardsPenrith54
5Scott DrinkwaterNorth QLD54
5Matt BurtonCanterbury54
5Jesse ArtharsBrisbane54

Most goals

RankPlayerTeamPG/A%
1Valentine HolmesNorth QLD523 / 2882%
2Jamal FogartyCanberra520 / 2871%
3Jamayne IsaakoDolphins418 / 2186%
4Kalyn PongaNewcastle516 / 16100%
4Reuben GarrickManly516 / 1889%
6Nick MeaneyMelbourne414 / 1688%
7Adam ReynoldsBrisbane413 / 1776%
7Clinton GuthersonParramatta513 / 1872%

Most points

RankPlayerTeamPTGFGPts
1Valentine HolmesNorth QLD5223-54
2Jamal FogartyCanberra5-20141
3Jamayne IsaakoDolphins4118-40
3Reuben GarrickManly5216-40
3Matt BurtonCanterbury5412-40
6Zac LomaxSt Geo Illa5411-38
7Kalyn PongaNewcastle5116-36

Match review

Three players are facing suspension, headlined by Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell. Sydney winger Dom Young and Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe are also facing spells on the sideline. Three others are facing fines.

Sunday match review charges TBC Monday AM.

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.

9 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

8 points - Reece Robson (Cowboys)

7 points - Dylan Edwards (Panthers)

6 points - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Tyrell Sloan (Dragons)

5 points - Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), James Tedesco (Roosters), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Ezra Mam (Broncos)

4 points - Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Zac Hosking (Raiders), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Sam Walker (Roosters)

3 points - Morgan Smithies (Raiders), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Adam Elliott (Knights), William Kennedy (Sharks), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Jack Cogger (Knights), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Xavier Coates (Storm), Zac Laybutt (Cowboys), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Thomas Flegler (Dolphins), Teig Wilton (Sharks), Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Junior Paulo (Eels), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Reece Walsh (Broncos)

2 points - Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Dane Gagai (Knights), Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Dylan Lucas (Knights), Luke Keary (Roosters), Jack Williams (Sharks), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Izack Tago (Panthers), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Deine Mariner (Broncos), Dylan Brown (Eels), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Ben Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Sandon Smith (Roosters), Jackson Ford (Warriors)

1 point - Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Rocco Berry (Warriors), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Taylan May (Panthers), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Blake Wilson (Bulldogs), Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers), Kayal Iro (Sharks), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Justin Olam (Wests Tigers), Griffin Neame (Cowboys), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Jaydn Su'A (Dragons), Ethan Strange (Raiders), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs), Max Plath (Dolphins), Thomas Hazelton (Sharks)


Crowd Watch

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.

Round 5

Thu 8:00pmMEL v BRIAAMI20,698
Fri 6:00pmCBY v SYDAccor7,169
Fri 8:05pmNEW v SGIMcD. Jones9,448
Sat 3:00pmSOU v WARAccor13,181
Sat 5:30pmMAN v PEN4 Pines17,381
Sat 6:35pmDOL v WSTSuncorp22,051
Sun 4:05pmNQL v GLDQLD C. B.18,870
Sun 6:15pmCAN v PARGIO13,907

Round Total: 122,705 / Average per game 15,338

Season Total: 857,190 / Average per game 21,430


Fixtures - Round 6

Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters
Thu 11 Apr 7:50PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

Melbourne Storm v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Fri 12 Apr 6:00PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Brisbane Broncos v Dolphins
Fri 12 Apr 8:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Warriors v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 13 Apr 3:00PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
Sat 13 Apr 5:30PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sat 13 Apr 7:35PM at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sun 14 Apr 4:05PM at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 14 Apr 6:15PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

BYE: Penrith Panthers

Full 2024 NRL Draw & Results.