2024 review: Penrith Panthers
68 mins ago | Josh Robertson
MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2024 NRL Round 7
A full wrap of the latest round of the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership - packed with everything you need to know after Round 7.
All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).
RELATED: See the full list of 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.
Sydney Roosters 12
Melbourne Storm 18
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Date: Thu, 18th April. Kickoff: 7:50 PM. Halftime: Melbourne 12-6. Penalties: Melbourne 10-7. Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 17,714.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Jennings, Manu, Sua'ali'i; Watson, Keary; Waerea-Hargreaves, Smith, Collins, Butcher, Crichton, Radley. Int: Dockar-Clay, Whyte, Butcher, May.
Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Warbrick, Smith, Meaney, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Welch, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Asofa-Solomona, Chan, MacDonald.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (12)
Tries: Michael Jennings, Joseph Manu
Conversions: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2/2)
MELBOURNE STORM (18)
Tries: Jahrome Hughes, Eliesa Katoa, Xavier Coates
Conversions: Nick Meaney (3/3)
St George Illawarra Dragons 30
Warriors 12
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
Date: Fri, 19th April. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: St George Illawarra 16-6. Penalties: St George Illawarra 7-5. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 13,111.
St George Illawarra: Sloan, Tuipulotu, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Flanagan, Hunt (C); Molo, Liddle, Sele, Faitala-Mariner, Su'A, Eisenhuth. Int: Lawrie, De Belin, Murdoch-Masila, Brown.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Berry, Tuivasa-Sheck, Montoya; Martin, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Capewell, Harris (C). Int: Ale, Laban, Pompey, Roache.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (30)
Tries: Moses Suli, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, Ben Hunt, Tyrell Sloan
Two Point Field Goals: Zac Lomax (1/1)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (1/1)
WARRIORS (12)
Tries: Shaun Johnson, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/2)
Parramatta Eels 16
Dolphins 44
Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin / Larrakia
Date: Fri, 19th April. Kickoff: 7:30 PM. Halftime: Parramatta 8-4. Penalties: Parramatta 5-3. Referee: Todd Smith. Crowd: 11,094.
Parramatta: Gutherson (C), Simonsson, Penisini, Harper, Russell; Asi, Brown; Campbell-Gillard, Lussick, Ofahengaue, Lane, Cartwright, Hopgood. Int: Paulo, Moretti, Matterson, Talagi.
Dolphins: Fuller, Isaako, Averillo, Niu, Bostock; Nikorima, Katoa; Bromwich (C), Marshall-King, Nicholls, Bromwich, Aitken, Plath. Int: Kerr, O'Sullivan, Stone, Keeley.
PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Shaun Lane, Viliami Penisini, Dylan Brown
Conversions: Sean Russell (0/2), Clinton Gutherson (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Clinton Gutherson (1/1)
DOLPHINS (44)
Tries: Jack Bostock (3), Tesi Niu (2), Trai Fuller, Max Plath (2), Jake Averillo
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (3/7), Kodi Nikorima (1/2)
Penrith Panthers 22
Wests Tigers 6
Venue: Carrington Park, Bathurst / Wiradjuri
Date: Sat, 20th April. Kickoff: 3:00 PM. Halftime: Penrith 10-6. Penalties: Wests Tigers 4-1. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 12,000.
Penrith: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Alamoti, To'o; Luai, Schneider; Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Sorensen, Martin, Yeo (C). Int: Laurie, Smith, Henry, Garner.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Staines, Naden, Olam, Tupou; Galvin, Sezer; Utoikamanu, Koroisau (C), Klemmer, Papali'i, Bateman, Pole. Int: Fainu, Twal, Seyfarth, Fainu.
PENRITH PANTHERS (22)
Tries: Sunia Turuva (2), Paul Alamoti, James Fisher-Harris
Conversions: Dylan Edwards (3/4)
WESTS TIGERS (6)
Tries: Junior Tupou
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (1/1)
Gold Coast Titans 30
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 34
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh
Date: Sat, 20th April. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: Gold Coast 24-22. Penalties: Gold Coast 4-3. Referee: Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 13,336.
Gold Coast: Brimson, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Smith-Shields, Fifita; Boyd, Foran (C); Fotuaika, Randall, Jolliffe, Haas, Fermor, Liu. Int: Fifita, Verrills, Clark, Pahulu.
Manly: Trbojevic, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Talau; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Croker, Lodge, Olakau'atu, Waddell, Trbojevic. Int: Lawton, Bullemor, Woods, Matterson.
GOLD COAST TITANS (30)
Tries: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (2), Tanah Boyd, David Fifita, AJ Brimson
Conversions: Tanah Boyd (5/5)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (34)
Tries: Tom Trbojevic (2), Jason Saab, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula, Ethan Bullemor
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (5/6)
Brisbane Broncos 34
Canberra Raiders 10
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Date: Sat, 20th April. Kickoff: 7:35 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 28-0. Penalties: Brisbane 2-1. Referee: Chris Butler. Crowd: 37,286.
Brisbane: Walsh, Oates, Staggs, Cobbo, Arthars; Mam, Madden; Jensen, Walters, Baker, Hunt, Riki, Carrigan (C). Int: Smoothy, Willison, Hetherington, Sailor.
Canberra: Stewart, Schiller, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Papalii, Levi, Tapine (C), Young, Sasagi, Smithies. Int: Mariota, Starling, Mooney, Saulo.
BRISBANE BRONCOS (34)
Tries: Reece Walsh (2), Jordan Riki, Ezra Mam, Billy Walters, Selwyn Cobbo
Conversions: Reece Walsh (5/6)
CANBERRA RAIDERS (10)
Tries: Simi Sasagi, Xavier Savage
Conversions: Chevy Stewart (1/2)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 36
Newcastle Knights 12
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal
Date: Sun, 21st April. Kickoff: 2:00 PM. Halftime: Canterbury 18-6. Penalties: Newcastle 6-2. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 17,784.
Canterbury: Tracey, Kiraz, Xerri, Crichton (C), Addo-Carr; Burton, Hutchison; King, Mahoney, Patolo, Kikau, Salmon, Curran. Int: Hughes, Hayward, Morrin, Taaffe.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Marzhew, Tuala, Best, Jenkins; Gamble, Hastings; Saifiti, Brailey, Thompson, Lucas, Pearce-Paul, Elliott. Int: Saifiti, Crossland, Hetherington, Jones.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (36)
Tries: Samuel Hughes, Jacob Kiraz, Bronson Xerri, Bailey Hayward, Josh Addo-Carr, Stephen Crichton
Conversions: Matt Burton (6/6)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (12)
Tries: Dylan Lucas, Bradman Best
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (1/1), Jackson Hastings (1/1)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 42
North Queensland Cowboys 6
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal
Date: Sun, 21st April. Kickoff: 4:05 PM. Halftime: Cronulla 24-0. Penalties: 4-all. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 12,415.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Stonestreet, Ramien, Iro, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Hazelton, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes (C). Int: Williams, Rudolf, Talakai, Hamlin-Uele.
North Qld: Drinkwater, Feldt, Holmes, Chester, Valemei; Dearden (C), Townsend; McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Finefeuiaki, Gosiewski, Cotter. Int: Nanai, Granville, Neame, McIntyre.
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (42)
Tries: William Kennedy, Thomas Hazelton, Samuel Stonestreet, Braydon Trindall (2), Ronaldo Mulitalo (2)
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (7/7)
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (6)
Tries: Valentine Holmes
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (1/1)
South Sydney Rabbitohs had a bye this round.
Round 7 ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | B | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cronulla | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 12 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 12 |
| 3 | Dolphins | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 10 |
| 4 | Penrith | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 10 |
| 5 | Manly | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 9 |
| 6 | Brisbane | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 8 |
| 7 | Canberra | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| 8 | North Qld | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -8 | 8 |
| 9 | St Geo Illa | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -18 | 8 |
| 10 | Warriors | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 7 |
| 11 | Sydney | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 6 |
| 12 | Canterbury | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 6 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -31 | 6 |
| 14 | Parramatta | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -41 | 6 |
| 15 | Newcastle | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -29 | 4 |
| 16 | South Sydney | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | -102 | 4 |
| 17 | Gold Coast | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | -90 | 2 |
RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.
RLP stats leaders
Most tries
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T |
| 1 | Sunia Turuva | Penrith | 6 | 8 |
| 1 | Ronaldo Mulitalo | Cronulla | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Jack Bostock | Dolphins | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | Tyrell Sloan | St Geo Illa | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Reece Walsh | Brisbane | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Zac Lomax | St Geo Illa | 7 | 6 |
Most goals
| Rank | Player | Team | P | G/A | % |
| 1 | Valentine Holmes | North Qld | 7 | 26 / 33 | 79% |
| 2 | Nicho Hynes | Cronulla | 6 | 24 / 26 | 92% |
| 2 | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 7 | 24 / 32 | 75% |
| 4 | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 6 | 22 / 31 | 71% |
| 5 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 6 | 21 / 24 | 88% |
| 6 | Clinton Gutherson | Parramatta | 7 | 20 / 26 | 77% |
Most points
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T | G | FG/2 | Pts |
| 1 | Valentine Holmes | North Qld | 7 | 4 | 26 | - | 68 |
| 2 | Zac Lomax | St Geo Illa | 7 | 6 | 19 | 0/1 | 64 |
| 3 | Matt Burton | Canterbury | 7 | 4 | 19 | - | 54 |
| 4 | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 6 | 2 | 22 | - | 52 |
| 5 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 6 | 2 | 21 | - | 50 |
| 5 | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 7 | - | 24 | 2/0 | 50 |
| 7 | Nicho Hynes | Cronulla | 6 | - | 24 | 1/0 | 49 |
| 8 | Shaun Johnson | Warriors | 7 | 4 | 16 | - | 48 |
| 9 | Reece Walsh | Brisbane | 5 | 6 | 11 | - | 46 |
| 10 | Clinton Gutherson | Parramatta | 7 | 1 | 20 | - | 44 |
Match review
Five players charged across the first six games, with all to escape with fines provided they enter an early plea. The only player at any suspension risk is Aidan Sezer (Tigers) who could miss 2 games if he fights a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact charge and loses - his 3+ priors working against him.
On Monday, four players were hit with charges from the Sunday clash between Canterbury and Newcastle - three Bulldogs were fined while Jack Hetherington's attempt to fight Reed Mahoney in the tunnel after being sin-binned has earned the firebrand prop a Grade 2 Contrary Conduct charge for which he'll miss 1-2 matches, plea depending.
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.
12 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
9 points - Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
8 points - Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
7 points - Zac Lomax (Dragons), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Tyrell Sloan (Dragons)
6 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Xavier Coates (Storm), Reece Walsh (Broncos), William Kennedy (Sharks), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ezra Mam (Broncos)
5 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), James Tedesco (Roosters), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Joseph Manu (Roosters)
4 points - Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Dylan Brown (Eels), Zac Hosking (Raiders), Sam Walker (Roosters)
3 points - Wayde Egan (Warriors), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Kayal Iro (Sharks), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Morgan Smithies (Raiders), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Junior Paulo (Eels), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Adam Elliott (Knights), Zac Laybutt (Cowboys), Teig Wilton (Sharks), Jack Cogger (Knights), Thomas Flegler (Dolphins), Max Plath (Dolphins), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
2 points - Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Luke Keary (Roosters), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Dane Gagai (Knights), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Jack Williams (Sharks), Dylan Lucas (Knights), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Terrell May (Roosters), Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers), Victor Radley (Roosters), AJ Brimson (Titans), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Izack Tago (Panthers), Billy Walters (Broncos), Kieran Foran (Titans), Ethan Strange (Raiders), Sandon Smith (Roosters), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Ben Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Deine Mariner (Broncos)
1 point - Connor Tracey (Bulldogs), J'maine Hopgood (Eels), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), Asu Kepaoa (Wests Tigers), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Bronson Xerri (Bulldogs), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Justin Olam (Wests Tigers), Thomas Hazelton (Sharks), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Taylan May (Panthers), Blake Wilson (Bulldogs), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Griffin Neame (Cowboys), Jaydn Su'A (Dragons), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Rocco Berry (Warriors), Tristan Sailor (Broncos), Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers)
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 7
| Thu 7:50pm | SYD v MEL | Allianz | 17,714 |
| Fri 6:00pm | SGI v WAR | WIN | 13,111 |
| Fri 7:30pm | PAR v DOL | TIO | 11,094 |
| Sat 3:00pm | PEN v WST | Carrington | 12,000 |
| Sat 5:30pm | GLD v MAN | Cbus Super | 13,336 |
| Sat 7:35pm | BRI v CAN | Suncorp | 37,286 |
| Sun 2:00pm | CBY v NEW | Accor | 17,784 |
| Sun 4:05pm | CRO v NQL | Pointsbet | 12,415 |
Round Total: 134,740 / Average per game 16,843
Season Total: 1,154,754 / Average per game 20,621
Average Home Crowds
| Team | Avg | Games |
| Brisbane | 41,203 | 4 |
| Sydney | 27,069 | 3 |
| Warriors | 23,755 | 3 |
| Parramatta | 23,142 | 4 |
| Dolphins | 21,513 | 3 |
| Penrith | 20,806 | 2 |
| South Sydney | 20,221 | 3 |
| Melbourne | 19,715 | 4 |
| North Qld | 18,928 | 2 |
| Newcastle | 18,914 | 4 |
| Manly | 17,333 | 2 |
| Wests Tigers | 16,566 | 2 |
| Canberra | 14,204 | 3 |
| Gold Coast | 13,924 | 3 |
| St Geo Illa | 12,859 | 3 |
| Cronulla | 12,678 | 3 |
| Canterbury | 12,330 | 3 |
* NOTE: excludes neutral games (Las Vegas, Bathurst, Darwin)
Fixtures - Round 8
ANZAC Round
Warriors v Gold Coast Titans
Thu 25 Apr 2:00PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Thu 25 Apr 4:00PM at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Thu 25 Apr 7:50PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Parramatta Eels
Fri 26 Apr 8:00PM at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal
Wests Tigers v Brisbane Broncos
Sat 27 Apr 5:30PM at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
North Queensland Cowboys v Penrith Panthers
Sat 27 Apr 7:35PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Dolphins v Newcastle Knights
Sun 28 Apr 2:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Canberra Raiders v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sun 28 Apr 4:05PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
BYE: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs