MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2025 NRL Round 1
37 hours ago | Monday's
Expert
MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2025 NRL Round 1
A full wrap of the weekend's action - MONDAY'S EXPERT recaps all the teamsheets, details, scores and scorers from Round 1 of the NRL, with heaps more info like the current ladder, stats leaders, match review, POTY standings, crowd figures and fixtures for next week.
All listed times are AEDT (NSW/VIC/ACT).
RELATED: See the full list of 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.
Raiders run riot in Vegas for opening win
2 Mar 2025 12:55PM | Justin Davies
Canberra Raiders 30 Warriors 8
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise / Las Vegas NV
Date: Sat, 1st March. Kickoff: 4:00 PM. (Sunday 11am AEDT). Halftime: Canberra 16-4. Penalties: Warriors 7-5. Referee: Grant Atkins. Crowd: 45,209.
Canberra: Weekes, Tamale, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Horsburgh, Starling, Tapine (C), Young, Hosking, Papalii. Int: Smithies, Pattie, Sasagi, Mariota.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuaupiki, Leiataua, Pompey, Tuivasa-Sheck; Harris-Tavita, Metcalf; Fisher-Harris (C), Egan, Ford, Capewell, Niukore, Barnett. Int: Clark, Walker, Vaimauga, Halasima.
CANBERRA RAIDERS (30)
Tries: Sebastian Kris (2), Xavier Savage (2), Matthew Timoko
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Jamal Fogarty (1/1)
WARRIORS (8)
Tries: Kurt Capewell, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Conversions: Luke Metcalf (0/2)
Penrith know when to hold em' as they survive an almighty Cronulla scare
2 Mar 2025 5:24PM | AJ Lucantonio
Penrith Panthers 28 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise / Las Vegas NV
Date: Sat, 1st March. Kickoff: 8:30 PM. Halftime: Penrith 12-10. Penalties: Cronulla 7-4. Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 45,209.
Penrith: Edwards, Mclean, Tago, Garner, Alamoti; Cole, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Smith, Sorensen, Martin, Yeo. Int: Laurie, Papali'i, Eisenhuth, Patea.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Stonestreet, Ramien, Iro, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Fonua-Blake, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes (C). Int: Atkinson, Talakai, Hamlin-Uele, Hazelton.
PENRITH PANTHERS (28)
Tries: Isaah Yeo, Izack Tago, Daine Laurie (2), Paul Alamoti
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (4/5)
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (22)
Tries: Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora, Kayal Iro, Addin Fonua-Blake
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (3/4)
Brisbane provides some temporary joy for its fans after thrashing the Roosters
6 Mar 2025 11:13PM | Olivia T
Sydney Roosters 14 Brisbane Broncos 50
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal
Date: Thu, 6th March. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 20-4. Penalties: 6-all. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 23,226.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Nawaqanitawase, Toia, Young; Smith, Townsend; Collins, Watson, Whyte, Crichton, Radley, Wong. Int: Dockar-Clay, Steep, Foketi, Losalu.
Brisbane: Walsh, Cobbo, Mariner, Shibasaki, Arthars; Hunt, Reynolds (C); Carrigan, Paix, Haas, Gosiewski, Riki, Hetherington. Int: Walters, Jensen, Willison, Piakura.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (14)
Tries: Dominic Young (2), Sandon Smith
Conversions: Sandon Smith (1/3)
BRISBANE BRONCOS (50)
Tries: Gehamat Shibasaki, Cory Paix, Jack Gosiewski, Selwyn Cobbo (3), Ben Hunt, Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (6/9)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
Knights edge past Tigers in Campbelltown
7 Mar 2025 7:49PM | Justin Davies
Wests Tigers 8 Newcastle Knights 10
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
Date: Fri, 7th March. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: Wests Tigers 8-0. Penalties: Wests Tigers 7-6. Referee: Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 13,160.
Wests Tigers: Mason, Turuva, Doueihi, Faataape, Skelton; Galvin, Luai (C); May, Hope, Pole, Fainu, Seyfarth, Twal. Int: Da Silva, Hunt, Bird, Fainu.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Schiller, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Sharpe, Cogger; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Lucas, Pearce-Paul, Frizell. Int: Brailey, Hetherington, Jones, Croker.
WESTS TIGERS (8)
Tries: Jeral Skelton
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Adam Doueihi (1/1)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (10)
Tries: Fletcher Sharpe, Greg Marzhew
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (1/2)
Bennett claims the crown over apprentice Woolf in dramatic contest
7 Mar 2025 9:52PM | AJ Lucantonio
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 Dolphins 14
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Date: Fri, 7th March. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: South Sydney 12-4. Penalties: 5-all. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 6,738.
South Sydney: Gray, Tass, Wighton, Graham, Munro; Walker (C), Humphreys; Keppie, Mamouzelos, Moale, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Hubner. Int: Sullivan, Havili, Duncan, Tatola.
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Averillo, Farnworth, Tupou; O'Sullivan, Katoa; Saifiti, Marshall-King, Kaufusi, Finefeuiaki, Plath, Gilbert (C). Int: Donoghoe, Lemuelu, Stone, Kerr.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Tyrone Munro (2), Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Jamie Humphreys (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Humphreys (0/1)
DOLPHINS (14)
Tries: Jamayne Isaako (2), Max Plath
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (1/3)
Late Dragons surge denied as Dogs claim derby spoils
8 Mar 2025 7:24PM | Rhys Sullivan
St George Illawarra Dragons 20 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
Date: Sat, 8th March. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: Canterbury 16-6. Penalties: St George Illawarra 6-3. Referee: Todd Smith. Crowd: 16,211.
St George Illawarra: Gutherson (C), Feagai, Suli, Holmes, Tuipulotu; Flanagan, Ilias; Couchman, Cook, Guler, Leilua, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Liddle, Couchman, Faitala-Mariner, Stewart.
Canterbury: Tracey, Wilson, Xerri, Crichton (C), Montoya; Burton, Sexton; King, Mahoney, Suluka-Fifita, Kikau, Preston, Salmon. Int: Mann, Hayward, Tupouniua, Hayes.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (20)
Tries: Christian Tuipulotu (2), Ryan Couchman, Jacob Liddle
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/4)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (28)
Tries: Marcelo Montoya, Blake Wilson, Connor Tracey, Sitili Tupouniua (2)
Conversions: Matt Burton (4/5)
Manly start 2025 with a Turbo Charged thrashing
8 Mar 2025 9:33PM | Josh Robertson
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 42 North Queensland Cowboys 12
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal
Date: Sat, 8th March. Kickoff: 7:35 PM. Halftime: Manly 24-0. Penalties: Manly 9-5. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 17,375.
Manly: Trbojevic, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Hopoate; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Paseka, Tevaga, Taukeiaho, Olakau'atu, Trbojevic, Trbojevic. Int: Simpkin, Waddell, Bullemor, Sipley.
North Qld: Drinkwater, Burns, Purdue, Vailea, Taulagi; Dearden (C), Duffy; McLean, Robson, McIntyre, Bateman, Nanai, Cotter. Int: Lawton, Edwards, Neame, Hess.
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (42)
Tries: Haumole Olakau'atu, Reuben Garrick, Jason Saab, Ben Trbojevic, Ethan Bullemor, Toafofoa Sipley, Daly Cherry-Evans
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (6/7)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (12)
Tries: Scott Drinkwater, Braidon Burns
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (1/1), Thomas Duffy (1/1)
Storm defeat Eels, master defeats apprentice
9 Mar 2025 6:04PM | Robert Crosby
Melbourne Storm 56 Parramatta Eels 18
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Date: Sun, 9th March. Kickoff: 4:05 PM. Halftime: Melbourne 46-6. Penalties: 4-all. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 23,369.
Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Warbrick, Howarth, Meaney, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Utoikamanu, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Wishart, MacDonald, Kamikamica, Vaalepu.
Parramatta: Iongi, Russell, Penisini, Lomax, Tago; Brown, Volkman; Ofahengaue, Hands, Paulo (C), Williams, Tuilagi, Hopgood. Int: Smith, Doorey, Guymer, Tuivaiti.
MELBOURNE STORM (56)
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen (2), Nick Meaney, Josh King, Xavier Coates (2), Eliesa Katoa, Harry Grant, William Warbrick, Jahrome Hughes
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1/1), Nick Meaney (7/9)
PARRAMATTA EELS (18)
Tries: Jake Tago, Viliami Penisini, Isaiah Iongi
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/3)
Gold Coast Titans had a bye this round.
Round 1 ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | B | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| 2 | Brisbane | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| 3 | Manly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 4 | Canberra | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| 5 | Canterbury | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 6 | Penrith | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | South Sydney | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Wests Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| 11 | Dolphins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| 12 | Cronulla | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -6 | 0 |
| 13 | St Geo Illa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -8 | 0 |
| 14 | Warriors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -22 | 0 |
| 15 | North Qld | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -30 | 0 |
| 16 | Sydney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -36 | 0 |
| 17 | Parramatta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -38 | 0 |
RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.
RLP Stats Leaders
Ken Irvine Medal: TOP TRYSCORERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T |
| 1 | Christian Tuipulotu | St George Illawarra | 1 | 3 |
| = | Selwyn Cobbo | Brisbane | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Dominic Young | Sydney | 1 | 2 |
| = | Sitili Tupouniua | Canterbury | 1 | 2 |
| = | Xavier Savage | Canberra | 1 | 2 |
| = | Ryan Papenhuyzen | Melbourne | 1 | 2 |
| = | Tyrone Munro | South Sydney | 1 | 2 |
| = | Daine Laurie | Penrith | 1 | 2 |
| = | Sebastian Kris | Canberra | 1 | 2 |
| = | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 1 | 2 |
| = | Xavier Coates | Melbourne | 1 | 2 |
TOP GOALKICKERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | G/A | % |
| 1 | Nick Meaney | Melbourne | 1 | 8 / 10 | 80% |
| 2 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 1 | 7 / 8 | 88% |
| = | Adam Reynolds | Brisbane | 1 | 7 / 10 | 70% |
| 4 | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 1 | 5 / 6 | 83% |
| 5 | Nathan Cleary | Penrith | 1 | 4 / 5 | 80% |
| = | Matt Burton | Canterbury | 1 | 4 / 5 | 80% |
TOP POINTSCORERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T | G | FG | Pts |
| 1 | Nick Meaney | Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 8 | - | 20 |
| 2 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 1 | 1 | 7 | - | 18 |
| 3 | Adam Reynolds | Brisbane | 1 | - | 7 | - | 14 |
| 4 | Christian Tuipulotu | St George Illawarra | 1 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
| = | Selwyn Cobbo | Brisbane | 1 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
| 6 | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 10 |
| = | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 1 | - | 5 | - | 10 |
Match review
Joe Tapine (2 matches), Xavier Savage and Jack Wighton (1 match) will miss game time from charges issued for the first seven games of the round, Wighton also fined along with nine others.
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.
3 points - Jye Gray (Rabbitohs), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Xavier Savage (Raiders)
2 points - Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Cameron Munster (Storm), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Fletcher Sharpe (Knights), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos)
1 point - Jack Howarth (Storm), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Savelio Tamale (Raiders), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Harry Hayes (Bulldogs), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Payne Haas (Broncos)
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 1 crowds
| Rnd | Day | Time | Match | Venue | Crowd |
| 1 | Sun | 11:00 | CAN v WAR | Allegiant | 45,209 |
| 1 | Sun | 15:30 | PEN v CRO | Allegiant | |
| 1 | Thu | 20:00 | SYD v BRI | Allianz | 23,226 |
| 1 | Fri | 18:00 | WST v NEW | Campbelltown | 13,160 |
| 1 | Fri | 20:05 | SOU v DOL | CommBank | 6,738 |
| 1 | Sat | 17:30 | SGI v CBY | Netstrata | 16,211 |
| 1 | Sat | 19:30 | MAN v NQL | 4 Pines | 17,375 |
| 1 | Sun | 16:05 | MEL v PAR | AAMI | 23,369 |
| Rnd 1 TOT | Rnd 1 AVG | Season TOT | Season AVG |
| 145,288 | 20,755 | 145,288 | 20,755 |
Scorigami watch
A 'scorigami' is when a score occurs that has never been recorded in the history of the game before. This section looks at each week's scorelines, how often they've occured and the most recent instance of it.
Canberra 30 Warriors 8
No scorigami - 23 times prior
Last: 2023 Warriors 30 Dolphins 8, Go Media
Penrith 28 Cronulla 22
No scorigami - 36 times prior
Last: 2024 North Qld 28 South Sydney 22, Suncorp
Brisbane 50 Sydney 14
No scorigami - 8 times prior
Last: 2021 South Sydney 50 St George Illawarra, Suncorp
Newcastle 10 Wests Tigers 8
No scorigami - 60 times prior
Last: 2018 Melbourne 10 Gold Coast 8, Cbus Super
South Sydney 16 Dolphins 14
No scorigami - 105 times prior
Last: 2024 Melbourne 16 Canterbury 14, AAMI
Canterbury 28 St George Illawarra 20
No scorigami - 40 times prior
Last: 2023 Sydney 28 Parramatta 20, Allianz
Manly 42 North Queensland 12
No scorigami - 25 times prior
Last: 2024 Sydney 42 St George Illawarra 12, Allianz
Melbourne 56 Parramatta 18
No scorigami - twice prior
Last: 2013 Warriors 56 Brisbane 18, Suncorp
Round 2 Fixtures
Newcastle Knights v Dolphins
Thu 13 Mar 8:00PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
Warriors v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Fri 14 Mar 6:00PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters
Fri 14 Mar 8:00PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
St George Illawarra Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sat 15 Mar 3:00PM at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sat 15 Mar 5:30PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos
Sat 15 Mar 7:35PM at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal
Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers
Sun 16 Mar 4:05PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans
Sun 16 Mar 6:15PM at Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore / Bidjigal
BYE: Melbourne Storm