MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2025 NRL Round 5

A full wrap of the weekend's action - MONDAY'S EXPERT recaps all the teamsheets, details, scores and scorers from Round 5 of the NRL, with heaps more info like the current ladder, stats leaders, match review, POTY standings, scorigami watch, crowd figures and fixtures for next week.

All listed times are venue local.

RELATED: See the full list of 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.

Canberra Raiders 24
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20

Canberra pull a Magic Trick to spook Cronulla

3 Apr 2025 9:51PM | AJ Lucantonio

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Matt Nicholson, Hudson Young (2), Sebastian Kris
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/4)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (20)
Tries: Mawene Hiroti, Briton Nikora (2)
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/1)

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal. Date: Thu, 3rd April. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: 18-all. Penalties: Cronulla 7-2. Referee: Todd Smith. Crowd: 10,914.

Canberra: Weekes, Tamale, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Smithies, Starling, Tapine (C), Young, Nicholson, Horsburgh. Int: Papalii, Pattie, Sasagi, Mariota.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Stonestreet, Ramien, Hiroti, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Fonua-Blake, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Burns, McInnes (C). Int: Atkinson, Hazelton, Rudolf, Hau Tapuha.

Penrith Panthers 18
North Queensland Cowboys 22

Cowboys upset patchy Panthers

4 Apr 2025 7:57PM | Justin Davies

PENRITH PANTHERS (18)
Tries: Casey McLean, Izack Tago, Luke Garner
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (3/3)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (22)
Tries: Murray Taulagi (2), Viliami Vailea, Jaxon Purdue
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (3/4)

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal. Date: Fri, 4th April. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: Penrith 18-12. Penalties: 6-all. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 10,320

Penrith: Laurie, Alamoti, Tago, Jenkins, Mclean; Cole, Cleary (C); Leota, Kenny, Papali'i, Garner, Martin, Yeo. Int: Smith, Schneider, Eisenhuth, Henry.
North Qld: Drinkwater, Derby, Purdue, Vailea, Taulagi; Dearden (C), Clifford; McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Bateman, O'Donnell, McIntyre. Int: Nanai, Neame, Hess, Edwards.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 20
Sydney Roosters 14

Brave Bunnies boil over rusty Roosters

4 Apr 2025 9:54PM | Justin Davies

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (20)
Tries: Tevita Tatola, Jye Gray, Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (14)
Tries: Sandon Smith, Billy Smith, Dominic Young
Conversions: Sandon Smith (1/3)

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal. Date: Fri, 4th April. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: South Sydney 8-6. Penalties: South Sydney 11-6. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 22,114.

South Sydney: Gray, Tass, Mitchell, Wighton, Ravalawa; Walker (C), Humphreys; Keppie, Mamouzelos, Tatola, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Hubner. Int: Sullivan, Havili, Duncan, Moale.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Smith, Toia, Young; Smith, Townsend; Collins, Watson, Whyte, Crichton, Wong, Butcher. Int: Dockar-Clay, Foketi, Steep, Leniu.

Parramatta Eels 23
St George Illawarra Dragons 22

Lomax clinches a (blue and) golden point win

5 Apr 2025 5:16PM | Robert Crosby

PARRAMATTA EELS (23)
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr, Isaiah Iongi, Kitione Kautoga
Field Goals: Zac Lomax (1/1)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (2/2)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (22)
Tries: Clinton Gutherson (2), Christian Tuipulotu
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (2/2)

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal. Date: Sat, 5th April. Kickoff: 3:00 PM. Halftime: St Geo Illa 14-8. Penalties: 6-all. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 19,302.

Parramatta: Iongi, Russell, Penisini, Lomax, Addo-Carr; Brown, Hawkins; Ofahengaue, Guymer, Paulo (C), Lane, Kautoga, Hopgood. Int: Smith, Walker, Moretti, Tuivaiti.
St Geo Illa: Gutherson (C), Sloan, Suli, Holmes, Tuipulotu; Flanagan, Ilias; Couchman, Cook, Klemmer, Leilua, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Liddle, Lawrie, Stewart, Egan.

Gold Coast Titans 10
Dolphins 36

Dolphins break 2025 losing streak in style

5 Apr 2025 7:43PM | Josh Robertso

GOLD COAST TITANS (10)
Tries: Phillip Sami, AJ Brimson
Conversions: Jayden Campbell (1/2)

DOLPHINS (36)
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako, Daniel Saifiti, Max Plath, Connelly Lemuelu
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Jamayne Isaako (3/3)

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh. Date: Sat, 5th April. Kickoff: 4:30 PM. Halftime: Dolphins 16-0. Penalties: Dolphins 9-4. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 13,167.

Gold Coast: De Groot, Francis, Kelly, Fermor, Sami; Brimson, Campbell; Fotuaika, Randall, Campbell-Gillard, Haas, Fifita, Fa'asuamaleaui (C). Int: Mullany, Jolliffe, Gray, Hau.
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Averillo, Farnworth, Bostock; Nikorima, Katoa; Saifiti, Marshall-King, Nicholls, Finefeuiaki, Plath, Kaufusi (C). Int: Lemuelu, Donoghoe, Stone, Kerr.

Brisbane Broncos 46
Wests Tigers 24

Broncos blowout Tigers despite error-riddled performance

5 Apr 2025 9:49PM | Rhys Sullivan

BRISBANE BRONCOS (46)
Tries: Jesse Arthars (2), Adam Reynolds, Xavier Willison (2), Billy Walters, Gehamat Shibasaki
Two Point Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (4/4), Reece Walsh (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Reece Walsh (1/1)

WESTS TIGERS (24)
Tries: Luke Laulilii, Sunia Turuva, Starford To'a (2), Sione Fainu
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (2/3), Tallyn Da Silva (0/1), Adam Doueihi (0/1)

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal. Date: Sat, 5th April. Kickoff: 6:35 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 14-12. Penalties: Wests Tigers 10-5. Referee: Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 41,011.

Brisbane: Walsh, Cobbo, Staggs, Shibasaki, Arthars; Hunt, Reynolds (C); Carrigan, Paix, Haas, Gosiewski, Piakura, Hetherington. Int: Walters, Jensen, Willison, Hunt.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Turuva, Doueihi, To'a, Laulilii; Galvin, Fainu; May, Koroisau (C), Pole, Bird, Seyfarth, Twal. Int: Da Silva, Hunt, Fainu, Sukkar.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24
Melbourne Storm 48

Storm spine crush Sea Eagles' spirits

6 Apr 2025 6:00PM | James Robertson

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (24)
Tries: Tolutau Koula (2), Jason Saab, Clayton Faulalo
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)

MELBOURNE STORM (48)
Tries: Stefano Utoikamanu, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Grant Anderson (3), Bronson Garlick, Jack Howarth
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (7/7), Tyran Wishart (1/1)

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal. Date: Sun, 6th April. Kickoff: 4:05 PM. Halftime: Melbourne 18-10. Penalties: 7-all. Referee: Grant Atkins. Crowd: 17,346.

Manly: Hopoate, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Faulalo; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Sipley, Tevaga, Taukeiaho, Olakau'atu, Trbojevic, Trbojevic. Int: Brown, Simpkin, Waddell, Bullemor.
Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Anderson, Howarth, Leo, Coates; Munster, Hughes; Utoikamanu, Grant (C), King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Wishart, Garlick, MacDonald, Kamikamica.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20
Newcastle Knights 0

Dogs capitalise on Crossload trip-up

6 Apr 2025 8:58PM | Andrew Ferguson

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (20)
Tries: Josh Curran, Jack Todd, Kurt Mann
Conversions: Stephen Crichton (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Stephen Crichton (1/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (0)

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal. Date: Sun, 6th April. Kickoff: 6:15 PM. Halftime: Canterbury 2-0. Penalties: Canterbury 8-7. Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 24,113.

Canterbury: Tracey, Kiraz, Xerri, Crichton (C), Montoya; Hayward, Sexton; King, Mahoney, Suluka-Fifita, Curran, Preston, Salmon. Int: Mann, Hayes, Todd, Taaffe.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Schiller, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Sharpe, Cogger; Saifiti, Crossland, Thompson, Cant, Frizell, Elliott. Int: Brailey, Hetherington, McEwen, Croker.

Warriors had a bye this round.

Round 5 ladder

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

RLP stats leaders

TOP TRYSCORERS

TOP GOALKICKERS

TOP POINTSCORERS

Match review

The NRL's famed crackdown on high tackles has four players facing suspension. Titans' back rower Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dolphins utility Ray Stone are facing 1-2 games, while Brisbane's Brendan Piakura and Manly's Corey Waddell are looking at 2-3 games each. Thirteen others were fined across the weekend.

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 - Jye Gray (Rabbitohs)

8 points - Cameron Munster (Storm), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)

7 points - Clinton Gutherson (Dragons), Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers)

6 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

5 points - Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Max King (Bulldogs), Hudson Young (Raiders), Zac Lomax (Eels), James Tedesco (Roosters), Jayden Campbell (Titans), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

4 points - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Terrell May (Wests Tigers), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs), Payne Haas (Broncos)

3 points - Briton Nikora (Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Toby Sexton (Bulldogs), Peter Mamouzelos (Rabbitohs), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos), Connor Watson (Roosters), Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Xavier Willison (Broncos), Daniel Saifiti (Dolphins), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Erin Clark (Warriors), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sea Eagles), Bradman Best (Knights)

2 points - Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Keano Kini (Titans), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Bronson Xerri (Bulldogs), Cory Paix (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Jaxon Purdue (Cowboys), Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Fletcher Sharpe (Knights), William Kennedy (Sharks), Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Ali Leiataua (Warriors), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)

1 point - Harry Hayes (Bulldogs), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Ryley Smith (Eels), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Thomas Cant (Knights), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Jack Howarth (Storm), Savelio Tamale (Raiders), John Bateman (Cowboys), Matt Nicholson (Raiders), Shawn Blore (Storm), Sam Verrills (Titans), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs), Adam Elliott (Knights), James Fisher-Harris (Warriors), Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm), Jahream Bula (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 5 crowds

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.

There were no scorigamis this week.

CAN 24 CRO 20 - 76th time (most recently 2024 R12 WAR d DOL

NQL 22 PEN 18 - 85th time (most recently 2024 R25 CAN d PEN)

SOU 20 SYD 14 - 64th time (most recently 2024 R10 NEW d WST)

PAR 23 SGI 22 - 26th time (most recently 2023 R22 CBY d DOL)

DOL 36 GLD 10 - 28th time (most recently 2021 R15 PAR d CBY)

BRI 46 WST 24 - 6th time (most recently 2024 R23 MAN d CAN)

MEL 48 MAN 24 - 3rd time (most recently 2024 R16 WST d CAN)

CBY 20 NEW 0 - 25th time (most recently 2023 R11 SOU d WST)

Round 6 Fixtures

Times AEST

Dolphins v Penrith Panthers
Thu 10 Apr 7:50PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans
Fri 11 Apr 6:00PM at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal
Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters
Fri 11 Apr 8:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sat 12 Apr 3:00PM at Optus Stadium, Burswood / Whadjuk
South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys
Sat 12 Apr 5:30PM at Optus Stadium, Burswood / Whadjuk
Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders
Sat 12 Apr 7:35PM at TIO Stadium, Darwin / Larrakia

Melbourne Storm v Warriors
Sun 13 Apr 2:00PM at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
Sun 13 Apr 4:05PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

BYE: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Full 2025 NRL Draw & Results.