TEAMS: 2025 Women's State of Origin Series
8 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2025 NRL Round 8
A full wrap of the weekend's action - MONDAY'S EXPERT recaps all the teamsheets, details, scores and scorers from Round 8 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 local times to the venue the game is played.
RELATED: See the full list of 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.
Brisbane Broncos 42
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18
Monsoonal massacre in Milton as Broncos bully Bulldogs
24 Apr 2025 10:03PM | James Robertson
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal. Date: Thu, 24th April. Kickoff: 7:50 PM. Halftime: Brisbane 34-0. Penalties: 8-all. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 40,233.
Brisbane: Cobbo, Mariner, Staggs, Shibasaki, Arthars; Hunt, Reynolds (C); Carrigan, Walters, Haas, Willison, Piakura, Hetherington. Int: Paix, Jensen, Hunt, Smoothy.
Canterbury: Tracey, Kiraz, Xerri, Crichton (C), Montoya; Burton, Sexton; King, Mahoney, Curran, Kikau, Preston, Salmon. Int: Mann, Tupouniua, Hayes, Hayward.
BRISBANE BRONCOS (42)
Tries: Xavier Willison, Adam Reynolds, Deine Mariner (2), Gehamat Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, Billy Walters
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (4/5), Selwyn Cobbo (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Selwyn Cobbo (1/1)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Marcelo Montoya, Jacob Preston, Bronson Xerri
Conversions: Stephen Crichton (3/3)
Sydney Roosters 46
St George Illawarra Dragons 18
Slayin' Smith destroys Dragons
25 Apr 2025 6:33PM | Andrew Ferguson
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal. Date: Fri, 25th April. Kickoff: 4:00 PM. Halftime: Sydney 20-6. Penalties: Sydney 6-3. Referee: Todd Smith. Crowd: 41,021.
Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, Smith, Toia, Nawaqanitawase; Smith, Savala; Leniu, Watson, Whyte, Crichton, Wong, Radley. Int: Dockar-Clay, Foketi, Steep, Butcher.
St Geo Illa: Gutherson (C), Sloan, Suli, Holmes, Finau; Flanagan, Ilias; Couchman, Cook, Klemmer, Egan, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Leilua, Liddle, Lawrie, Guler.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (46)
Tries: Sandon Smith (2), Mark Nawaqanitawase, Hugo Savala, Blake Steep, James Tedesco (2)
Conversions: Sandon Smith (5/6), Hugo Savala (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Sandon Smith (2/2), Hugo Savala (1/1)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (18)
Tries: Sione Finau, Kyle Flanagan, Tyrell Sloan
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)
Warriors 26
Newcastle Knights 12
Warrior forward power punishing disjointed Newcastle
25 Apr 2025 7:58PM | AJ Lucantonio
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch / Aotearoa. Date: Fri, 25th April. Kickoff: 8:05 PM. Halftime: Warriors 16-0. Penalties: Newcastle 6-3. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 17,095.
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuaupiki, Berry, Leiataua, Pompey; Harris-Tavita, Metcalf; Niukore, Egan, Barnett (C), Capewell, Halasima, Clark. Int: Ford, Afoa, Vaimauga, Laban.
Newcastle: Ponga (C), Schiller, Gagai, Best, Marzhew; Sharpe, Cogger; Frizell, Brailey, Thompson, Lucas, Pearce-Paul, Croker. Int: Crossland, Thompson, Cant, Jones.
WARRIORS (26)
Tries: Adam Pompey (2), Jackson Ford (2), Wayde Egan
Conversions: Luke Metcalf (2/4), Taine Tuaupiki (1/1)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (12)
Tries: James Schiller, Brodie Jones
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (2/2)
Melbourne Storm 24
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Storm win Anzac Day clash over Rabbitohs
25 Apr 2025 10:29PM | Sam Bourke
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri. Date: Fri, 25th April. Kickoff: 8:10 PM. Halftime: 10-all. Penalties: South Sydney 6-4. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 26,010.
Melbourne: Papenhuyzen, Fa'alogo, Anderson, Meaney, Coates; Munster (C), Hughes; Utoikamanu, Garlick, King, Blore, Katoa, Loiero. Int: Wishart, MacDonald, Chan, Vaalepu.
South Sydney: Mitchell (C), Bentley-Hape, Wighton, Graham, Tass; Gray, Sullivan; Keppie, Mamouzelos, Tatola, Koloamatangi, Aitken, Arrow. Int: Havili, Moale, Duncan, Dodd.
MELBOURNE STORM (24)
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen, Xavier Coates, Eliesa Katoa, Tyran Wishart
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1/1)
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Jack Wighton (2), Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (2/3)
North Queensland Cowboys 50
Gold Coast Titans 18
Cowboys raise bat as Titans tumble
26 Apr 2025 8:36PM | Tim Costello
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba. Date: Sat, 26th April. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: Gold Coast 18-12. Penalties: Gold Coast 6-5. Referee: Chris Butler. Crowd: 20,349.
North Qld: Drinkwater, Derby, Purdue, Vailea, Taulagi; Dearden (C), Clifford; McLean, Robson, Taumalolo, Bateman, Nanai, Cotter. Int: McIntyre, Neame, Hess, Edwards.
Gold Coast: De Groot, Khan-Pereira, Kelly, Sami, Fifita; Brimson, Weaver; Fotuaika, Verrills, Campbell-Gillard, Randall, Fermor, Fa'asuamaleaui (C). Int: Fifita, Jolliffe, Gray, Hau.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (50)
Tries: Jake Clifford, Jeremiah Nanai (2), Robert Derby (3), Jaxon Purdue, Reece Robson, Murray Taulagi
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (6/8), Murray Taulagi (1/1)
GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Jojo Fifita, Brian Kelly, Beau Fermor
Conversions: Tom Weaver (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Tom Weaver (1/1)
Penrith Panthers 10
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 26
Sea Eagles soar to send the Panthers last
26 Apr 2025 9:50PM | Robert Crosby
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal. Date: Sat, 26th April. Kickoff: 7:35 PM. Halftime: Manly 14-0. Penalties: Manly 9-7. Referee: Belinda Sharpe. Crowd: 14,534.
Penrith: Edwards, Alamoti, Tago, Mclean, Jenkins; Talagi, Cleary (C); Leota, Schneider, Henry, Sorensen, Martin, Yeo. Int: Sommerton, Papali'i, Smith, Geyer.
Manly: Trbojevic, Talau, Koula, Garrick, Hopoate; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Bullemor, Simpkin, Taukeiaho, Olakau'atu, Trbojevic, Tevaga. Int: Waddell, Brown, Chan Kum Tong, Navale.
PENRITH PANTHERS (10)
Tries: Blaize Talagi, Izack Tago
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (1/2)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (26)
Tries: Reuben Garrick, Tommy Talau, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (2/2)
Canberra Raiders 40
Dolphins 28
Raiders overturn 18-point HT deficit to blow Dolphins away
27 Apr 2025 5:10PM | Josh Robertson
Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal. Date: Sun, 27th April. Kickoff: 2:00 PM. Halftime: Dolphins 28-10. Penalties: 5-all. Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 15,686.
Canberra: Weekes, Tamale, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Horsburgh, Starling, Tapine (C), Young, Nicholson, Smithies. Int: Pattie, Hosking, Papalii, Mariota.
Dolphins: Tabuai-Fidow, Isaako, Averillo, Farnworth, Bostock; Nikorima, Katoa; Saifiti, Stone, Molo, Finefeuiaki, Gilbert (C), Nicholls. Int: Lemuelu, Kerr, Bromwich, O'Sullivan.
CANBERRA RAIDERS (40)
Tries: Savelio Tamale, Jamal Fogarty, Kaeo Weekes, Zac Hosking, Ethan Strange, Matt Nicholson, Sebastian Kris
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (5/7)
Penalty Goals: Jamal Fogarty (1/1)
DOLPHINS (28)
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako, Herbie Farnworth, Daniel Saifiti, Jake Averillo
Conversions: Jamayne Isaako (4/5)
Wests Tigers 20
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18
Galvin-ised Tigers win golden point epic
27 Apr 2025 6:11PM | Andrew Jackson
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal. Date: Sun, 27th April. Kickoff: 4:05 PM. Halftime: Wests Tigers 10-6. Penalties: Wests Tigers 10-7. Referee: Grant Atkins. Crowd: 14,812.
Wests Tigers: Bula, Turuva, Doueihi, To'a, Naden; Galvin, Luai (C); May, Koroisau, Pole, Fainu, Seyfarth, Twal. Int: Da Silva, Hunt, Bird, Fainu.
Cronulla: Kennedy, Stonestreet, Ramien, Hiroti, Mulitalo; Trindall, Hynes; Fonua-Blake, Brailey, Kaufusi, Nikora, Burns, McInnes (C). Int: Atkinson, Talakai, Hau Tapuha, Hazelton.
WESTS TIGERS (20)
Tries: Samuela Fainu, Sunia Turuva, Tallyn Da Silva
Field Goals: Adam Doueihi (0/1)
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Adam Doueihi (2/2)
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, William Kennedy, Billy Burns
Field Goals: Braydon Trindall (0/1)
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (3/3)
Parramatta Eels had a bye this round.
Round 8 ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | B | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canterbury | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 74 | 14 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 78 | 12 |
| 3 | Canberra | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 12 |
| 4 | Warriors | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 12 |
| 5 | Brisbane | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 10 |
| 6 | North Qld | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -10 | 10 |
| 7 | Cronulla | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 8 |
| 8 | Manly | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 8 |
| 9 | Wests Tigers | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 8 |
| 10 | St Geo Illa | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -8 | 8 |
| 11 | South Sydney | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -44 | 8 |
| 12 | Dolphins | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| 13 | Sydney | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -52 | 6 |
| 14 | Gold Coast | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | -68 | 6 |
| 15 | Newcastle | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | -74 | 6 |
| 16 | Parramatta | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | -107 | 6 |
| 17 | Penrith | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | -26 | 4 |
RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.
RLP stats leaders
TOP TRYSCORERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T |
| 1 | Jesse Arthars | Brisbane | 8 | 10 |
| 2 | Sunia Turuva | Wests Tigers | 8 | 8 |
| 3 | Christian Tuipulotu | St Geo Illa | 5 | 7 |
| = | Tyrell Sloan | St Geo Illa | 6 | 7 |
| = | Ryan Papenhuyzen | Melbourne | 7 | 7 |
| = | Xavier Coates | Melbourne | 7 | 7 |
| = | Hudson Young | Canberra | 8 | 7 |
| = | Sebastian Kris | Canberra | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Murray Taulagi | North Qld | 7 | 6 |
| = | Jaxon Purdue | North Qld | 7 | 6 |
| = | Samuel Stonestreet | Cronulla | 8 | 6 |
| = | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 8 | 6 |
| = | Paul Alamoti | Penrith | 8 | 6 |
TOP GOALKICKERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | G/A | % |
| 1 | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 8 | 37 / 44 | 84% |
| 2 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 8 | 35 / 44 | 80% |
| 3 | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 8 | 32 / 37 | 86% |
| 4 | Adam Reynolds | Brisbane | 8 | 29 / 38 | 76% |
| 5 | Sandon Smith | Sydney | 8 | 24 / 31 | 77% |
| = | Valentine Holmes | St Geo Illa | 7 | 24 / 32 | 75% |
| 7 | Ryan Papenhuyzen | Melbourne | 7 | 23 / 26 | 88% |
| = | Nathan Cleary | Penrith | 7 | 23 / 26 | 88% |
| = | Scott Drinkwater | North Qld | 7 | 23 / 30 | 77% |
| 10 | Nicho Hynes | Cronulla | 8 | 22 / 30 | 73% |
TOP POINTSCORERS
| Rank | Player | Team | P | T | G | FG | Pts |
| 1 | Reuben Garrick | Manly | 8 | 6 | 35 | - | 94 |
| 2 | Jamayne Isaako | Dolphins | 8 | 4 | 32 | - | 80 |
| 3 | Jamal Fogarty | Canberra | 8 | 1 | 37 | - | 78 |
| 4 | Ryan Papenhuyzen | Melbourne | 7 | 7 | 23 | - | 74 |
| 5 | Adam Reynolds | Brisbane | 8 | 3 | 29 | 0/1 | 72 |
| 6 | Sandon Smith | Sydney | 8 | 5 | 24 | - | 68 |
| 7 | Valentine Holmes | St Geo Illa | 7 | 2 | 24 | - | 56 |
| 8 | Scott Drinkwater | North Qld | 7 | 2 | 23 | - | 54 |
| 9 | Luke Metcalf | Warriors | 7 | 4 | 17 | - | 50 |
| 10 | Nicho Hynes | Cronulla | 8 | 1 | 22 | - | 48 |
Match review
Oh boy. Where do we start? On a weekend with EIGHTEEN sin-bins, there are plenty of charges. Fourteen players were charged with fifteen offences from the first six games of the round, with seven of those facing suspension.
| Dylan Edwards | PEN | $750 - $1000 |
| Sandon Smith Marata Niukore Griffin Neame Casey McLean Siosiua Taukieaho | SYD WAR NQL PEN MAN | $1000 - $1500 |
| Leo Thompson | NEW | $1800 - $2500 |
| Brock Gray | GLD | $3000 - 2 matches |
| Matt Burton Latrell Mitchell | CBY SOU | 1-2 matches |
| Josh Curran Sitili Tupouniua | CBY CBY | 3-4 matches |
| Sitili Tupouniua Jaimin Jolliffe Scott Sorensen | CBY GLD PEN | 2-3 matches |
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.
11 points - Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers)
10 points - Terrell May (Wests Tigers)
9 points - Jye Gray (Rabbitohs), Hudson Young (Raiders), James Tedesco (Roosters)
8 points - Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Cameron Munster (Storm), Max King (Bulldogs), Payne Haas (Broncos), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)
7 points - Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Clinton Gutherson (Dragons)
6 points - Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Erin Clark (Warriors), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
5 points - Jayden Campbell (Titans), William Kennedy (Sharks), Zac Lomax (Eels), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
4 points - Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs), Xavier Willison (Broncos), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Connor Watson (Roosters)
3 points - Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos), Toby Sexton (Bulldogs), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sea Eagles), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Jaxon Purdue (Cowboys), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Dylan Egan (Dragons), Tyrell Sloan (Dragons), Daniel Saifiti (Dolphins), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Xavier Coates (Storm), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Peter Mamouzelos (Rabbitohs), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Bradman Best (Knights), Sandon Smith (Roosters), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)
2 points - Robert Derby (Cowboys), Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Billy Smith (Roosters), Jake Simpkin (Sea Eagles), Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Keano Kini (Titans), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Fletcher Sharpe (Knights), Cory Paix (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Dylan Brown (Eels), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Savelio Tamale (Raiders), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Ali Leiataua (Warriors), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Bronson Xerri (Bulldogs), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Hugo Savala (Roosters), Paul Alamoti (Panthers)
1 point - Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Beau Fermor (Titans), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Moses Leota (Panthers), Toby Couchman (Dragons), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Matt Nicholson (Raiders), Adam Elliott (Knights), James Fisher-Harris (Warriors), Harry Hayes (Bulldogs), Sam Verrills (Titans), Shawn Blore (Storm), Thomas Cant (Knights), David Fifita (Titans), Samuel Stonestreet (Sharks), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Ryley Smith (Eels), John Bateman (Cowboys), Jack Howarth (Storm), Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), Starford To'a (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 8 crowds
| Thu | 19:50 | BRI v CBY | Suncorp | 40,233 |
| Fri | 16:00 | SYD v SGI | Allianz | 41,021 |
| Fri | 18:05 | WAR v NEW | Apollo Proj | 17,095 |
| Fri | 20:10 | MEL v SOU | AAMI | 26,010 |
| Sat | 17:30 | NQL v GLD | QLD CB | 20,349 |
| Sat | 19:35 | PEN v MAN | Commbank | 14,534 |
| Sun | 14:00 | CAN v DOL | GIO | 15,686 |
| Sun | 16:05 | WST v CRO | Leichhardt | 14,812 |
| Rnd 8 TOT | Rnd 8 AVG | Season TOT | Season AVG |
| 189,740 | 23718 | 1,312,487 | 21169 |
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.
BRI def CBY 42-18 - 18th time (most recently 2024 R23 BRI d NQL)
SYD d SGI 46-18 - 8th time (most recently 2024 R22 GLD d BRI)
WAR d NEW 26-12 - 96th time (most recently 2025 R4 MAN d PAR)
MEL d SOU 24-16 - 88th time (most recently 2025 R6 NQL d SOU)
NQL d GLD 50-18 - 5th time (most recently 2021 R14 MAN d NQL)
MAN d PEN 26-10 - 60th time (most recently 2023 R9 GLD d MAN)
CAN d DOL 40-28 - 7th time (most recently 2024 R18 MEL d WST)
WST d CRO 20-18 - 104th time (most recently 2025 R6 WAR d BRI)
Next Week's Fixtures
Times AEST
Women's State of Origin - Game I
Queensland v New South Wales
Wed 1 May 7:45PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Magic Round - Round 9
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Parramatta Eels
Fri 2 May 6:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Sydney Roosters v Dolphins
Fri 2 May 8:05PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights
Sat 3 May 3:00PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys
Sat 3 May 5:30PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sat 3 May 7:45PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun 4 May 1:50PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos
Sun 4 May 4:05PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
Sun 4 May 6:25PM at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal