MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2025 NRL Round 18

NRL24

A full wrap of the weekend's action - MONDAY'S EXPERT recaps all the teamsheets, details, scores and scorers from Round 18 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 AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).


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


Comeback Kids: Broncos come from 18 down to beat Bulldogs

4 Jul 2025 10:05PM | Josh Robertson

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18 Brisbane Broncos 22
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Date: Fri, 4th July. Kickoff: 8:00 PM. Halftime: Canterbury 16-0. Penalties: Canterbury 6-5. Referee: Todd Smith. Crowd: 25,234.

Canterbury: Tracey, Tuala, Xerri, Burton, Montoya; Galvin, Sexton; Hayes, Mahoney, Hughes, Kikau (C), Preston, Turpin. Int: Hayward, Curran, Morrin, Todd.
Brisbane: Cobbo, Karapani, Staggs, Hoeter, Mariner; Mam, Reynolds (C); Smoothy, Paix, Willison, Piakura, Riki, Hetherington. Int: Walters, Hunt, Gosiewski, Talty.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Marcelo Montoya, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau
Conversions: Matt Burton (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Matt Burton (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (22)
Tries: Josiah Karapani, Delouise Hoeter, Billy Walters, Brendan Piakura
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/4)


Three times a Weekes: Raiders rumble desperate Dragons

5 Jul 2025 7:26PM | Tim Costello

Canberra Raiders 28 St George Illawarra Dragons 24
Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Date: Sat, 5th July. Kickoff: 5:30 PM. Halftime: Canberra 12-6. Penalties: St Geo Illa 6-5. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 15,932.

Canberra: Weekes, Stuart, Timoko, Kris, Savage; Strange, Fogarty; Horsburgh, Starling, Tapine (C), Sasagi, Hosking, Smithies. Int: Pattie, Martin, Mooney, Mariota.
St Geo Illa: Gutherson (C), Finau, Suli, Allan, Sloan; King-Togia, Flanagan; Guler, Cook, Klemmer, Molo, Su'A, De Belin. Int: Liddle, Pasifiki Tonga, Lawrie, Fifita.

CANBERRA RAIDERS (28)
Tries: Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes (3), Morgan Smithies
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (4/5)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (24)
Tries: Tyrell Sloan (2), Kyle Flanagan, Jaydn Su'A
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Kyle Flanagan (1/1)


Star-less Storm pip Cowboys

5 Jul 2025 9:55PM | Andrew Ferguson

North Queensland Cowboys 20 Melbourne Storm 26
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

Date: Sat, 5th July. Kickoff: 7:35 PM. Halftime: 12-all. Penalties: 5-all. Referee: Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 20,383.

North Qld: Drinkwater (C), Derby, Purdue, Laybutt, Burns; Clifford, Duffy; McLean, Edwards, Neame, Bateman, O'Donnell, McIntyre. Int: Kalepo, Mikaele, Lahrs, Hess.
Melbourne: Meaney, Pio, Chan, Anderson, Bradley; Wishart, Hughes (C); Kamikamica, Garlick, King, Blore, Katoa, MacDonald. Int: Asofa-Solomona, Pezet, Vaalepu, Lisati.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (20)
Tries: Robert Derby, Scott Drinkwater, Jaxon Purdue
Conversions: Scott Drinkwater (2/2), Jake Clifford (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Scott Drinkwater (1/1)

MELBOURNE STORM (26)
Tries: Eliesa Katoa, Nick Meaney (2), Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Conversions: Nick Meaney (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Nick Meaney (1/1)


Everything's Fainu as Wests Tigers stun Roosters

6 Jul 2025 4:04PM | Robert Crosby

Sydney Roosters 28 Wests Tigers 30
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Date: Sun, 6th July. Kickoff: 2:00 PM. Halftime: Wests Tigers 20-10. Penalties: Wests Tigers 6-4. Referee: Peter Gough. Crowd: 24,311.

Sydney: Tedesco (C), Tupou, King, Nawaqanitawase, Rodwell; Smith, Savala; Whyte, Ioelu, Makatoa, Butcher, Foketi, Steep. Int: Dockar-Clay, McCathie, Losalu, Va'a.
Wests Tigers: Turuva, Staines, Laulilii, To'a, Skelton; Doueihi, Fainu; May, Hope, Pole, Fainu, Sukkar, Twal (C). Int: Murray, Seyfarth, Fainu, Laulilii.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (28)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Mark Nawaqanitawase (2), Hugo Savala, James Tedesco
Conversions: Sandon Smith (4/5)

WESTS TIGERS (30)
Tries: Charlie Staines, Latu Fainu, Sione Fainu, Samuela Fainu
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Adam Doueihi (3/3)


Manly march on with another home win over depleted Bunnies

6 Jul 2025 5:56PM | AJ Lucantonio

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

Date: Sun, 6th July. Kickoff: 4:05 PM. Halftime: Manly 14-0. Penalties: Manly 7-6. Referee: Wyatt Raymond. Crowd: 17,298.

Manly: Hopoate, Saab, Koula, Trbojevic, Garrick; Brooks, Cherry-Evans (C); Lodge, Tevaga, Taukeiaho, Waddell, Trbojevic, Trbojevic. Int: Simpkin, Talau, Bullemor, Sipley.
South Sydney: Johnston, Tass, Duncan, Graham, Munro; Wighton (C), Humphreys; Tatola, Smith, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Host, Hubner. Int: Havili, Le Blanc, Moale, Gray.

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Reuben Garrick (2), Tom Trbojevic (2), Daly Cherry-Evans, Tolutau Koula
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (3/6)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (12)
Tries: Tallis Duncan (2), Isaiah Tass
Conversions: Jamie Humphreys (0/1), Isaiah Tass (0/2)


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Dolphins, Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Warriors had a bye this round.


NRL ladder after Round 18

#TeamPWDLB+/-Pts
1Canberra171403110830
2Melbourne151104320228
3Canterbury15110439228
4Warriors15100531126
5Brisbane1690726822
6Penrith157173321
7Dolphins16808216220
8Manly1680825820
9Sydney1570831420
10Cronulla168082-420
11St Geo Illa156093-4918
12North Qld166192-14017
13Newcastle1660102-6716
14Wests Tigers1660102-8216
15Parramatta1550103-10316
16South Sydney1760111-12914
17Gold Coast1540113-14414

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


RLP stats leaders

TOP TRYSCORERS

Rank Player Team P T
1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Dolphins 14 15
2 Mark Nawaqanitawase Sydney 13 13
3 Ryan Papenhuyzen Melbourne 14 12
= Gehamat Shibasaki Brisbane 15 12
5 Alex Johnston South Sydney 9 11
= Tyrell Sloan St Geo Illa 12 11
= Fletcher Sharpe Newcastle 14 11
= Toluta'u Koula Manly 15 11
= Jesse Arthars Brisbane 15 11
= Reuben Garrick Manly 16 11
11 KL Iro Cronulla 9 10
= Xavier Coates Melbourne 12 10
= Murray Taulagi North Qld 13 10
= Hudson Young Canberra 14 10
= Grant Anderson Melbourne 14 10
= Sunia Turuva Wests Tigers 16 10
= Xavier Savage Canberra 16 10
= Herbie Farnworth Dolphins 16 10

TOP GOALKICKERS

Rank Player Team P G/A %
1 Jamayne Isaako Dolphins 16 79 / 90 88%
2 Jamal Fogarty Canberra 16 60 / 76 79%
3 Adam Reynolds Brisbane 16 59 / 73 81%
4 Ryan Papenhuyzen Melbourne 14 58 / 69 84%
= Reuben Garrick Manly 16 58 / 77 75%
6 Sandon Smith Sydney 15 50 / 60 83%
7 Nicho Hynes Cronulla 16 49 / 65 75%
8 Adam Doueihi Wests Tigers 15 42 / 56 75%
= Valentine Holmes St Geo Illa 13 42 / 57 74%
= Scott Drinkwater North Qld 16 42 / 58 72%
= Luke Metcalf Warriors 15 42 / 63 67%
12 Nathan Cleary Penrith 12 40 / 44 91%
13 Stephen Crichton Canterbury 12 37 / 44 84%
14 Jayden Campbell Gold Coast 11 33 / 41 80%
15 Latrell Mitchell South Sydney 10 28 / 36 78%
16 Zac Lomax Parramatta 10 26 / 33 79%
17 Kalyn Ponga Newcastle 13 19 / 25 76%
18 Nick Meaney Melbourne 11 17 / 19 89%
19 Matt Burton Canterbury 10 16 / 19 84%

TOP POINTSCORERS

Rank Player Team P T G FG Pts
1 Jamayne Isaako Dolphins 16 8 79 - 190
2 Ryan Papenhuyzen Melbourne 14 12 58 1 165
3 Reuben Garrick Manly 16 11 58 - 160
4 Adam Reynolds Brisbane 16 3 59 0/1 132
5 Jamal Fogarty Canberra 16 2 60 - 128
6 Sandon Smith Sydney 15 5 50 - 120
7 Luke Metcalf Warriors 15 8 42 1 117
8 Scott Drinkwater North Qld 16 7 42 - 112
9 Valentine Holmes St Geo Illa 13 6 42 - 108
10 Nicho Hynes Cronulla 16 2 49 - 106
11 Adam Doueihi Wests Tigers 15 2 42 - 92
12 Nathan Cleary Penrith 12 2 40 - 88
13 Jayden Campbell Gold Coast 11 4 33 - 82
= Stephen Crichton Canterbury 12 2 37 - 82
15 Latrell Mitchell South Sydney 10 2 28 0/1 66
16 Zac Lomax Parramatta 10 3 26 1 65
17 Nick Meaney Melbourne 11 7 17 - 62
18 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Dolphins 14 15 - - 60
19 Mark Nawaqanitawase Sydney 13 13 - - 52

Match review

Only two players have been charged up to Saturday night so far in NRL Round 18.

Kaeo WEEKESCAN$1500 - $2000
David KLEMMERSGI$1000 - $1500

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.

20 points - Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
19 points - Luke Metcalf (Warriors)
16 points - James Tedesco (Roosters)
15 points - Payne Haas (Broncos/Blues)
14 points - Terrell May (Wests Tigers), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Tom Dearden (Cowboys/Maroons)
12 points - Clinton Gutherson (Dragons), Zac Lomax (Eels/Blues)
11 points - Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders)
10 points - Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans)
9 points - Cameron Munster (Storm), Hudson Young (Raiders), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Jye Gray (Rabbitohs)
8 points - Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Erin Clark (Warriors), Xavier Willison (Broncos), Max King (Bulldogs), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
7 points - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Beau Fermor (Titans), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Bradman Best (Knights), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Jayden Campbell (Titans)
6 points - Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Ben Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Isaiah Iongi (Eels), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), William Kennedy (Sharks), Savelio Tamale (Raiders), Sandon Smith (Roosters)
5 points - Shawn Blore (Storm), Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Thomas Jenkins (Panthers), Sualauvi Faalogo (Storm), Jack Williams (Eels), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Dean Hawkins (Eels), Billy Smith (Roosters), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Fletcher Sharpe (Knights), Xavier Savage (Raiders), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Isaah Yeo (Panthers/Blues)
4 points - Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Moses Leota (Panthers), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Connor Watson (Roosters), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Xavier Coates (Storm), Dylan Lucas (Knights), Harry Grant (Storm), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sea Eagles), Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles)
3 points - Tyrell Sloan (Dragons), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Kai Pearce-Paul (Knights), Owen Pattie (Raiders), Damien Cook (Dragons), Jacob Saifiti (Knights), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Latu Fainu (Wests Tigers), Victor Radley (Roosters), Dylan Brown (Eels), Hugo Savala (Roosters), Harry Hayes (Bulldogs), Grant Anderson (Storm), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Blaize Talagi (Panthers), Zac Hosking (Raiders), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jaxon Purdue (Cowboys), Toby Sexton (Bulldogs), Billy Burns (Sharks), Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), Demitric Vaimauga (Warriors), Daniel Saifiti (Dolphins), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Nick Meaney (Storm), Peter Mamouzelos (Rabbitohs), Dylan Egan (Dragons), Ethan Strange (Raiders), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Sione Katoa (Sharks), Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
2 points - Joash Papali'i (Eels), Ezra Mam (Broncos), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Tallis Duncan (Rabbitohs), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Moses Suli (Dragons), Chris Randall (Titans), Isaiah Papali'i (Panthers), Simi Sasagi (Raiders), David Klemmer (Dragons), Jaxson Paulo (Cowboys), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Blake Steep (Roosters), Luron Patea (Panthers), Toby Couchman (Dragons), Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Cory Paix (Broncos), Keano Kini (Titans), Bronson Xerri (Bulldogs), Ali Leiataua (Warriors), Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Starford To'a (Wests Tigers), Naufahu Whyte (Roosters), Jake Simpkin (Sea Eagles), Phillip Sami (Titans), Robert Derby (Cowboys), Brian To'o (Panthers/Blues)
1 point - Jayden Brailey (Knights), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Jack Howarth (Storm), Ryley Smith (Eels), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Sam Verrills (Titans), Sebastian Kris (Raiders), Jaimin Jolliffe (Titans), Billy Walters (Broncos), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Tyson Gamble (Knights), John Bateman (Cowboys), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Fletcher Hunt (Knights), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Clayton Faulalo (Sea Eagles), Casey McLean (Panthers), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Brendan Piakura (Broncos), Thomas Cant (Knights), James Fisher-Harris (Warriors), Adam Elliott (Knights), David Fifita (Titans), Samuel Stonestreet (Sharks), Matt Nicholson (Raiders), Kieran Foran (Titans), Kurt Capwell (Warriors/Maroons)


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 18 crowds

Fri20:00CBY v BRIAccor25,234
Sat17:30CAN v SGIGIO15,932
Sat19:35NQL v MELQLD CB20,383
Sun14:00SYD v WSTAllianz24,311
Sun16:05MAN v SOU4 Pines17,298
Rnd 18 TOTRnd 18 AVGSeason TOTSeason AVG
103,158206322,643,08319873

Average home crowds

TeamHome Avg
Brisbane40,968
Canterbury33,286
Dolphins25,021
Warriors23,670
Sydney23,057
Melbourne21,685
Newcastle20,308
North Qld18,681
Manly16,989
Canberra16,333
Souths16,015
Parramatta15,739
Penrith15,011
Wests Tigers14,896
Gold Coast13,910
St Geo Illa12,652
Cronulla11,979

*excludes Vegas, Magic Round and neutral venue games.


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.

Brisbane defeated Canterbury 22-18
This is the 87th occurrence of this score, most recently 2025 Round 17, Canberra defeated Newcastle.

Canberra defeated St Geo Illa 28-24
This is the 52nd occurrence of this score, most recently 2024 Round 11, Newcastle defeated Gold Coast.

Melbourne defeated North Qld 26-20
This is the 45th occurrence of this score, most recently 2025 Round 16, Newcastle defeated Dolphins

Wests Tigers defeated Sydney 30-28
This is the 20th occurence of this score, most recently 2024 Round 26, Warriors defeated Cronulla

Manly defeated South Sydney 30-12
Thiis the 56th occurence of this score, most recently 2025 Round 14, Canterbury defeated Parramatta

There were no scorigamis this week.


Upcoming fixtures

Times AEST.

State of Origin - Game 3

New South Wales v Queensland
Wed 9 Jul 8:05pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

NRL Round 19

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Dolphins
Fri 11 Jul 8:00PM at Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm
Sat 12 Jul 3:00PM at McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal
St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters
Sat 12 Jul 5:30PM at Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal
North Queensland Cowboys v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sat 12 Jul 7:35PM at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

Warriors v Wests Tigers
Sun 13 Jul 2:00PM at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa (4pm NZ)
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers
Sun 13 Jul 4:05PM at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal
Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos
Sun 13 Jul 6:15PM at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

BYES: Canberra, Manly, South Sydney

Full 2025 NRL Draw & Results.