Monday's Expert - Round 25 wrap

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Monday's Expert is here - with a full wrap of everything happening around the rugby league traps this Monday 9 September 2019. Includes match review charges, POTY leaderboard, crowds, ratings and injury news.

First things first...

The results are in. Check out how Round 25 played out in our one-page results wrap. You can check out results from across the NSWRL and QRL competitions, as well as Super League and Championship here.

Our match reports for the twenty-fifth round can be found here.

Our Road to Glory Finals Guide maps out how the NRL, NSWRL and QRL finals series' proceed in the coming weeks. Check it out here.

And while we're on it, thank you as always to our dedicated volunteer updaters and writers - Andrew Jackson, Sam Bourke, Justin Davies, Andrew Ferguson, Josh Robertson, Rick Edgerton and Rob Crosby.

Match review

Nine players are on the charge sheet after Round 25's first six matches.

Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs)
22nd minute, Grade 1 Contrary Conduct on Billy Smith
Base penalty $1500 fine - not eligible for fine due to previous multiple charges in 2019
Replacement base penalty 100 points
1 x similar prior offence last 2 years (50% loading)
2 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (2 x 20% loading)
Guilty / no contest 190 points (1 match)
Early guilty plea 142 points (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: Suspended 1 match. 42 carryover points accrued.

Jared Waerea-Hargraves (Roosters)
74th minute, Grade 1 Careless High Tackle on Liam Knight
Base penalty $1500 fine - not eligible for fine due to previous multiple charges in 2019
Replacement base penalty 100 points
3 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (3 x 20% loading)
35 carryover points to add
Guilty / no contest 160+35=195 points (1 match)
Early guilty plea 120+35=155 points (1 match)
PLEA: Not guilty, faces judiciary Tuesday night.
OUTCOME: Found not guilty. No suspension, charge dismissed.

Josh McGuire (Cowboys)
56th minute, Grade 1 Tripping on Cameron Smith
Base penalty $1500 fine - not eligible for fine due to previous multiple charges in 2019
Replacement base penalty 100 points
4 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (4 x 20% loading)
35 carryover points to add.
Guilty / no contest 180+35=215 points (2 match)
Early guilty plea 135+35=170 points (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: Suspended 1 match. 70 carryover points accrued.

Kane Evans (Eels)
68th minute, Grade 2 Careless High Tackle on Brad Parker
Base penalty 150 points
Guilty / no contest 150 points (1 match)
Early guilty plea 112 points (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - disputes grading. Face judiciary Tuesday
OUTCOME: Downgrade unsuccessful. Suspended 1 match. 50 carryover points accrued.

Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles)
46th minute, Grade 3 Careless High Tackle on Ray Stone
Base penalty 200 points
Guilty / no contest 200 points (2 match)
Early guilty plea 150 points (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: Suspended 1 match. 50 carryover points accrued.

Agnatius Paasi (Warriors)
13th minute, Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (head/neck)
Base penalty 100 points
1 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (20% loading)
Guilty / no contest 120 points (1 match)
Early guilty plea 90 points (0 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: No suspension. 90 carryover points accrued.

Hudson Young (Raiders)
30th minute, Dangerous Contact (head/neck - contact with eye) on Adam Pompey
**Referred directly to Judiciary**
2 x similar prior offence last 2 years (2 x 50% loading)
32 carryover points to add
PLEA: Not guilty. Faces judiciary Tuesday night.
OUTCOME: Found guilty by judiciary. Suspended 8 matches.

Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
17th minute, Grade 1 Shoulder Charge on Luke Brooks
Base penalty 200 points
1 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (20% loading)
Guilty / no contest 240 points (2 matches)
Early guilty plea 180 points (1 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: Suspended 1 match. 80 carryover points accrued.

David Klemmer (Knights)
75th minute, Grade 1 Contrary Conduct on NRL Match Official
Base penalty $1500 fine
Guilty / no contest $1500 fine
Early guilty plea $1150 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea
OUTCOME: $1150 fine.

The LU Leaderboard

At the conclusion of each match our reporters choose their best three players from the match. You can views those points in each match in their respective match reports. Each week we'll update the leaderboard:

33 points - James Tedesco (Roosters)
31 points - Cameron Smith (Storm)
24 points - Cameron Munster (Storm)
22 points - Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Mitchell Moses (Eels)
21 points - Josh Papalii (Raiders)
20 points - Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
19 points - Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Payne Haas (Broncos), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), James Maloney (Panthers), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
18 points - John Bateman (Raiders), Anthony Milford (Broncos), Shaun Johnson (Sharks)
17 points - Luke Keary (Roosters), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
16 points - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs)
15 points - Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), David Klemmer (Knights), Michael Morgan (Cowboys), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
14 points - Clint Gutherson (Eels), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
13 points - Kenneath Bromwich (Storm), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
12 points - Josh Hodgson (Raiders), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Blake Green (Warriors), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Ben Hunt (Dragons)
11 points - Latrell Mitchell (Roosters), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)
10 points - Tyrone Roberts (Titans), Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
9 points - Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Paul Gallen (Sharks), David Fifita (Broncos), Josh Jackson (Bulldogs), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles)
8 points - Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Corey Thompson (Wests Tigers), Josh Morris (Sharks), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Panthers), Manase Fainu (Sea Eagles), Corey Norman (Dragons), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Maika Sivo (Eels), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs)
7 points - Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), John Asiata (Cowboys), Bronson Xerri (Sharks), Briton Nikora (Sharks)
6 points - Reed Mahoney (Eels), Issac Luke (Warriors), Brian To'o (Panthers), Jack Cogger (Bulldogs), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Brandon Smith (Storm), Michael Gordon (Titans)
5 points - Brian Kelly (Titans), Corey Oates (Broncos), Wade Graham (Sharks), Ryan Matterson (Wests Tigers), Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs), Corey Harawira-Naera (Bulldogs), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Blake Ferguson (Eels), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Boyd Cordner (Roosters), Aidan Sezer (Raiders), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs)
4 points - Jesse Bromwich (Storm), Ken Maumalo (Warriors), Nathan Brown (Eels), Matthew Lodge (Broncos), Liam Martin (Panthers), Mason Lino (Knights), Kane Elgey (Sea Eagles), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Jayden Okunbor (Bulldogs), Andrew Fifita (Sharks), Brodie Croft (Storm), Manu Ma'u (Eels), Michael Jennings (Eels), Gareth Widdop (Dragons)
3 points - Kyle Feldt (Cowboys), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), John Sutton (Rabbitohs), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Matt Moylan (Sharks), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Sam Verrills (Roosters), Brendan Elliot (Sea Eagles), Cooper Cronk (Roosters), Joel Thompson (Sea Eagles), Justin Olam (Storm), Victor Radley (Roosters), Dylan Brown (Eels), Brett Morris (Roosters), Jake Turpin (Broncos), Kodi Nikorima (Broncos), Connor Watson (Knights), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Jarrod Croker (Raiders), Kyle Flanagan (Sharks), James Graham (Dragons), Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs), Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles), Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos), Tevita Pangai (Broncos), Josh McGuire (Cowboys), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Jai Arrow (Titans), Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers), Brandon Wakeham (Bulldogs), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Aaron Woods (Sharks)
2 points - Joseph Leilua (Raiders), Daniel Alvaro (Eels), Herman Ese'ese (Knights), Jayden Brailey (Sharks), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Josh Dugan (Sharks), Phillip Sami (Titans), Paul Momirovski (Wests Tigers), Isaac Liu (Roosters), Scott Drinkwater (Storm), Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), Michael Chee-Kam (Wests Tigers), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Matt Burton (Panthers), Waqa Blake (Panthers), Ryan James (Titans), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Edrick Lee (Knights), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Blake Lawrie (Dragons), Josh Mansour (Panthers), Matt Scott (Cowboys), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Jarrod Wallace (Titans), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Connor Tracey (Rabbitohs), Danny Levi (Knights), Suliasi Vunivalu (Storm), Andrew McCullough (Broncos), Josh Hoffman (Eels), Joe Lovodua (Dragons), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers)
1 point - Jake Granville (Cowboys), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Anthony Don (Titans), Agnatius Paasi (Warriors), Peta Hiku (Warriors), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs), Jack Bird (Broncos), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Knights), Renouf To'omaga (Bulldogs), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Luciano Leilua (Dragons), Bailey Simonsson (Raiders), Sione Mata'utia (Knights), James Tamou (Panthers), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Reimis Smith (Bulldogs), Nathaniel Roache (Warriors), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Adam Elliott (Bulldogs), Shaun Lane (Eels), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Jacob Host (Dragons), Matthew Dufty (Dragons), Russell Packer (Wests Tigers), Jack Williams (Sharks), Christian Crichton (Bulldogs), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Cade Cust (Sea Eagles), Jesse Ramien (Knights), Tepai Moeroa (Eels), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Matt Prior (Sharks), Brad Takairangi (Eels), Jack Gosiewski (Sea Eagles), Gavin Cooper (Cowboys), Dylan Napa (Bulldogs)

Sore points

A quick look at some of the injury news to come out of Round 25:

Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles) - MCL - season

Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles) - foot - season

Brad Parker (Sea Eagles) - concussion - monitored

Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs) - hamstring - monitored

Junior Tatola, Liam Knight, John Sutton (Rabbitohs) - concussion - monitored

Cooper Cronk (Roosters) - shoulder - monitored

Michael Oldfield (Raiders) - shoulder - TBC

Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs) - shoulder - 2020

Ray Stone (Eels) - concussion - monitored

Lindsay Collins (Roosters) - concussion - monitored

The good news

Here's who clubs could be expecting back in the opening weekend of the finals, returning either from suspension, resting or injury - keep an eye out for their names on Tuesday as teamlists are named:

Broncos: Joe Ofahengaue

Raiders: Joe Tapine, Ata Hingano, Joey Leilua

Sharks: Matt Moylan

Sea Eagles: Morgan Boyle, Jack Gosiewski

Storm: Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr, Brandon Smith

Eels: Nathan Brown

Rabbitohs: Kyle Turner, James Roberts

Roosters: Siosiua Taukeiaho, Ryan Hall, Jake Friend

Metrics Metrics Metrics

Each week we'll do our best to keep you across the crowd figures and TV ratings which are often the most talked-about parts of the game.

Round 25 attendance (times are AEST)

Last year (NRL season 2018), 2,925,768 attended 192 matches at an average of 15,238 per game.

Here's how the 16 #NRL clubs' average home crowds look after the end of the 2019 regular season.

2,885,683 fans attended 192 #NRL matches in 2019, at an average of 15,030 per game.

https://t.co/Av6VllrFjx pic.twitter.com/Ds495plfvb
— LeagueUnlimited NRL & Rugby League News (@LeagueUnlimited) September 8, 2019

Round 25 ratings

Note: Ratings figures courtesy of Mediaweek Australia on Twitter and TV Tonight.

It's FINALS TIME!

Not just the NRL, but the finals series in the major competitions in both NSWRL and QRL (as well as BRL) are now on.

Check out our Road to Glory Finals Guide to see where your team sits in every grade.