Monday's Expert - 2020 NRL Round 17

NRL

Monday's Expert is here - with the full results from NRL Round 17, along with Match Review charges, LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year leaderboard, injury news, crowd and TV ratings info.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).


RELATED: See the full list of 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.


Round 17 NRL Results
& Match Review Charges

Brisbane Broncos 12
Penrith Panthers 25

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Thursday 3 September 2020 at 7:50pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (12)
Tries: Kotoni Staggs, Jordan Riki
Conversions: Kotoni Staggs (2/2)

PENRITH PANTHERS (25)
Tries: Josh Mansour, Kurt Capewell, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o
Field Goals: Nathan Cleary (1/1)
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Nathan Cleary (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Nathan Cleary
2 points - James Fisher-Harris
1 points - Dylan Edwards

Reporter: Rob Crosby

Match review - Broncos v Panthers

Jordan RIKI (Broncos)
Grade 1 Crusher Tackle
55th minute on Nathan Cleary
Base penalty 200pts
1 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (20% loading)
25 carryover points to add.
Guilty / no contest = 240+25=265pts (2 matches)
OR Guilty - early plea = 180+25=205pts (2 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 2 matches. 5 carryover points accrued.

Jamil HOPOATE (Broncos)
Grade 1 Dangerous Throw
58th minute on James Fisher-Harris
Base penalty 100pts
1 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (20% loading)
40 carryover points to add
Guilty / no contest = 120+40=160pts (1 match)
OR Guilty - early plea = 90+40=130pts (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 1 match. 30 carryover points accrued.

Cory PAIX (Broncos)
Grade 1 Dangerous Throw
58th minute on James Fisher-Harris
Base penalty 100pts
Guilty / no contest = 100pts (1 match)
OR Guilty - early plea = 75pts (0 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. No suspension. 75 carryover points accrued.


Newcastle Knights 38
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Crowd: 5597
Date: Friday 4 September 2020 at 6:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (38)
Tries: Starford To'a (2), Kalyn Ponga (3), Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Josh King
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (0/2), Mason Lino (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Mason Lino (1/1)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (10)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, Connor Tracey
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (0/1), Bryson Goodwin (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Kalyn Ponga
2 points - Lachlan Fitzgibbon
1 points - Kurt Mann

Reporter: Justin Davies

Match review - Knights v Sharks

Chad TOWNSEND (Sharks)
Grade 3 Shoulder Charge
53rd minute on Kalyn Ponga
Base penalty 500pts
Guilty / no contest = 500pts (5 matches)
OR Guilty - early plea = 375pts (3 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 3 matches. 75 carryover points accrued.

Toby RUDOLF (Sharks)
Grade 1 Dangerous Throw
21st minute on Mason Lino
Base penalty 100pts
Guilty / no contest = 100pts (1 match)
OR Guilty - early plea = 75pts (0 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. No suspension. 75 carryover points accrued.

Wade GRAHAM (Sharks)
Grade 2 Dangerous Throw
21st minute on Mason Lino
Base penalty 300pts
Guilty / no contest = 300pts (3 matches)
OR Guilty - early plea = 225pts (2 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 2 matches. 25 carryover points accrued.

David KLEMMER (Knights)
Grade 1 Contrary Conduct
19th minute on Siosifa Talakai
Base penalty $750 fine
2 x similar prior offences last 2 years (100% loading)
Guilty / no contest = $1500 fine
OR Guilty - early plea = $1150 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $1150 fine.


South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Melbourne Storm 22

Venue: ANZ Stadium
Date: Friday 4 September 2020 at 7:55pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Campbell Graham, Cody Walker
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (2/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (22)
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen, Justin Olam, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Cameron Munster
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Ryan Papenhuyzen
2 points - Cameron Smith
1 points - Cody Walker

Reporter: Sam Bourke

Match review - Rabbitohs v Storm

Christian WELCH (Storm)
Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (head/neck)
42nd minute on Liam Knight
Base penalty 100pts
Guilty / no contest = 100pts (1 match)
OR Guilty - early plea = 75pts (0 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - no contest. Suspended 1 match. No carryover points.


Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14
Gold Coast Titans 18

Venue: ANZ Stadium
Date: Saturday 5 September 2020 at 3:00pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (14)
Tries: Nick Meaney, Kieran Foran, Lachlan Lewis
Conversions: Nick Meaney (1/2), Jake Averillo (0/1)

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Corey Thompson, Beau Fermor, Jamal Fogarty, Anthony Don
Conversions: Ashley Taylor (1/3), Jamal Fogarty (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Jamal Fogarty
2 points - Beau Fermor
1 points - Luke Thompson

Reporter: Justin Davies

No match review charges from this match


Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32
Wests Tigers 34

Venue: Lottoland
Date: Saturday 5 September 2020 at 5:30pm

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (32)
Tries: Morgan Harper (2), Jorge Taufua, Jack Gosiewski, Tevita Funa, Jake Trbojevic
Conversions: Daly Cherry-Evans (4/6)

WESTS TIGERS (34)
Tries: David Nofoaluma (3), Adam Doueihi (2), Moses Mbye
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (5/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - David Nofoaluma
2 points - Daly Cherry-Evans
1 points - Martin Taupau

Reporter: Andrew Ferguson

No match review charges from this match


Canberra Raiders 6
Sydney Roosters 18

Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra
Date: Saturday 5 September 2020 at 7:35pm

CANBERRA RAIDERS (6)
Tries: John Bateman
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: James Tedesco (2), Daniel Tupou
Field Goals: Kyle Flanagan (0/1)
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Kyle Flanagan (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - James Tedesco
2 points - Kyle Flanagan
1 points - Daniel Tupou

Reporter: Josh Robertson

No match review charges from this match


Warriors 18
Parramatta Eels 24

Venue: Central Coast Stadium
Date: Sunday 6 September 2020 at 4:05pm

WARRIORS (18)
Tries: Chanel Harris-Tavita (2), Hayze Perham
Conversions: Chanel Harris-Tavita (3/3)

PARRAMATTA EELS (24)
Tries: Maika Sivo, Jai Field, Blake Ferguson, Waqa Blake
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2 points - Junior Paulo
1 points - Clinton Gutherson

Reporter: Andrew Ferguson

No match review charges from this match


North Queensland Cowboys 23
St George Illawarra Dragons 22

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Date: Sunday 6 September 2020 at 6:30pm

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (23)
Tries: Francis Molo, Valentine Holmes, Jake Clifford, Kyle Feldt
Field Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/2), Jake Clifford (0/1)
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/4)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (22)
Tries: Euan Aitken, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jacob Host
Field Goals: Zac Lomax (0/1), Corey Norman (0/1)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Scott Drinkwater
2 points - Valentine Holmes
1 points - Josh Mcguire

Reporter: Adam Huxtable

No match review charges from this match


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


LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

At the conclusion of each match our reporters will 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 right here in Monday's Expert.

28 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
22 points - Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Cameron Smith (Storm)
19 points - Shaun Johnson (Sharks)
18 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights), James Tedesco (Roosters), Jack Wighton (Raiders)
15 points - Cameron Munster (Storm)
14 points - Brett Morris (Roosters)
13 points - Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Clinton Gutherson (Eels)
12 points - Luke Keary (Roosters)
11 points - Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Matthew Dufty (Dragons), George Williams (Raiders), Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
10 points - Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Jamal Fogarty (Titans)
9 points - David Klemmer (Knights), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Josh Papali'i (Raiders)
8 points - Dylan Brown (Eels), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Blake Green (Warriors), Kurt Mann (Knights)
7 points - Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Wade Graham (Sharks), Liam Martin (Panthers), Harry Grant (Storm), Peta Hiku (Warriors), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Ashley Taylor (Titans), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers)
6 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Eliesa Katoa (Warriors), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), Matt Burton (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Junior Paulo (Eels)
5 points - Corey Norman (Dragons), Maika Sivo (Eels), Nathan Brown (Eels), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Cade Cust (Sea Eagles), Jarrod Croker (Raiders), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Michael Morgan (Cowboys)
4 points - Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Storm), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Josh Morris (Sharks), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), Anthony Milford (Broncos), Shaun Lane (Eels), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Justin Olam (Storm)
3 points - Kevin Proctor (Titans), Bradman Best (Knights), Adam Clune (Dragons), Charlie Staines (Panthers), Will Kennedy (Sharks), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Joseph Leilua (Wests Tigers), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Young Tonumaipea (Titans), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Nick Meaney (Bulldogs), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Waqa Blake (Eels), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Brian Kelly (Titans), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles), John Bateman (Raiders), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Jack Murchie (Raiders)
2 points - Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Christian Welch (Storm), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Michael Jennings (Eels), Nick Cotric (Raiders), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Dale Finucane (Storm), David Fifita (Broncos), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Jorge Taufua (Sea Eagles), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Payne Haas (Broncos), Beau Fermor (Titans), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Corey Thompson (Wests Tigers), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Knights), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Emre Guler (Raiders), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)
1 point - Josh Mcguire (Cowboys), James Tamou (Panthers), Jordan Pereira (Dragons), Adam Pompey (Warriors), Luke Garner (Wests Tigers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Tom Starling (Raiders), Luke Thompson (Bulldogs), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Connor Watson (Knights), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Herman Ese'ese (Knights), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons), Phillip Sami (Titans), Ethan Lowe (Rabbitohs), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Adam Elliott (Bulldogs), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Brendan Elliot (Sea Eagles), Darius Boyd (Broncos), Caleb Aekins (Panthers), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers), Tom Opacic (Cowboys), Sam Lisone (Titans), Elliott Whitehead (Raiders), Andrew McCullough (Broncos), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs)


Sore points - injury update

Injury news that came out of Round 17 (and the lead-up)

Kalyn Ponga (Knights) - nose - 1 week
Phoenix Crossland (Knights) - concussion - monitored
Reed Mahoney (Eels) - shoulder - scans
Kieran Foran (Bulldogs) - pec - scans
Dylan Napa (Bulldogs) - knee - scans
Brian Kelly (Titans) - ankle - scans
Jaimin Jolliffe (Titans) - ankle - scans
Jorge Taufua (Sea Eagles) - calf - season
Josh Papali'i (Raiders) - shoulder - scans
Jake Friend (Roosters) - concussion - monitored
Curtis Scott (Raiders) - leg - 1-2 weeks
Keaon Kolomatangi (Rabbitohs) - concussion - monitored

The good news - who's back?

Players who are likely or possible to be back for their side this coming week, either via return from injury, resting or suspension.

Broncos: Joe Ofahengaue, Alex Glenn, Xavier Coates, Tom Flegler
Raiders: Curtis Scott, Emre Guler
Sharks: Shaun Johnson, Jackson Ferris
Storm: Tom Eisenhuth, Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Knights: Daniel Saifiti, Sione Mata'utia, Pasami Saulo, Edrick Lee
Cowboys: Coen Hess, Murray Taulagi
Panthers: Isaah Yeo, Dean Whare, Charlie Staines
Rabbitohs: Dane Gagai
Dragons: Paul Vaughan, Trent Merrin
Roosters: Jake Friend, Matt Ikuvalu, Mitch Aubusson
Warriors: Nathaniel Roache, Adam Keighran, Patrick Herbert, Jack Hetherington
Wests Tigers: Zane Musgrove, Michael Chee Kam


Metrics Metrics Metrics

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

Crowds - Round 17

Crowd figures can be found above in the match results section where available.

Ratings - Round 17

Thursday 7:50pm (BRI v PEN) - FTA 547K (metro 352K, regional 195K), STV 219K; TOTAL 766K

Friday 6pm (NEW v CRO) - STV only 215K

Friday 7:55pm (SOU v MEL) - FTA 556K (348K metro, 208K regional), STV 295K; TOTAL 854K

Saturday STV only
3pm (CBY v GLD) - 146K
5:30pm (MAN v WST) - 226K
7:35pm (CAN v SYD) - 307K

Sunday 4:05pm (WAR v PAR) - FTA 467K (280k metro, 187k regional), STV 237K; TOTAL 704K

Sunday 6:30pm (NQL v SGI) - STV only 207K