Check out what happened in round 23 (Indigenous Round) of the National Rugby League competition.
Review
Embed from Getty ImagesCanberra Raiders (38 points, +168) stayed in first place after beating Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium, followed by Melbourne Storm (36, +248), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (36, +140), and Penrith Panthers (31, +119). The New Zealand Warriors (30, +8), Brisbane Broncos (28, +104), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (28, +35), and the Dolphins (26, +119) rounded out the top eight.
Ethan Strange scored his first NRL hat-trick. Tolutau Koula put Manly ahead 12-10 early in the second half; then Strange’s second and third tries gave the Raiders the ascendancy as they bounced back from last week’s loss to the Dragons. Canberra’s final bye in round 24 (which moves them to 40 points) means they’ll remain in first place regardless of results.
The final margin of Melbourne’s win at AAMI Park didn’t reflect how competitive the Broncos were, especially after losing Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, and Selwyn Cobbo to hamstring injuries. Brisbane lost Reynolds and Mam after Xavier Coates intercepted a pass on his 10 metre line in the 21st minute. He seemed certain to score until Cobbo tackled him into touch. Cobbo was the third Bronco to go down in the 77th minute. Coates redeemed himself with two second half tries (Melbourne leading 12-2 at the break): his second coming from a contentious penalty try when he was ruled to have been tackled in the air.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs made the most of the wet conditions against the New Zealand Warriors at Accor Stadium. Three tries in 17 minutes (Viliame Kikau, Jethro Rinakama, and Enari Tuala) gave Canterbury a 20-2 half-time lead. Tuala scored a second try in the second half as the Bulldogs eased to victory.
Last after eight rounds, Penrith Panthers entered the top four after beating Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium. Casey McLean scored two of Penrith’s nine tries as the Panthers built on a 26-0 half-time lead. It’s Penrith’s ninth-straight win: their last loss coming against Newcastle in round 12.
- St George Illawarra Dragons defeated Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Jubilee Stadium – snapping a ten match losing streak in the Monty Porter Cup.
- The Sydney Roosters scored 11 tries to demolish the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium (a hat-trick to Mark Nawaqanitawase – his first in the NRL – and doubles to James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou).
- Alex Johnston scored a double as South Sydney broke a 10-game losing run, beating the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium. Johnston (209) is now only three tries away from Ken Irvine.
- Mitchell Moses kicked a one-point field goal as Parramatta beat North Queensland at CommBank Stadium. Josh Addo-Carr scored a double for the Eels.
Results
Melbourne Storm 22, Brisbane Broncos 2 (AAMI Park, 7 August 2025)
Melbourne Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1 try), Grant Anderson, Nick Meaney (3 goals), Joe Chan, Xavier Coates (2 tries), Cameron Munster, Tyran Wishart (1 try), Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eliesa Katoa, Trent Loiero, Jonah Pezet, Ativalu Lisati, Tui Kamikamica, Alec MacDonald, Bronson Garlick (18th man – did not play)
Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Deine Mariner, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds (1 goal), Corey Jensen, Ben Hunt, Payne Haas, Jack Gosiewski, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan, Billy Walters, Kobe Hetherington, Ben Talty, Jaiyden Hunt, Tyson Smoothy (18th man – did not play)
Newcastle Knights 12, Penrith Panthers 48 (McDonald Jones Stadium, 8 August 2025)
Newcastle Knights: Dane Gagai, Dominic Young, Fletcher Hunt, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Jake Arthur, Jack Cogger (2 goals), Jacob Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jermaine McEwen (1 try), Kai Pearce-Paul, Phoenix Crossland, Thomas Cant, Mat Croker (1 try), Tyson Frizell, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Tyson Gamble (18th man – did not play)
Penrith Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Tom Jenkins (1 try), Izack Tago (1 try), Casey McLean (2 tries), Brian To’o (1 try), Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary (6 goals), Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Lindsay Smith (1 try), Luke Garner (1 try), Liam Martin, Isaiah Papali’i (1 try), Brad Schneider, Liam Henry (1 try), Matthew Eisenhuth, Scott Sorensen, Paul Alamoti (18th man – did not play)
Canberra Raiders: Kaeo Weekes, Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris (1 try), Xavier Savage (1 try), Ethan Strange (3 tries), Jamal Fogarty (4 goals), Josh Papalii, Tom Starling, Joseph Tapine, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Corey Horsburgh, Owen Pattie, Simi Sasagi, Morgan Smithies, Ata Mariota, Noah Martin (18th man – did not play)
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic (1 try), Jason Saab, Tolutau Koula (1 try), Tommy Talau, Reuben Garrick (2 goals), Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans, Matthew Lodge, Jake Simpkin, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Corey Waddell, Michael Chee Kam, Jake Trbojevic, Jazz Tevaga, Aaron Schoupp, Ethan Bullemor, Toafofoa Sipley, Caleb Navale (18th man – did not play)
St George-Illawarra Dragons 22, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14 (Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 9 August 2025)
St George-Illawarra Dragons: Clint Gutherson (1 try), Tyrell Sloan (1 try), Mosese Suli, Hayden Buchanan (1 try), Corey Allan, Lyhkan King-Togia, Kyle Flanagan (3 goals), Emre Guler (1 try), Damien Cook, David Klemmer, Luciano Leilua, Hamish Stewart, Jack de Belin, Jacob Liddle, Hame Sele, Blake Lawrie, Jacob Halangahu, Ben Murdoch-Masila (18th man – did not play)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: William Kennedy, Sione Katoa (II), Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes (3 goals), Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Braden Hamlin-Uele (1 try), Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton (1 try), Cameron McInnes, Toby Rudolf, Thomas Hazelton, Billy Burns, Hohepa Puru, Daniel Atkinson (18th man – did not play)
Dolphins 12, Sydney Roosters 64 (Suncorp Stadium, 9 August 2025)
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako (2 goals), Max Feagai, Tevita Naufahu (2 tries), Jake Averillo, Kodi Nikorima, Isaiya Katoa, Francis Molo, Jeremy Marshall-King, Aublix Tawha, Oryn Keeley, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Kurt Donoghoe, Mark Nicholls, Connelly Lemuelu, Ray Stone, Josh Kerr, Trai Fuller (18th man – did not play)
Sydney Roosters: James Tedesco (2 tries), Daniel Tupou (1 try), Joseph Manu (1 try), Joey Suaalii (1 try, 8 goals), Fetalaiga Pauga, Sandon Smith (1 try), Luke Keary (1 try), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (1 try), Brandon Smith (1 try), Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher, Siua Wong, Victor Radley, Naufahu Whyte, Spencer Leniu (2 tries), Terrell May, Egan Butcher, Zach Dockar-Clay (18th man – did not play)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32, New Zealand Warriors 14 (Accor Stadium, 9 August 2025)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Jacob Kiraz, Jethro Rinakama (1 try), Bronson Xerri, Stephen Crichton (1 try, 6 goals), Enari Tuala (2 tries), Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin, Max King, Bailey Hayward, Samuel Hughes, Viliame Kikau (1 try), Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon, Reed Mahoney, Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, Josh Curran, Daniel Suluka-Fifita (18th man – did not play)
New Zealand Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey (3 goals), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (1 try), Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, Jackson Ford, Freddy Lussick, James Fisher-Harris, Marata Niukore, Kurt Capewell, Erin Clark, Samuel Healey (1 try), Leka Halasima, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (18th man – did not play)
Gold Coast Titans 18, South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 (CBUS Super Stadium, 10 August 2025)
Gold Coast Titans: AJ Brimson, Jaylan De Groot (1 try), Brian Kelly, Jojo Fifita, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell (3 goals), Jaimin Jolliffe, Sam Verrills (1 try), Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Chris Randall, Beau Fermor (1 try), Klese Haas, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Patston, Tukimihia Simpkins, Arama Hau (18th man – did not play)
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Jye Gray, Alex Johnston (2 tries), Isaiah Tass, Latrell Mitchell, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (1 try, 4 goals), Ashton Ward, Jamie Humphreys, Siliva Havili, Peter Mamouzelos, Sean Keppie, Tallis Duncan, Jacob Host, Jai Arrow, Lachlan Hubner, Liam Le Blanc, Brandon Smith, Thomas Fletcher, Tyrone Munro (18th man – did not play)
Parramatta Eels 19, North Queensland Cowboys 18 (CommBank Stadium, 10 August 2025)
Parramatta Eels: Joash Papalii, Zac Lomax (3 goals), Will Penisini (1 try), Dylan Brown, Josh Addo-Carr (2 tries), Dean Hawkins, Mitchell Moses (1 field goal), J’maine Hopgood, Ryley Smith, Junior Paulo, Charlie Guymer, Jack Williams, Luca Moretti, Dylan Walker, Tallyn Da Silva, Matt Doorey, Kelma Tuilagi, Jordan Samrani (18th man – did not play)
North Queensland Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater, Braidon Burns (1 try), Zac Laybutt (3 goals), Jaxon Purdue (2 tries), Semi Valemei, Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden, Jason Taumalolo, Reece Robson, Coen Hess, John Bateman, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Marly Bitungane, Kai O’Donnell, Nicholas Lenaz, Kaiden Lahrs, Jaxson Paulo (18th man – did not play)
