2025 NRL: Round 25 Recap

Check out what happened in round 25 of the National Rugby League competition.

Review

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The Canberra Raiders (42, +172) and Melbourne Storm (40, +258) secured top two spots after beating the Penrith Panthers (at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee) and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (at AAMI Park) on Friday night. The Bulldogs (36, +114), and the NZ Warriors (34, +26) are third and fourth, while Brisbane (32, +148), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (32, +67), Penrith (31, +111), and the Sydney Roosters (28, +72) rounded out the top eight.

Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) and Ben Hunt (Brisbane) both celebrated their 350th games with big wins – over The Dolphins and Newcastle respectively.

There was a dramatic Golden Point finish between the Raiders and Panthers. With the score 16-16 in the 83rd minute, Nathan Cleary had a field goal shot from 37 metres out. The ball hit the upright, Jed Stuart recovered, and passed to Ethan Strange, who ran down the left-hand side (from his 15 metre line to the Panthers’ 20 metre line), before passing inside for Kaeo Weekes to score. Earlier, Casey McLean’s double gave Penrith a 10-6 half-time lead, with Liam Martin extending it to 16-6 early in the second half. GAME BREAKER: Canberra held Penrith scoreless for the last 36 minutes of the second half, allowing the Raiders to send the game into Golden Point through Simi Sasagi and Strange.

Melbourne’s win came with some controversy after Canterbury were denied a late try to potentially send the game to Golden Point. Matt Burton launched a bomb on the fifth tackle, with Stephen Crichton grounding it. But the Bunker ruled that the ball came forward off Crichton before he regripped it. Melbourne led 20-10 with 16 minutes left, but a Jacob Kiraz try kept the Bulldogs in it. GAME BREAKER: Xavier Coates’ try in the 50th minute not only put Melbourne up 18-6, but it put him at the top of the Ken Irvine Medal leaderboard (19 tries).

The New Zealand Warriors stayed in the top four after beating the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored a double as the Warriors led 18-6 at half-time. GAME BREAKER: With the Warriors leading by 12 at half-time, Adam Pompey and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (his first NRL try) scored two tries in five minutes to put the game away.

South Sydney had a big win over St George Illawarra Dragons at Accor Stadium, and the scene is set for Alex Johnston to potentially pass Ken Irvine this season. Johnston scored just before half-time (despite doubts over the final pass from Tallis Duncan) and needs three more tries against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium in round 27 to pass Irvine. Souths had seven individual try-scorers against the Dragons, with Ashton Ward kicking six goals. GAME BREAKER: Jye Gray showed why he’s one of the game’s most exciting fullbacks: he ran for 350 metres and his try gave Souths a 12-0 lead after 28 minutes.

• Lehi Hopoate, Luke Brooks, and Tom Trbojevic all scored doubles as Manly beat The Dolphins at 4 Pines Park.
• Parramatta beat the Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium, with doubles to Josh Addo-Carr and Jordan Samrani.
• Deine Marine scored a double in Brisbane’s win over Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• While Semi Valemei scored a double in North Queensland’s win over the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, Jahream Bula scored a try of the year contender, with the Tigers going 100 metres off a Cowboys error as the ball went through multiple sets of hands.

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Results

South Sydney Rabbitohs 40, St George-Illawarra Dragons 0 (Accor Stadium, 21 August 2025)

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Jye Gray (1 try), Alex Johnston (1 try), Isaiah Tass, Tallis Duncan (1 try), Tyrone Munro (1 try), Ashton Ward (6 goals), Jamie Humphreys, Sean Keppie, Siliva Havili, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jacob Host (1 try), Jai Arrow, Lachlan Hubner, Peter Mamouzelos (1 try), Brandon Smith, Cody Walker, Thomas Fletcher (1 try), Shaquai Mitchell (18th man – did not play)

St George-Illawarra Dragons: Clint Gutherson, Christian Tuipulotu, Hayden Buchanan, Mathew Feagai, Corey Allan, Lyhkan King-Togia, Kyle Flanagan, Emre Guler, Jacob Liddle, David Klemmer, Luciano Leilua, Jacob Halangahu, Damien Cook, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Blake Lawrie, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Tyrell Sloan (18th man – did not play)

Penrith Panthers 16, Canberra Raiders 20 (Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee, 22 August 2025)

Penrith Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Sunia Turuva, Izack Tago, Casey McLean, Brian To’o (1 try), Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary (2 goals), Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Lindsay Smith, Luke Garner (1 try), Liam Martin, Isaiah Papali’i (1 try), Brad Schneider (did not play), Liam Henry, Matthew Eisenhuth, Scott Sorensen, Paul Alamoti, Tom Jenkins (18th man – did not play)

Canberra Raiders: Kaeo Weekes (1 try), Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris, Xavier Savage, Ethan Strange (1 try), Jamal Fogarty (2 goals), Josh Papalii, Tom Starling, Joseph Tapine (1 try), Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Corey Horsburgh, Owen Pattie, Simi Sasagi (1 try), Morgan Smithies, Ata Mariota, Noah Martin (18th man – did not play)

Melbourne Storm 20, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14 (AAMI Park, 22/08/2025)

Melbourne Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1 try), Grant Anderson, Marion Seve, Nick Meaney (4 goals), Xavier Coates (1 try), Cameron Munster, Tyran Wishart, Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant, Josh King, Joe Chan, Eliesa Katoa (1 try), Trent Loiero, Jonah Pezet, Alec MacDonald, Tui Kamikamica, Ativalu Lisati, Nelson Asofa-Solomona (18th man – did not play)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Connor Tracey, Jacob Kiraz (1 try), Bronson Xerri, Stephen Crichton (1 goal), Marcelo Montoya, Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin, Max King, Bailey Hayward (1 try), Samuel Hughes, Viliame Kikau (1 try), Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon, Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, Reed Mahoney, Sitili Tupouniua, Josh Curran (18th man – did not play)

Gold Coast Titans 18, New Zealand Warriors 32 (CBUS Super Stadium, 23/08/2025)

Gold Coast Titans: AJ Brimson, Jaylan De Groot, Brian Kelly (1 try), Jojo Fifita, Phillip Sami, Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell (3 goals), Moeaki Fotuaika, Sam Verrills, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Chris Randall, Beau Fermor (1 try), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (1 try), Keano Kini, Klese Haas, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Patston, Tony Francis (18th man – did not play)

New Zealand Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey (1 try), Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2 tries), Chanel Harris-Tavita, Tanah Boyd (6 goals), James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore (1 try), Erin Clark, Demitric Vaimauga, Te Maire Martin, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (1 try), Leka Halasima, Samuel Healey (18th man – did not play)

Parramatta Eels 30, Sydney Roosters 10 (CommBank Stadium, 23/08/2025)

Parramatta Eels: Isaiah Iongi, Zac Lomax (2 goals), Will Penisini, Dylan Brown, Josh Addo-Carr (2 tries), Joash Papalii, Mitchell Moses (1 try, 1 goal), J’maine Hopgood (1 try), Ryley Smith, Junior Paulo, Jack Williams, Kelma Tuilagi, Dylan Walker, Tallyn Da Silva, Charlie Guymer, Matt Doorey, Jordan Samrani (2 tries), Toni Mataele (18th man – did not play)

Sydney Roosters: James Tedesco (1 try), Junior Tupou, Billy Smith, Robert Toia (1 try), Mark Nawaqanitawase, Hugo Savala (1 goal), Sam Walker, Lindsay Collins, Benaiah Ioelu, Spencer Leniu, Angus Crichton, Victor Radley, Naufahu Whyte, Connor Watson, Siua Wong, Salesi Foketi, Egan Butcher, Ethan King (18th man – did not play)

Newcastle Knights 12, Brisbane Broncos 46 (McDonald Jones Stadium, 24/08/2025)

Newcastle Knights: Dane Gagai, Dominic Young, Bradman Best (1 try), James Schiller, Fletcher Hunt, Jake Arthur, Jack Cogger (2 goals), Jacob Saifiti, Phoenix Crossland, Leo Thompson (1 try), Jermaine McEwen, Kai Pearce-Paul, Tyson Frizell, Reserves: Jayden Brailey, Mat Croker, Thomas Cant, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Connor Votano (18th man – did not play)

Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh (1 try, 3 goals), Josiah Karapani (1 try), Kotoni Staggs (1 try), Gehamat Shibasaki (1 try), Deine Mariner (2 tries), Billy Walters, Ben Hunt (1 goal), Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Payne Haas (1 try), Jaiyden Hunt, Jordan Riki (1 try), Patrick Carrigan, Reserves: Tyson Smoothy (1 goal), Kobe Hetherington (1 try), Ben Talty, Jesse Arthars, Fletcher Baker (18th man – did not play)

Wests Tigers 28, North Queensland Cowboys 34 (Leichhardt Oval, 24/08/2025)

Wests Tigers: Jahream Bula (try), Sunia Turuva, Taylan May (2 tries), Brent Naden (try), Jeral Skelton, Jarome Luai (try), Adam Doueihi, Terrell May, Api Koroisau (4 goals), Fonua Pole, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Alex Twal, Latu Fainu, Royce Hunt, Charlie Murray, Tony Sukkar, Heath Mason (18th man – did not play)

North Queensland Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater (5 goals), Semi Valemei (2 tries), Jaxon Purdue (try), Viliami Vailea, Braidon Burns (try), Jake Clifford, Tom Dearden (try), Jordan McLean, Reece Robson, Jason Taumalolo, John Bateman, Jeremiah Nanai (try), Reuben Cotter, Karl Lawton, Harrison Edwards, Zac Laybutt (did not play), Thomas Mikaele, Kai O’Donnell (18th man – did not play)