Check out what happened in round 12 (and State of Origin Game 1) of the National Rugby League competition.
Review
Embed from Getty ImagesCanterbury-Bankstown (20 points, +74) are still on top after round 12, despite losing to The Dolphins at Accor Stadium. Canberra (18, +70), The NZ Warriors (18, -1), and Melbourne (16, +135) are in the top four. Cronulla-Sutherland (14, +44), South Sydney (14, -52), North Queensland (13, -32), and Brisbane (12, +42) round out the top eight.
The Gold Coast, South Sydney, Brisbane, North Queensland, Melbourne, St George Illawarra, and the Wests Tigers all collected two bye points in the first Origin split round.
Canberra won a blockbuster top four clash against the NZ Warriors at Go Media Stadium. With the game tied 10-10, the Raiders scored the only second half try in the 62nd minute – to Jamal Fogarty – and held onto a six-point lead. Fogarty finished with 12 of the Raiders’ 16 points: scoring the try and kicking four goals from four attempts. There was drama in the final three minutes when Tom Starling was sin binned for a late and high shot on Chanel Harris-Tavita. The Warriors led 8-0 after 23 minutes when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored. They looked like blowing the game open when Corey Horsburgh was sin binned a few minutes later, but Starling scored to get Canberra back into the game. It’s Canberra’s second win over the Warriors this season.
Daniel Tupou scored two tries as the Sydney Roosters beat Cronulla-Sutherland at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium. While the Roosters were missing five players to Origin, they led 32-6 when debutant Xavier Va’a scored in the 54th minute. Cronulla threatened a comeback when KL Iro and Ronaldo Mulitalo scored, but James Tedesco and Dominic Young sealed the win and kept the Roosters in touch with the top eight.
The Dolphins built on a 14-8 half-time lead against Canterbury: scoring 24 points in the last 17 minutes and keeping the Bulldogs scoreless in the second half. Jamayne Isaako finished with 20 points (a try and eight goals).
Dylan Lucas scored a hat-trick in Newcastle’s win over Penrith at Bathurst’s Carrington Park. Newcastle took advantage of the weakened Panthers (minus five Origin players), with Lucas bringing up his hat-trick in the first 25 minutes as Newcastle led 24-0 at half-time. Penrith are back in last place with their finals hopes slipping away.
Parramatta scored 20 straight points in 25 minutes against Manly Warringah at CommBank Stadium. The game turned in the 59th minute: with Manly trailing 22-10, Lehi Hopoate (with two tries already) was denied a hat-trick when he stretched out with his right hand for the left corner, but his left arm was out of bounds. J’maine Hopgood punished them immediately to put the game away.
State of Origin Game 1
Zac Lomax scored two tries as New South Wales won Origin 1 at Suncorp Stadium. Though the final scoreline didn’t reflect NSW’s dominance: they scored four tries to one. Lomax’s double gave NSW a 14-0 after 35 minutes, but a Brian To’o sin bin gave Queensland an opening. Xavier Coates scored early in the second half to cut NSW’s lead to eight. After nearly 30 minutes with no further scores, Dylan Edwards secured the game (from a brilliant Connor Watson offload in traffic) following a sustained attacking period on the Maroons’ try line. NSW have won consecutive games in Brisbane for the first time since 1997/98. Game 2 in is Perth: NSW have won both games at Optus Stadium so far.
#Origin Image: NRL socials
Embed from Getty ImagesResults
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 8 lost to Dolphins 44 (Accor Stadium, 22/5/2025, 19:50)
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Blake Taaffe 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 10. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 16. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Harry Hayes 13. Bailey Hayward 8. Lipoi Hopoi 14. Jake Turpin 15. Kurtis Morrin 17. Luke Smith 21. Jack Underhill
Players cut from final squad: 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jonathan Sua 22. Zyon Maiu’u 23. Mitchell Woods
Dolphins: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Oryn Keeley 13. Ray Stone 12. Connelly Lemuelu 14. Harrison Graham 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan
Players cut from final squad: 19. Aublix Tawha 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Junior Tupou 22. Tevita Naufahu
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Adam Gee
Parramatta Eels 30 defeated Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 (CommBank Stadium, 23/5/2025, 20:00)
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 12. Kitione Kautoga 15. Luca Moretti 13. J’maine Hopgood 11. Kelma Tuilagi 14. Dylan Walker 16. Ryan Matterson 18. Joash Papali’i 17. Matt Doorey
Players cut from final squad: 19. Joey Lussick 20. Toni Mataele 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Samuel Loizou
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 12. Ben Trbojevic 15. Corey Waddell 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Lachlan Croker 16. Nathan Brown 17. Matthew Lodge 22. Caleb Navale 18. Clayton Faulalo
Players cut from final squad: 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 19. Brandon Wakeham 20. Tommy Talau 21. Michael Chee Kam
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Bunker: Grant Atkins
Penrith Panthers 6 lost to Newcastle Knights 25 (Carrington Park, Bathurst, 24/5/2025, 17:30)
Panthers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Thomas Jenkins 20. Jesse McLean 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matt Eisenhuth 3. Izack Tago 12. Liam Henry 13. Lindsay Smith 11. Preston Riki 14. Luke Sommerton 16. Luron Patea 21. Harrison Hassett 17. Jack Cole
Players cut from final squad: 18. Trent Toelau 19. Austin Dias 22. Billy Phillips
Knights: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Kyle McCarthy 5. Fletcher Hunt 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 16. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 17. Thomas Cant 19. Paul Bryan 20. Matthew Arthur
Players cut from final squad: 10. Leo Thompson 18. Jack Hetherington 21. Connor Votano 22. Jackson Hastings
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Bunker: Ashley Klein
Sydney Roosters 42 defeated Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16 (Industree Group Stadium), 24/5/2025, 19:35)
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Makahesi Makatoa 14. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Salesi Foketi 11. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 9. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Taylor Losalu 16. Blake Steep 19. Xavier Va’a 18. Ethan King
Players cut from final squad: 17. Nat Butcher 20. Ethan Roberts 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Tom Rodwell
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Mawene Hiroti 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Players cut from final squad: 18. Hohepa Puru 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Teig Wilton 22. Chris Veaila
Referee: Grant Atkins
Bunker: Chris Butler
New Zealand Warriors 10 lost to Canberra Raiders 16 (Go Media Stadium, 25/5/2025, 16:05)
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 22. Ali Leiataua 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 10. Bunty Afoa 9. Wayde Egan 12. Marata Niukore 4. Kurt Capewell 11. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 8. Jackson Ford 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 21. Tanah Boyd
Players cut from final squad: 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Tom Ale 20. Samuel Healey 23. Taine Tuaupiki
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Jed Stuart
Players cut from final squad: 19. Trey Mooney 20. Danny Levi 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Chevy Stewart
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Kasey Badger
BYES: Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, St George-Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans, Wests Tigers
Queensland Maroons Vs New South Wales Blues (Suncorp Stadium, 28/5/2025, 20:05)
Maroons: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Xavier Coates, 3. Robert Toia, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Reuben Cotter, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 14. Tom Dearden, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Beau Fermor, 17. Trent Loiero, 18. Kurt Mann
Players cut from final squad: 19. Jesse Arthars, 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Blues: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Stephen Crichton, 4. Latrell Mitchell, 5. Zac Lomax, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Mitchell Barnett, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Liam Martin, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Hudson Young, 17. Max King, 18. Campbell Graham
Players cut from final squad: 19. Stefano Utoikamanu, 20. Haumole Olakau’atu
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Chris Butler
Match Review
Josh Curran (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $3000 fine.
Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Grade 1 Contrary Conduct. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1800 fine.
Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers), Grade 2 Crusher Tackle. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 2 matches.
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Grade 2 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match.
Jacob Laban (New Zealand Warriors), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1000 fine.
Corey Horsburgh (Canberra Raiders), Grade 1 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $1800 fine.
Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders), Grade 1 Shoulder Charge. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – $3000 fine.
Tom Starling (Canberra Raiders), Grade 2 Dangerous Contact. Outcome: Early Guilty Plea – 1 match.
