2025 NRL: State of Origin Game 3 and Round 18 Recap

Check out what happened in round 18 (and State of Origin Game 3) of the National Rugby League competition.

Review

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Canberra (30 points, +108) moved two points clear at the top with a win over St George Illawarra at GIO Stadium, followed by Melbourne (28, +202), Canterbury-Bankstown (28, +92), and the NZ Warriors (26, +11). Brisbane (22, +68), Penrith (21, +3), The Dolphins (20, +162), and Manly Warringah (20, +58) rounded out the top eight.

Newcastle, Gold Coast, Penrith, Cronulla-Sutherland, Parramatta, NZ Warriors, and The Dolphins all collected two bye points in the final Origin split round.

Kaeo Weekes scored a hat-trick (including two long-range tries) as the Raiders led 28-12 after 60 minutes. Morgan Smithies also scored his first NRL try. But the Dragons cut the margin to four points with tries to Tyrell Sloan (his second) and Kyle Flanagan. Canberra hung on for their seventh straight win and have a bye next weekend.

Brisbane came from 18-0 down to beat Canterbury-Bankstown at Accor Stadium. Canterbury controlled the first 44 minutes, with Matt Burton scoring 10 points (a try and three goals). But four tries in 15 minutes (Josiah Karapani, Delouise Hoeter, Billy Walters, Brendan Piakura) completed the Broncos’ fourth straight win and their second win over Canterbury this season.

Melbourne defeated North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium to move into the top two. While both sides were missing their Origin players, the Storm (who were also missing the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen) found enough for their fifth straight win. Nick Meaney scored 18 points (two tries and five goals) and his penalty goal in the 61st minute broke an 18-18 deadlock.

The Wests Tigers broke a six-game losing streak, beating the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium; Reuben Garrick and Tom Trbojevic scored two tries each as Manly Warringah beat South Sydney at 4 Pines Park.

State of Origin Game 3

Queensland won the 2025 Origin series – their third series win since 2022. Like in Game 2 in Perth, the Maroons raced to a big lead at Accor Stadium: they scored three tries in 21 minutes (Xavier Coates, Tom Dearden, and Harry Grant) to lead 20-0 at half-time. But there was no miracle almost-comeback from NSW this time, with Dearden’s second try sealing the series win with seven minutes left. As we’ve seen so often in 40+ years of Origin, the Maroons responded after being written off following their Game 1 loss. Cameron Munster won his first Origin series as captain after replacing Daly Cherry-Evans.

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Results

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18 lost to Brisbane Broncos 22 (Accor Stadium, 4/7/2025, 20:00)

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 4. Enari Tuala 3. Bronson Xerri 6. Matt Burton 5. Marcelo Montoya 14. Lachlan Galvin 7. Toby Sexton 8. Harry Hayes 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 19. Jake Turpin 13. Bailey Hayward 15. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin 21. Jack Todd 2. Blake Wilson

Players cut from final squad: 16. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Jethro Rinakama 22. Luke Smith 23. Jack Underhill

Broncos: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 18. Delouise Hoeter 4. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 10. Xavier Willison 9. Cory Paix 16. Tyson Smoothy 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Jaiyden Hunt 17. Jack Gosiewski 19. Ben Talty 21. Va’a Semu

Players cut from final squad: 5. Jesse Arthars 8. Corey Jensen 20. Blake Mozer 22. Josh Rogers

Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Chris Butler

Canberra Raiders 28 defeated St George-Illawarra Dragons 24 (GIO Stadium, 5/7/2025, 17:30)

Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 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. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart

Players cut from final squad: 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders 19. Pasami Saulo

Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Corey Allan 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 12. Jaydn Su’A 17. Michael Molo 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 18. Blake Lawrie 19. Viliami Fifita 20. Nicholas Tsougranis

Players cut from final squad: 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Hame Sele 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Jacob Halangahu

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Ashley Klein

North Queensland Cowboys 20 lost to Melbourne Storm 26 (QLD Country Bank Stadium, 5/7/2025, 19:35)

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 18. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Harrison Edwards 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Sam McIntyre 14. Temple Kalepo 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kaiden Lahrs 17. Coen Hess 19. Marly Bitungane

Players cut from final squad: 5. Murray Taulagi 20. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Mason Kira 21. Jaxson Paulo

Storm: 4. Nick Meaney 5. Kane Bradley 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 22. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 15. Alec MacDonald 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Jonah Pezet 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Ativalu Lisati 19. Coby Williamson

Players cut from final squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 18. Josiah Pahulu 20. Gabriel Satrick 21. Keagan Russell-Smith

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Bunker: Chris Butler

Sydney Roosters 28 lost to Wests Tigers 30 (Allianz Stadium, 6/7/2025, 14:00)

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 18. Ethan King 5. Tom Rodwell 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Egan Butcher 12. Salesi Foketi 13. Blake Steep 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Max McCathie 16. Taylor Losalu 17. Delasalle Vaa 21. Ben Johnson

Players cut from final squad: 3. Billy Smith 19. Ethan Roberts 20. Chad Townsend 22. Tyler Moriarty

Tigers: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Charlie Staines 3. Luke Laulilii 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Tristan Hope 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 17. Tony Sukkar 13. Alex Twal 14. Charlie Murray 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Sione Fainu 18. Kit Laulilii 19. Brent Naden

Players cut from final squad: 12. Jack Bird 20. Royce Hunt 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Izaac Tu’itupou

Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Adam Gee

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (4 Pines Park, 6/7/2025, 16:05)

Sea Eagles: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Tommy Talau 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Michael Chee Kam

Players cut from final squad: 19. Clayton Faulalo 21. Joey Walsh 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 20. Caleb Navale

Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 12. Tallis Duncan 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 22. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Jai Arrow 20. Jacob Host 13. Lachlan Hubner 9. Siliva Havili 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Davvy Moale 18. Ryan Gray 17. Lewis Dodd

Players cut from final squad: 3. Euan Aitken 14. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Cody Walker 19. Sean Keppie

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Bunker: Grant Atkins

BYES: Dolphins, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Gold Coast Titans, New Zealand

Match Review