Missed all the rugby league results this weekend because you were distracted by Cooper Cronk’s commentary. No, of course you didn’t. But if you genuinely did, or you need/want more or less, The Gurgler has you covered for the with our 2026 NRL Round 8 Results & Stats – One Minute Match Reports.
Our “popular” One Minute Match Reviews offers up just enough facts and figures and opinion to make it through the awkward chats the next morning on public transport, or something to talk about when ringing into the local ABC breakfast show of your choice. Or just enough level of interest so you don’t have to make eye contact with that jerk in the office you really don’t want to have to be nice to.
Regardless of how you spend your time, the One Minute Match Report has you just about covered.
2026 NRL Round 8 Results & Stats Summary
Here are the main stats from the latest round of NRL that can be used to solve arguments, impress that person on the train you’ve been eyeing off for months, or slowing the rise of petrol prices.
TEAMS THAT CAN’T WIN THE PREMIERSHIP
- Melbourne Storm – conceded 50 points v Penrith.
- Dolphins – conceded 50 points v Manly in Round 5.
- St George Illawarra – lost seven in a row to start season – sacked coach – lost next game conceding 62 points.
- Gold Coast, Parramatta – conceded 50 points earlier in the season. Parramatta twice, coincidentally once v Gold Coast.
- Bulldogs – can beat Penrith, can’t beat two teams with a combined injury toll of 27 players over two rounds.
DROUGHT OVER / GOOD TIMES OVER
- It was the Wests Tigers first win at Leichhardt v Canberra since 2010.
- North Queensland only secured their third win in 17 games v Cronulla.
- It was South Sydney’s first win in Melbourne at their 21st attempt.
- It was South Sydney’s first win in Melbourne on a Saturday at their 11th attempt.
- Melbourne’s run of ten straight Anzac Day wins has come to a close.
GOOD/BAD RUNS CONTINUE
- Bulldogs have lost six Friday games in a row.
- Melbourne has lost six in a row for the first time since 2002 and the first under Craig Bellamy.
- Penrith have won nine in a row v Newcastle in Newcastle with a last loss in 2015.
- Parramatta have lost their last eight away Sunday games
2026 NRL Round 8 Results & Stats – Match by Match
Match Summary and Stats
An evenly poised game at half time, but the Wests Tigers kicked on with it in the second half, led by their halves Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi. Canbbera tried their best, but missing their two biggest influencers on the field was always going to make it hard. A 23-0 second half set up victory, and they sit second on the ladder in some good rugby league news.
The Points of Interest
- It was the Wests Tigers first win at Leichhardt v Canberra since 2010.
- Overall at Leichhardt recently vs anyone – Wests Tigers have won five of their last six. On a Thursday at Leichhardt v anyone is W4 L1.
- Wests Tigers have won their last two games on a Thursday.
- Going back to 2016, Canberra had won 14 of the last 17 games v Wests Tigers.
Match Summary and Stats
Todd Payten has saved his job for a few more weeks yet after a good win against a Cronulla side who had a very good record against the Cowboys. Plenty of points helps the spectacle but neither coach will be happy to concede more than 30 points. The result sees each team swap position either side of the top 8 line in the ladder.
The Points of Interest
- North Queensland only secured their third win in 17 games v Cronulla.
- It was only North Queensland’s second win in their last eight home games v Cronulla.
- It was only Cronulla have third loss of their last 17 Friday games.
- Before this match: Cronulla have won their last four away games to Qld sides on a Friday.
Match Summary and Stats
A severely under-manned Broncos have pulled of an incredible result, overcoming a glut of Bulldogs possession in the first ten minutes to run out easy winners in their Round 8 clash. For a second week in a row the Bulldogs came up against a very under strength side and for a second week in a row they were well beaten, to the point that just about everyone has forgotten they beat Penrith in Round 6. All the Broncos played well, but Xavier Willison stepped up yet again, Ezra Mam looked dangerous again, and even the no-name Qld Cup bench did the job. Great squad news for the Broncos, bad, bad result and effort for the Bulldogs.
The Points of Interest
- Brisbane have now won eight of their last nine v Bulldogs.
- Brisbane have won five of their last six v Bulldogs on a Friday.
- Brisbane have now won nine of their last ten at Suncorp Stadium v Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs have lost six Friday games in a row.
Match Summary and Stats
Unsurprisingly, it was all Shane Flanagan’s fault, as his midweek sacking made no difference, and if anything the Dragons looked worse than ever. They conceded the magical 50+ points, eliminating their premiership chances, if they still had any. It was one of those ominous performances from the Roosters, which doesn’t seem to happen as often as they should. Nevertheless it was an awesome performance from the Roosters with 11 tries in all shared between six first half tries and another five in the second. James Tedesco had a field day, and will make the Origin selection a hard task.
The Points of Interest
- The Roosters have won the last four Anzac Day clashes v Dragons now, and have scored 60 in two of the last three games. The Roosters have scored 168 points over the last three Anzac Day clashes.
- Dragons have lost six in a row at Allianz Stadium
- It’s now 12 losses in a row for the Dragons.
Match Summary and Stats
A tense, see-sawing and physical encounter saw the Warriors get home over the Dolphins with the only points of the second half. Not even a tackling masterclass from Ray Stone could save the Dolphins in the second half, as they went scoreless, a second half sin-binning of Tom Flegler didn’t help, but the Warriors did look the most likely to win the game. One good thing to come out of the game for the Dolphins was Trai Fuller getting a first start of the season and holding his own in the centres, setting up tries, lien breaks and holding his own in defence. The Warriors move up to second, one of five teams on 12 points, and a good showing against tough opposition.
The Points of Interest
- Warriors are now W3 L2 in Wellington and overall the Warriors home record in New Zealand but not at Mt Smart Stadium is W6 L10.
- It was the Warriors second Anzac Day win in a row, that’s after losing their previous nine games on Anzac Day.
- It’s now four straight losses for the Dolphins.
Match Summary and Stats
So South Sydney have done it – a win in Melbourne over Melbourne at their 21st attempt, and what a win, pulling down the Storm’s pants and handing them a record sixth loss in a row. Either way it was going to be historic and sadly for Melbourne fans they are on the end of a bad stat. Souths have been threatening to put it all together and they did just that on Saturday in Melbourne almost scoring 50 points and giving up just the one try to Melbourne. It was enough to make Craig Bellamy storm out of the dressing room, post game. It’s not a dressing used to such a losing run.
The Points of Interest
- It was South Sydney’s first win in Melbourne at their 21st attempt.
- It was South Sydney’s first win in Melbourne on a Saturday at their 11th attempt, before tonight they averaged less than 8 points in that run of games.
- Melbourne’s run of ten straight Anzac Day wins has come to a close.
- Melbourne’s weak spot at home to Sydney teams on a Saturday continues – on a Saturday v Sydney clubs since 2021 it’s only W4 L10.
- South Sydney’s 14 Line Breaks is a record for 2026 so far, and equal second best for a team/round going back to 2022.
Match Summary and Stats
Business as usual for Penrith, thrashing teams with an appearance of ease, after two previous weekends of a shock loss to the Bulldogs and needing golden point to sneak past the Dolphins. Maybe Dylan Edwards saw James Tedesco against the Dragons on Saturday and thought to himself to up his game just in case Blues selectors may have a change of mind. Newcastle’s dream start to the season must seem far away now as they sit 11th on the ladder and have conceded an average of 41 points over their last three games (all losses). Injuries don’t help, but perhaps one of the main injury concerns should be let go to another club and save their money.
The Points of Interest
- Penrith have won 9 of the last 10 games v Newcastle with the only blip a loss to the Knights in Bathurst last season.
- Penrith have won eight of their last nine v Newcastle on a Sunday.
- Penrith have won nine in a row v Newcastle in Newcastle with a last loss in 2015.
- Penrith have won six in a row v Newcastle in Newcastle on a Sunday with a last loss in 2009.
- Penrith have won ten in a row away to NSW/ACT teams on a Sunday, with a last loss in 2018.
- Newcastle have won only one of their last nine games at home.
Match Summary and Stats
The standard all Sydney Sunday 4pm clash ended with Manly’s dream run under Kieran Foran continuing, and one wonders just how long it will last for. If it is much longer, how can they not give them the gig full time. Manly ran away with it in the second half after just the one point separated them at half time. Manly seem to be doing well enough without Tom Trbojevic (and Anthony Seibold).
The Points of Interest
- The home side (either team) have won the last seven games between Manly and Parramatta.
- Manly have won the last four and eight of the last nine home games v Parramatta.
- Manly are W9 L3 v Parramatta at home on a Sunday, including the last four wins.
- Parramatta have lost their last eight away Sunday games, and their last five away on a Sunday to Sydney teams.
The Rest of 2026 NRL Round 7
NRL ROUND 8 PREDICTIONS & STATS
THE NRL DONKEY’s BOLD PREDICTIONS
NRL ROUND 8 BEST BETS
NRL ROUND 8 RATINGS AND FINAL WORD
NRL ROUND 7 TEAM OF THE WEEK
2026 NRL Season Stats (up to Round 8)
