F1 | 2025 Dutch F1 Grand Prix Prix-View

August 25, 2025

Feeling refreshed from four weeks without F1? Of course you aren’t. So happily here’s our 2025 Dutch F1 Grand Prix Prix-View to give you some kind of Formula One fix.

The Gurgler’s 2025 Dutch F1 Grand Prix Prix-View brings some thoughts on what the race weekend ahead might bring, and we throw in more than a few barely interesting stats.

Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time for your convenience.

And for F1 opinion, stand by for the F1 Donkey’s Bold Predictions and Opinion where no one and nothing is safe. And like the cars around him on the grid, Lance Stroll.

2025 Dutch F1 Grand Prix Prix-view – Race Potential Rating

By Anthony Alessio Tralongo - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114859498 — By Anthony Alessio Tralongo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114859498

The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.

So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.

FAST? 7 / 10 – From any angle the track diagram looks like the worst drawing of a Hammerhead Shark you’ve ever seen, and like the animal it can certainly bite. This modern day version isn’t quite as fast as its predecessor, but it is also much safer. There’s some fast sections, and a good long straight coming off a banked corner, which looks fast and that’s a good thing it is doesn’t bring overtaking. But the best part is not necessarily the fastest, but it makes the cars look fast and that is the banked Hugenholtzbocht. Named after the track designer, it is the corner where F1 cars look more like MarioKart than anywhere else.

ACTION? 4 / 10 – Pretty tight circuit for width, so overtaking is limited. WE asked AI to tell us about average overtaking moves and it is apparently lower than Spain, which isn’t good. But there’s at least a chance to see the car goes fast.

BIG HISTORY? – 5 / 10 – It was a regular in F1 up to 1985, and so feels like a great historic track. It’s recent inclusion is off the back of Max-mania which has become a blur of Red Bull domination until last year, where an orange car did the same.

INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 7 /10 – The Weather Channel says over 50% chance of rain on all three days. Including Thunderstorms on Friday afternoon. It could be a cold, wet. miserable weekend for most at the track, but great for armchair fans around the world.

RACE POTENTIAL RATING 58% – Some cool corners to admire these F1 drivers on, and a few corners to catch out the hopeless. But the tight nature means qualifying will be all-important. But there’s enough rain predicted to make it potentially super interesting. Just not too much rain.

DRIVER PREVIEW RATINGS

The stats boffins at The Gurgler have compiled a whole bunch of stats from this season, and recent seasons at this weekend’s venue, added a multiplier for recent results and come up with a score out of 100% which equates to each driver’s chances of doing well this weekend. Just to make finding a winner for a race more complicated than it needs to be.

Here are The Gurgler Driver Preview Ratings for this weekend.

2025 Dutch F1 Grand Prix Prix-view – Stats Summary

Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.

Driver Stats – Dutch Grand Prix

Team Stats – Dutch Grand Prix

Stats from 2021 season onwards.

History Stats – Dutch Grand Prix

99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane. Results from all races for long term history and from 2021 from Grid to Race positions. stated.

F1 2025 Season Stuff

We’ve worked hard getting ready for the 2025 F1 Season, and this is our best work below. Read it before it become too/more irrelevant.

2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – DRIVERS

2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – TEAMS

2025 F1 SEASON – THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND AVOID

2025 F1 SEASON SUMMARY

AI DOES F1 – TURNING CARS INTO ANIMALS

F1 EXPLAINED – CHEEVER’D – AN A to Z OF F1 CAREERS EXPLAINED

NRL | 2025 NRL Round 25 Results Stats Summary & Stuff

Max Layne

August 25, 2025

Want more NRL information than just the draw, results or the current ladder? Then you are in the right place and the right time with the home of the right NRL Stats and Stuff via our 2025 NRL Round 25 Results Stats Summary for the weekend that was.

Each week we compile and keep up to date a wide range of stats from the latest weekend of NRL action plus the best 2025 NRL Season Stats to help you to the top of the tipping competition, land a few responsible winners or even make your Supercoach team better. And now with a match by match summary full of all the stats you need and/or want.

It’s all stats, and never Slats. Never.

2025 NRL Round 25 Results and Match Summaries

Want or need a quick summary of every game from last weekend? Well here they all are in all their summary glory.

Thursday, 7:50 pm	South Sydney 40 St George Illawarra 0
Friday, 6:00 pm	Penrith 16 Canberra 20
Friday, 8:00 pm	Melbourne 20 Bulldogs 14
Saturday, 3:00 pm	Manly Warringah 58 Dolphins 30
Saturday, 5:30 pm	Gold Coast 18 Warriors 32
Saturday, 7:35 pm	Parramatta 30 Roosters 10
Sunday, 2:00 pm	Newcastle 12 Brisbane 46
Sunday, 4:05 pm	Wests Tigers 28 North Queensland 34

2025 NRL Round 25 Results – Monday’s Experts Key Learnings

It’s easy to throw around a few stats post matches in a Monday’s experts, and we certainly do that, but our Monday’s Experts Key Learning tries to guide you into considering some key stats from the weekend to remember for your next tipping adventure.

POINTLESS TEAMS

St George Illawarra became the fourth team in 2025 to fail to score a point in 80 minutes this season, which seems like a lot, but then looking through the past seasons the last time fewer than four teams in a season scored zero points was 2005.

It should be no surprise that it’s three to one and more for the away team to score no points.

The Dolphins have managed to avoid scoring zero so far in their short history.

QUICK STAT HITS FROM ROUND 25

South Sydney have now won ten straight home games v St George Illawarra.

Melbourne have won eight in a row at AAMI Park on a Friday, with a last loss in 2022. Melbourne have won nine of their last ten v Bulldogs.

Dolphins are W3 L9 for games away to Sydney sides in Sydney. Dolphins have lost all four games away to Sydney sides in Sydney on a Saturday.

Newcastle’s 2025 home record of two wins from 12 games with a current losing streak of six losses, is better than their Sunday record of losing all seven games this season.

2025 NRL Season Stats Summary

Do you need NRL 2025 Season stats, or just want 2025 NRL Season stats?

Either way, here’s more than you could probably ever need, or want.

NRL | 2025 NRL Round 25 Team of the Week & Player Stats

Max Layne

August 24, 2025

2025 NRL Team of the Week featured image

Time to separate the rugby league Wheat/Chaff or the NRL Mutton/Lamb and present the 2025 NRL Round 25 Team of the Week & Player Stats.

First we have our Team of the Week, which takes some of the key player stats from the weekend and using various scoring methods come up with the best players in their positions from the latest round of the NRL.

Then there’s additional player stats from this weekend that was and the season that is.

2025 NRL Round 25 Team of the Week

We’ve used the stats for each position and picked the best starting 13 players from the most recent round, the stats and points assigned are explained at the end.

On top of the best starting 13, we also include the best four interchange players of the week. Seeing who has provided maximum impact from the bench.

2025 NRL Round 25 Player Stats Summary

Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?

2025 NRL Team of the Season….So Far

Here’s our stats rolled up into the team of the season so far.

2025 NRL Season Player Stats…So Far

2025 NRL Team of the Month

Another month has passed, so here is the Team of the Month from the last four rounds, enough to cover for the Team of the Month.

2025 NRL Player Stats…Last Month

2025 NRL Season Player Stats.

PLAYERS LUCKY CHARMS

A quick look on if some players are more lucky than others. As in, the players who have only played in winning games this season, or the unlucky few who have yet to be involved in a winning side.

PLAYERS WITH THE MOST GAMES WITH A 100% WIN RATE

Player	Team	Win	Win %
Jonah Pezet	Storm	6	100%
Noah Martin	Raiders	4	100%
Lazarus Vaalepu	Storm	3	100%
Chris Vea’ila	Sharks	2	100%
Moses Leo	Storm	2	100%

PLAYERS WITH THE MOST GAMES WITH A 0% WIN RATE

Player	Team	Loss	Win %
Lewis Dodd	Rabbitohs	6	0
Tom Weaver	Titans	6	0
Heath Mason	Tigers	5	0
Jackson Hastings	Knights	5	0
Ryan Gray	Rabbitohs	5	0
Jake Arthur	Sea Eagles	4	0
Raymond Faitala-Mariner	Dragons	4	0
Sean O’Sullivan	Dolphins	4	0
Junior Tupou	Dolphins	3	0
Tyrone Thompson	Knights	3	0

NRL | AI Greg Norman NRL Round 25 Review

Kaaps Loche

August 24, 2025

AI Greg Norman2025 NRL Grand Final; Review

The NRL has been run and won for another weekend, with winners showered with praise and losers taunted and booed until throats and fingers are sore on keyboards across social media. But the NRL weekend can’t be completely over until someone special has had their final say. So for your rugby league pleasure, we present the AI Greg Norman NRL Round 25 Review.

The Gurgler website will drown you with stats and facts about the weekend of rugby league that was soon, so why not let AI Greg Norman, courtesy of the Grok AI generation give you the full NRL Round 25 Review in picture. And colour.

Note that sometimes what Grok gives and what we ask for are two different things. And those wonderful mistakes will often be included in the AI Greg Norman NRL Reviews.

AI Greg Norman NRL Round 25 Review

Thursday, 7:50 pm – South Sydney 40 St George Illawarra 0

A record rout for the Rabbitohs over a pointless Dragons. It wasn’t long that Souths were last, so this is some kind of Rabbit out of a hat performance.

Friday, 6:00 pm – Penrith 16 Canberra 20

A golden point thriller sees Ethan Strange set up a winning try, so Greg thought about a parody of an old move Dr Strangelove.

In case no one got the reference, here’s some Raiders and Greg attempting a conga line, and avoiding a black cat.

Friday, 8:00 pm – Melbourne 20 Bulldogs 14

Melbourne heap a little more misery on the Bulldogs, putting the Bulldogs “Real Deal” status in danger and keep the race for first place open. It goes without saying that Lachlan Galvin will and won’t be at fault.

Saturday, 3:00 pm – Manly Warringah 58 Dolphins 30

DCE’s 350^th turns into a feast for Manly over the Dolphins.

Saturday, 5:30 pm – Gold Coast 18 Warriors 32

Gold Coast’s loss to the Warriors is overshadowed by a press conference. Just don’t ask about David Fifita.

Saturday, 7:35 pm – Parramatta 30 Roosters 10

Mitchell Moses (and co) parts the seas for a biblical upset of the Roosters. The Roosters finals hopes haven’t been passed over yet, but blew a chance to basically seal it.

Sunday, 2:00 pm – Newcastle 12 Brisbane 46

Newcastle’s home record is the Three Little Pigs equivalent of a house made of straw. Straw is probably generous, and it is certainly no stick or brick house. Greg being from Queensland is in big bad wolf mode.

Sunday, 4:05 pm – Wests Tigers 28 North Queensland 34

Scott Drinkwater’s goal kicking makes the difference for the Cowboys as once again the Wests Tigers can’t win many in a row.

FOOTBALL | English Football League Tips & Stats – 22 July-25 July 2025

Theydon Bois

August 22, 2025

Away from the money, the fame and overpriced subscription of the Premier League is the gloriousness of the three divisions below of the English Football League. 72 Teams from all over England and Wales, battling in competitions where winners and losers don’t feel pre-determined and thousands of games every week. Taking the time to share our thoughts on a few games and who are this week’s winners and losers is our English Football League Tips & Stats – 22 July-25 July 2025.

We also throw in some useful stats and a side track of our weekly English Football League Top Five

English Football League Tips

We use our huge database of English Football stats and calculate a rating for this weekend’s matches, and our SuperTips Computer 3000 tells us below what the choicest cuts are for English Football tipping glory.

It’s all about quality over quantity.

English Football League Tips – Championship

Bristol C to beat Derby
Hull to beat Blackburn
Birmingham to beat Oxford
Middlesbrough to beat Norwich
Preston to beat Ipswich
West Brom to beat Portsmouth

English Football League Tips – League One

Exeter to beat Northampton
Bradford to beat Peterborough
Doncaster to beat Port Vale

English Football League Tips – League Two

MK Dons to beat Newport Co
Grimsby to beat Accrington
Cambridge U to beat Bristol R
Tranmere to beat Crawley
Swindon to beat Shrewsbury

English Football League Stats

Using more of the stats, we present our English Football League stats summaries for the season so far in an easy to read and/or ignore format.

English Football League Stats – Championship

English Football League Stats – League One

English Football League Stats – League Two

English Football League Top Five – Best Non Home Championship Kits

For fun and a little bit of filler to get to the minimum word count, each week we’ll offer up a top five stat, point of interest or thing from the English Football League.

This week it is our view on the best kits from the Championship that aren’t home kits.

Picture from the Football Kit Archive – a great place to explore current and historical kits.

FOOTBALL | 2025-26 Season Football Draws Selections – 21-25 July 2025

Frank Frankington

August 21, 2025

Most of the big football competitions are underway for their new seasons, but that doesn’t mean other football isn’t happening and isn’t great, and that doesn’t mean all the games need a winner and a loser. They say there can only be winners and losers in sport, but of course they’re wrong and they’re fools, there’s always the draw, and who doesn’t love a draw where everyone wins. Those winners include canny punters who look for value, and The Gurgler website is always happy to help with opinion and stats, so welcome to our 2025-26 Season Football Draws Selections for 21-25 July 2025.

Our resident draw expert Frankington Stanley runs his keen eye over the many football divisions around the world to find the best draws for you. He’s sort of like the John West of Football draws, he hates Dog Salmon and lop sided fixtures.

Frankington Stanley is not fussy, no country or continent is out of bounds, and the more obscure the better. And some of them are quite obscure. They don’t even feature on the Who Scored website.

So grab an oversized spoon for another weekly serving of the finest Football Draw tips from all over the world, where The Gurgler and Frankington Stanley take the stale out of stalemate.

Football Draws Selections – Best of the Week

Croatia – Prva HNL – 2025/2026 – Vukovar 91 v HNK Gorica

FRIDAY 22 JULY 7PM

Early days in the Croatian Prva HNL League but that doesn’t mean it can’t serve up a draw of the week. Only three games in and both sides have managed a draw so far. Frankington says another one coming this weekend. Just the way you like it.

Football Draws Selections – Premier League Special

BURNLEY v SUNDERLAND

SATURDAY 23 JULY 3PM (Of course it is)

Two promoted teams playing each other in GW2? That didn’t happen last season says the bitter Ipswich fan. The last two games between these sides at Burnley have ended 0-0. Five of the last eight games between these sides at Burnley on a Saturday have ended in a draw.

Football Draws Selections – Other Solid Choices

Egypt – Premier League – 2025/2026 – Smouha SC v ZED FC

THURSDAY 21 JULY 7PM

Over to a different type of football pyramid in Egypt. You can’t ask for more from a club than drawing their first two games of the season. And that’s why Frankington Stanley loves his Smouha SC, who wouldn’t? ZED FC have also drawn one of their two games. Throw in the last game was draw, and two of the last four and this one looks all square.

Poland – I Liga – 2025/2026 – Stal Rzeszow v Miedz Legnica

SATURDAY 23 JULY 6:30PM

Stal Rzeszów got beaten 4-0 last weekend and is closer to the Ukrainian border than most teams so will probably settle for a draw. They sure have in two of their last four games. Even better, the last two home games have ended in a draw for Stal Rzeszów. Miedz Legnica are doing their job too, with a draw in their last away game, and the last game H2H between these sides was 3-3.

Sweden – 1. Division – 2025 – Ettan Norra – Sollentuna FK v AFC Eskilstuna

MONDAY 25 JULY 6:30PM

How much Tuna do you need? A draw of it is plenty. Only the three games H2H between these sides but luckily one of them (their first match) was a draw. The Swedish competition is 18 games deep, so there’s a bit more form than elsewhere. These teams are first and second for last six form, and neither have lost any of those six games, with some draws thrown in. Such a tight battle between two in form teams means one thing – draw.

Sweden – Superettan – 2025 – Trelleborgs FF v Landskrona BoIS

MONDAY 25 JULY 6PM

Double Swedish football and time to unpack another potential draw. Only one draw in the last six games between these sides is a little thin. But dive a little bit deeper and you’ll see Trelleborgs FF have drawn four of their last five home games. That’s Trelle you a draw is coming all right.

Belgium – Jupiler Pro League – 2025/2026 – Standard Liege v Cercle Bruges

SATURDAY 23 JULY 5:15PM

Who doesn’t love a mix of Belgian football and draws. Only sad, angry people. Three of the last six between these sides have ended in a draw, sadly all of those were at Cercle Bruges, the thinking man’s Bruges side. Early days like elsewhere in Europe but both sides have managed a draw at home/away that matches their destination this weekend. Looking forward to a standard draw.

Belgium – Second Division – 2025/2026 – K. Lierse SK v Eupen

SATURDAY 23 JULY 7PM

What’s better than Belgian football? More Belgian football. And better still? Second division Belgian football. There’s not much draw form between the sides, but at least with a season just two games old Eupen have managed to draw their only away game. Good news.

Bulgaria – A PFG – 2025/2026 – Montana v Septemvri Sofia

SATURDAY 23 JULY 5PM

Who knew there was a team in Bulgaria called Montana. What you also know now is that three of their last four games v Septemvri Sofia have ended in a draw. Aside from sharing names from Disney movies, these teams also share bottom three positions. So a scrappy draw is on the cards. Septemvri Sofia are W1 L4 so far, but good ol’ Montana are D2 L3.

Denmark – 2. Division – 2025/2026 – VSK Aarhus v FC Helsingoer

SATURDAY 23 JULY 12:30PM

A tasty Danish second division classic in the early part of the season. No H2H info for draws, but at least VSK Aarhus drew their last game. May there be another, and many more.

Turkey – Super Lig – 2025/2026 – Rizespor v Istanbul Basaksehir

SUNDAY 24 JULY 5PM

Now you’re talking Turkey, and in particular a potential draw between Rizespor and Istanbul Basaksehir. Adding some basting to your football weekend is the news that the last game between these sides at Rizespor ended 1-1. A win for everyone. Doubling down on that, between these sides they have played just three games this season, but two of them have been draws.

Switzerland – Super League – 2025/2026 – FC Sion v Servette FC

SATURDAY 23 JULY 5PM

Of course in the land of neutrality Frankington Stanley has hand picked you a draw special. Would you believe the last three games played between these sides at FC Sion have ended in a draw. All score draws too, so what else do you need. Or want. And in honour of this match and just three games played so far in the season, both clubs drew last round.

Slovenia – Prva Liga – 2025/2026 – Domzale v Aluminij

FRIDAY 22 JULY 7:15PM

If you’ve made it this far, just trust the man, Frankington Stanley. Who we salute for his wheelbarrow full of draws for this week.

Games times, stats, pronunciations and chances of draws are compiled with the greatest of care, but it compiled by a human for now, and given we pay the person nothing there’s likely to be mistakes, and The Gurgler accepts no responsibility for anything.

FOOTBALL | 2025-26 Premier League Predictions Week 2

Theydon Bois

August 21, 2025

2025-26 Premier League Predictions Feature Image

Just one week into the Premier League season and dreams are being dashed, fantasy teams are being frantically changed and unlike Season 24-25 the promoted sides are winning. Talking of the Championship, our 2025-26 Premier League Predictions Week 2 will hopefully be better than second division quality this week.

Each gameweek in this 2025-26 Premier League season we offer up a stat filled prediction preview, with some barely interesting stats and visuals, just enough to bluff your way through various tipping competitions or betting shops.

We also attempted to guess the final Premier League ladder in advance. Follow the link to that here.

2025-26 Premier League Predictions Week 2

Season Progress

RATING: Underwhelming, but did pick the two winning promoted sides to draw at least.

SEASON: 4/10 – 0 perfect scores.
LAST WEEK: 4/10 – 0 perfect scores.

Barely Interesting Stats – 2025-26 Premier League Predictions Week 2 – Stats and Thoughts

Help yourself to a buffet of barely interesting stats to help pick a winner.

FRI 8PM – WEST HAM v CHELSEA

Graham Potter might need some namesake Harry magic to save West Ham after their serving last weekend.

Chelsea won both games last season.

West Ham have a decent record v Chelsea at home. They are W6 D2 L3 in the last 11 home games going back to 2015.

Graham Potter has never beaten Chelsea as a manager – D4 L3.

Chelsea have won the only Monday clash between these sides – in 2014.

Chelsea were W1 L1 on a Friday last season. West Ham weren’t important enough for a Friday game.

West Ham (W1 D1 L4) won one game at home last season v London clubs. Chelsea were W3 D2 L1 away to London clubs last season.

SAT 12:30PM – MAN CITY v SPURS

Two impressive wins last weekend, a true test to post-Ange Spurs.

The away sides won both games last season.

Man City have won only one of their last four games at home to Spurs – W1 D1 L2.

Man City have won only one of their last five games v Spurs on a Saturday – W3 D1 L1.

Man City’s record v big six clubs last season was W3 D2 L5. Spurs’ record was W3 L7.

At home Man City’s record v big six clubs was only W1 D1 L3. Spurs’ away record was W2 L3.

SAT 3PM – BOURNEMOUTH v WOLVES

Maybe selling your best players isn’t a good idea. Although, selling some hasn’t hurt Bournemouth, yet.

The away side has won the last five games between these clubs.

In fact, Wolves have won the last two, and three of the last four games at Bournemouth.

Wolves have won the last three at Bournemouth on a Saturday.

SAT 3PM – BRENTFORD v ASTON VILLA

Let’s hope for 11 players and a better game this from Aston Villa. Not a great start for their new life with a new manager.

Aston Villa won both games v Brentford last season.

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six games v Brentford – W4 D2.

Aston Villa have won the last two games in Brentford.

Aston Villa have never lost to Brentford on a Saturday – W5 D6.

Aston Villa were W3 D1 L3 away to London clubs last season.

Brentford were W1 D2 L3 v top six sides at home last season.

SAT 3PM – BURNLEY v SUNDERLAND

As an Ipswich fan I applaud Sunderland’s magnificent win last weekend but do ask where was Ipswich’s equivalent easy draw last season. Jerks.

The last promoted team to win their first two games of the Premier League season was Huddersfield Town in 2017-18.

The H2H record in the Championship last season was Sunderland one win and a draw.

The last two games between these sides at Burnley have ended 0-0.

Five of the last eight games between these sides at Burnley on a Saturday have ended in a draw.

SAT 5:30PM – ARSENAL v LEEDS

A sneaky contender for game of the round, and another Leeds win, until you see the historic stats.

Arsenal have won the last five league games v Leeds.

Arsenal have won the last five league games v Leeds at home.

Leeds haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2003 with 13 losses and two draws since.

Arsenal won all six games v promoted sides last season.

SUN 2PM – CRYSTAL PALACE v NOTTINGHAM FOREST

No drop off from Nottingham Forest so far this season, and Crystal Palace are in decent form too.

It was one win and one draw for Nottingham Forest last season v Palace.

Six of the last eight games between these sides ended in a draw.

During that run Nottingham Forest won the two non-draws, and got another win before the eight game run started.

Crystal Palace have never been beaten on a Sunday v Nottingham Forest – W2 D2.

Crystal Palace’s record on a Sunday last season was W5 D2 L2 while Forest’s Sunday record was W3 D3 L3.

SUN 2PM – EVERTON v BRIGHTON

A game with a new stadium, and hopefully new performance levels for Everton. Brighton got the first of what will no doubt be at least 20 draws this season.

The away side won both games last season.

The away side is undefeated in the last nine games between these sides – two draws in that run.

Everton’s Sunday record last season was W3 D2 L1. Brighton’s was W3 D3 L1.

SUN 4:30PM – FULHAM v MANCHESTER UTD

Hard to know if this is the game of the round given the two teams playing.

Man Utd won both games by 1-0 last season.

Man Utd have lost just one of their last 20 v Fulham – winning 16 of those games.

Man Utd have won eight straight v Fulham at Fulham.

Man Utd have never lost to Fulham at Fulham on a Sunday – W4 D1.

Man Utd have never lost to Fulham anywhere on a Sunday – W9 D2.

Fulham were W2 D1 L3 at home to big six clubs last season.

Man Utd were W1 D1 L5 v London clubs last season.

MON 8PM – NEWCASTLE v LIVERPOOL

All about Isak. If he’s in the crowd.

It was a Liverpool win and draw in the League last season.

Liverpool lost their only Monday game last season. Newcastle had a W3 L1 record.

Newcastle last beat Liverpool in the Premier League in 2015. It has been W12 D5 since.

It is Liverpool five wins and three draws since the last Newcastle win at home in 2015.

Newcastle are undefeated v Liverpool on a Sunday – W1 D2.

2025-26 Premier League Season Stats

Each week we’ll bring you the best of the stats we can be bothered compiling to help you agree or disagree with our selections.

Luckily there’s lots of them.

NRL | 2025 NRL Round 25 Ratings and Late Mail

Max Layne

August 20, 2025

Been too distracted by more wet weather coming? Do you need some last-minute NRL tipping advice? Or simply want something else to blame when the tips go wrong? Either way, saddle up for The Gurgler’s NRL Round 25 Ratings and Late Mail.

In a new additional to our stable of NRL stats and tipping products, we have used all the stats we have, smashed them against each other like atoms, and come up with a H2H rating.

It includes this year’s form with a bias because it is this year, but we don’t forget historic stats of the H2H against this week’s opponents, and the ground and day the teams are playing on, plus their record v top and lower half teams.

Then slice up the scores out of 100% between the two sides. The bigger the percentage, the more likely to win.

2025 NRL Round 25 Ratings

Here are the H2H ratings and winners for the first of the Origin affected rounds.

A solid 6/8 last weekend, the Roosters turnaround in form getting the better of our ratings, and same for the Tigers.

2025 NRL Round 25 Late Mail

THU – SOUTH SYDNEY v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA – Olympic Stadium

The Rabbitohs have found form, winning two in a row, although playing the two sides in the bottom three helps. Still Souths’ record v the Dragons is good, at home anyway. South Sydney have won nine straight home games v St George Illawarra. Not all of those nine games were at the Olympic Stadium, but it is still seven wins straight at the ground for Souths v Dragons. South Sydney have won the only Thursday game between these sides at the Olympic Stadium. It’s 3-1 overall to the Bunnies on a Thursday. Souths are 1/1 on a Thursday this season, beating Penrith no less. Dragons are W1 L1. Away is no good for the Dragons who have lost six away games in a row.

Keaon Koloamatangi is a huge plus for the Rabbitohs. Cody Walker appears to be getting eased back into the side, being named on the bench again this weekend. Hamish Stewart, Jack de Belin and Hame Sele are all out for the Dragons with last weekend’s interchange and reserve players stepping up.

FRI – PENRITH v CANBERRA – Mudgee

Into the bush for the NRL on Friday, and we say there isn’t enough of it. Especially in Queensland. Canberra probably wish the game was elsewhere as they have lost both of their games in Mudgee, and Penrith are yet to play there. Penrith have the H2H advantage – Canberra beat Penrith in their last meeting in 2024, it broke a run of five straight losses. Penrith lead the H2H 2-1 for games not at regular grounds and Canberra last beat Penrith on a Friday in 2007, it’s been three losses in a row since. But Fridays seem to work for the Raiders this season as Canberra have won four games in a row on a Friday, same for playing Sydney teams too, as Canberra have won five in a row on a Friday away to Sydney teams. Penrith are W2 L2 on a Friday this season but have won their last two. Overall their loss last weekend broke a run of nine straight wins.

Biggest team news, of possibly the entire weekend is Isaah Yeo returning for the Panthers. Big plus for the Panthers. No changes for Canberra from their last game with the teams having the bye last weekend.

FRI – MELBOURNE v BULLDOGS

The second of the big top five clashes and one the Bulldogs would like to win to stop their mini slump. Although we’re sure Craig Bellamy won’t be happy. To lose or in general. The Storm don’t like to lose at home or on a Friday as Melbourne have won seven in a row at AAMI Park on a Friday, with a last loss in 2022. They’re pretty good against the Bulldogs too because Melbourne have won eight of their last nine v Bulldogs and since 1998 the Storm lead the Friday H2H by 5-1. Meanwhile Bulldogs have lost their last two Friday games and are W2 L2 this season on a Friday plus since 2021 the Bulldogs have won two of their 15 away games on a Friday. Bulldogs are W3 L4 v top half sides this season (top eight at time of game) and W1 L3 away from home. Melbourne’s W5 L3 record v top half sides this season is the best in the comp, but is W3 L2 at home.

Cameron Munster is named fullback, with Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet named in the halves. But with Ryan Papenhuyzen in the extended squad, there’s some movement surely going to happen. Bulldogs players Sitili Tupouniua and Marcelo Montoya are the big ins for them this weekend.

SAT – MANLY v DOLPHINS

Finals will be over for at least one of these sides after Saturday, and both aren’t in sparkling form. Or even good form for one side. Manly have now lost four in a row coming into this game, while the Dolphins have lost two games in a row against two teams they were directly competing against for finals. Saturdays and Sydney games don’t seem to be favouring the Dolphins for this game – Manly are W5 L2 on a Saturday this season while Dolphins are W3 L5 on a Saturday this season. Dolphins are W3 L8 for games away to Sydney sides in Sydney. Dolphins have lost all three games away to Sydney sides in Sydney on a Saturday. Manly have won both of their home games v Qld opposition this season.

Reuben Garrick is out for the season for Manly, and his spot is taken by Tommy Talau. Naughty Dolphins boys Felise Kaufusi and Francis Molo return to give the Dolphins some drive up the middle, while the return of Max Feagai sees the Hammer move to fullback and Trai Fuller at least keeps a spot even if it is on the bench. Sadly that’s at the expense of Ray Stone, a brave decision indeed.

SAT – GOLD COAST v WARRIORS

Not often we get to highlight the Titans being the form team H2H wise heading into a game, but they have a solid dominance over the Wahs recently. Gold Coast have won six of the last seven games v Warriors. Gold Coast have also won four in a row v Warriors on a Saturday. Two of those games were at CBUS Stadium. Gold Coast have won five of their last seven home games v Warriors on any day. Warriors aside, the Titans have a poor record at home this season, they are W2 L8 at home this season, and the Gold Coast have lost all home games this season v non-NSW sides. Warriors away form v Sydney teams is good, but the Warriors have lost their last two away games on a Saturday this season and Warriors are W1 L1 for away games v Qld sides this season.

Titans have good news for the backs with Brian Kelly and Jojo Fifita returning but lose Jaimin Jolliffe. Wahs team news is good with Kurt Capewell, Te Maire Martin and Rocco Berry returning, although the shake up means Leka Halasima is on the bench which seems counter-productive. Taine Tuaupiki becomes the reserve as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moves from centre back to fullback.

SAT – PARRAMATTA v ROOSTERS

Roosters have started to look finals good in the past few weeks, and good luck to any team that has to play them at the moment, let alone a team in the bottom few sides. Roosters have a decent record v Parramatta too, they have won four straight v the Eels and the Roosters have won four of the last five Saturday clashes v Parramatta. Saturday is not good for the Eels either, Parramatta have lost their last four Saturday games and Roosters have won their last five Saturday games. At least the H2H is two wins each at CommBank Stadium.

Parramatta have done a few cosmetic changes with Isaiah Iongi and Joash Papali’i swapping positions, and the versatile Jordan Samrani is always a good inclusion. Roosters team news sees a swap of Tupous. with Junior Tupou in and Daniel Tupou out. Siua Wong returns from his Dolphin inflicted concussion, which sees Naufahu Whyte move to prop, and Spencer Leniu drop to the bench for impact. Poor Parramatta.

SUN – NEWCASTLE v BRISBANE

Newcastle’s record in Queensland is pretty poor, so their loss last weekend to the Cowboys wasn’t much of a surprise. Problem for Newcastle is their home record this year isn’t much better, if at all better. Newcastle have lost their last five home games and won just one of their last ten home games. Newcastle have lost all three of their Sunday home games this season. But…..the Knights home record v Queensland sides is promising…..Newcastle have won three of their last four home games v Qld sides, but did lose their last start to the Gold Coast at home. On a Sunday it’s four wins at home to Qld sides.

As advised in our Round 24 NRL Stats Weekly – Newcastle have failed to score in the first half 12 times this season. For the record, the Broncos have failed to score in the first half just once and average 14 points per first half in 2025. Brisbane are W1 L1 away on a Sunday this season, with the only win not at Suncorp Stadium and the only loss at Suncorp Stadium.

The most notable team movement for Newcastle is Phoenix Crossland in at hooker, with Jayden Brailey moving to the bench. Jaiyden Hunt in for the injured Jack Gosiewski makes sense for the Broncos team changes. Bringing a winger onto the bench doesn’t quite make sense when you also have a backup hooker. Maybe they know something we don’t.

SUN – WESTS TIGERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND – Leichhardt

Getting exciting for Tigers fans, a spoon avoided for 2025, and on the verge of winning three in a row for the first time since April 2018. The Tigers are in form and would be in the top eight if the ladder was calculated from Round 18 onwards. Long bow we know. Wests Tigers have won their last three at Leichhardt including both games this season. Conveniently both games were on a Sunday. Wests Tigers have also won three in a row on a Sunday v anyone.

Playing the Cowboys helps, they are so inconsistent and won big last weekend. Also North Queensland have lost six of their last seven away games and the Cowboys have lost all three games away from home v Sydney sides on a Sunday this season.

No changes for either team, no surprise given their good victories last weekend.

2025 NRL Round 24 Review + Round 25 Preview

Here’s the best of our wrap ups of last weekend and look forward to this weekend.

NRL ROUND 25 – TIPS AND STATS
NRL ROUND 25 – NRL DONKEY EXPERT TIPS AND OPINION
NRL ROUND 24 – TEAM OF THE WEEK
NRL ROUND 24 – STATS n STUFF
NRL ROUND 24 – GREG NORMAN REVIEWS

2025 NRL Season Stats So Far

And if you don’t believe our ratings, then help yourself to a bunch of stats from the 2025 NRL season.

Here’s the best of the NRL Team Stats from last weekend.

NRL | The NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 25 Expert Tips and Opinion

Gurgler Donkey

August 18, 2025

Angrier than a room full of Fox League writers, more of an obstruction than an NRL trainer, ducking for cover like a Melbourne Storm Assistant Coach, and wondering what he’s done wrong not to be a current NRL mascot, it’s time for the weekly Rugby League rant of The Gurgler’s NRL Donkey, who provides his NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 25 Expert Tips as well as offers an alternative, slightly unhinged view full of sass of the world of rugby league and beyond for another week.

The NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 25 Weekly Rant

Last weekend had it all, Golden Point Thrillers, Battles of Brisbane, Wests Tigers winning, and with only minimal interference by trainers.

Well it didn’t have a Dolphins win, which made me sulk for a good three hours. At least it was sold out so I couldn’t experience the disappointment in person/donkey. Although I’m not sure which section animals sit in. <Insert joke about worst NRL fans here>. <Well, not the Gold Coast anyway, they have no fans>.

It also basically meant the end of the finals race, as the Dolphins and Manly continue to choke. At least the Dolphins have an excuse, missing an RSL Courtesy Bus of their top line players. Manly meanwhile have players to burn, but play them out of position like Tom Trbojevic, or piss them off until they want to leave like DCE. Although, that one seems more DCE than Manly. The point is still they have Origin standard players fit. Not that either played that much Origin this season. Nor does it look like DCE will play next season. Not at Manly or the Roosters. Certainly not for Queensland.

But as ever, complaining about something gives me an idea to overhaul the NRL Finals series. Instead of expanding to a top ten, and Wildcard weekends to include more underperforming teams and players, and to get that tiny bit closer to NFL just the way the NRL like it, and neeeeeeed it, the NRL should adopt a F1 Qualifying system.

From a certain point of the season, the NRL eliminates one or two teams per week from playing finals. Some teams like the Gold Coast do seem to take care of eliminating themselves from the final race, but imagine culling teams who could still make the finals. Like Q1 and Q2 cutoffs in F1 qualifying, it doesn’t matter if you’re car is fast enough for the top ten, if you aren’t fast or good enough by the cut off – you’re out. Or you are either Yuki Tsunoda or Lance Stroll.

This would of course remove the need for the term mathematically possible. A loose term that isn’t used near enough in real life. So many things could be mathematically possible. Kind of like all my Same Game Multi bets that involve Ray Stone. Why I would bet on the one NRL player who seems to hate scoring tries is beyond me and right minded rugby league folk. I mean, Ray Stone appears to hate a lot of things, but try scoring is up there. Along with losing, penalties, six agains, intercept passes, the padding around the goal posts, at least three of the four corner posts, Michael Ennis’ commentary, 40-20 kicks and 20-40 kicks even more so, and chip kicks that don’t bounce. But mainly tries. And buses.

So many other words are underused too. Like plethora, nothing describes a bunch of stuff better. Like chortle. And the use of grape instead of great to describe something that is underwhelming. And finally Kapila Wijegunawardena – he’s a Sri Lankan cricketer of the past. Good record, didn’t get enough game time in my opinion.

Back to NRL game time. Imagine though the scramble of teams in the last weekends of the season as they try to survive another week. Trying to win to get above this week’s cut off of 12^th place. It’ll be like the last minute of an F1 qualifying session, except it is 80 minutes long.

It doesn’t really solve the problem of when the top eight looks settled a month from the end of the season. As it looks like at the moment. But like the Head of Referees I’m not really a problem solver.

One thing that did come from last weekend’s round from actual teams that will make the finals was the golden point win for the Storm. How much better is it when a try wins golden point? Especially one as cheeky as Grant’s biggest dummy of all time. Well in rugby league. The biggest dummy in sport is Lance Stroll.

Golden Try would be so much better, and to make it more interesting, sides lose two players after every five minute section, and we play until a try is scored. Even if it’s One on One. Can you imagine it?

Or even better. Golden Point starts off with a five kick minimum kicking duel. Once each team has kicked five times, and not kicked it dead or out, then it’s play on. But only if they want to, perhaps the kicking duel could go longer, for the fans.

More popular and just as useful as a kicking duel, here are my NRL Round 25 Expert Tips.

The NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 25 Expert Tips

THU – SOUTH SYDNEY v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA – Olympic Stadium

The smell of that wooden spoon and the thought of the questions from the media about it has inspired Wayne Bennett to lead his Rabbitohs to two straight wins. It does help his team were playing sides that Souths had both won a million in a row against. <Checks notes> Hmmm, Souths have won nine straight home games v Dragons. How convenient. It might even make Wayne smile.

Souths Sydney by 2