Men's State Of Origin - NSW v QLD: Game 3
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Brian To'o of the Blues makes a break during game three of the Men's State Of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on July 09, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
A new NRL challenge has been introduced to combat fan abuse.
With some fans threatening players on social media, the NRL has found an entertaining way to give those fans a slice of reality.
The Square Off will feature various skills and fitness challenges between ‘keyboard warriors’ and rugby league players, and will be posted on various social media channels.
“While it will all be controlled and perfectly safe, we hope these challenges will force these loudmouth fans to think twice about their social media behaviour as they’re left in the dust by first grade rugby league players,” said a spokesperson for The Square Off.
Wary of giving social media trolls free publicity, the contestants will be clothed head-to-toe in black (including a full face mask) and only referred to by a number, so their real identity isn’t revealed.
“Fans who think this is a shot at fame and notoriety among their mates will be sorely mistaken. This isn’t a reality show, it’s a physical challenge.”
The NRL players can choose the challenge, but tackling isn’t allowed.
“A halfback who’s also an excellent kicker may choose to make the contestant catch high bombs, while a fast winger can challenge the contestant to a 100-metre foot race. We want the contestants to be slaughtered physically so they learn to respect professional athletes.”
Been too distracted by the State of Origin finale? Like the NRL bosses you forgot the NRL is on? 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 19 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.
We’ve also applied an adjustment for each team’s increase or decrease in win % over the Origin period.
Then slice up the scores out of 100% between the two sides. The bigger the percentage, the more likely to win.
2025 NRL Round 19 Ratings
Here are the H2H ratings and winners for the first of the Origin affected rounds.
Our ratings picked 4/5 including the Broncos win over Bulldogs. It didn’t pick the Tigers winning like so many others.
The Ratings also includes the team’s relevant Origin period form.
2025 NRL Round 19 Late Mail
FRI – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Cronulla have been unaffected by Origin, so you would think that would be an advantage, but sadly the Sharks have won just once from their last five games. On the flip side the Dolphins are running hot with four wins from their last five games, and scoring points for points for fun. Except the blip v Newcastle. The Dolphins have The Hammers returning from his Origin heroics, but their injury list grows longer with the key out being Kodi Nikorima, and underrated contributor to the Dolphins success this season away from the justified noise about Isaiya Katoa. Sean O’Sullivan gets a crack at five eighth for the time being, but it will be interesting to see how that works with Katoa, who has grown as player exponentially since O’Sullivan was a regular starter for the Dolphins.
Stats slightly favour the Dolphins who have won both of the clashes between these sides since entering the NRL and are in much better form. The Dolphins have won their last three away games, and have won their last two away games in Sydney. But the Sharks have a good Friday record, Cronulla have won their last four Friday games and have won seven games in a row at Shark Park on a Friday, with a last loss in 2018.
SAT – NEWCASTLE v MELBOURNE
The Knights must be getting short of players if Adam O’Brien has names Jackson Hastings to start for a consecutive round, given he has appeared to be not very fond of using him. Newcastle don’t have Kalyn Ponga or Fletcher Sharpe for fullback but have at least kept name consistency by choosing Fletcher Hunt at number 1. Leo Thompson and Greg Marzhew are some big names returning. Melbourne has a bunch of Origin players named to back up in the reserves, but who knows how many will. Presume Cameron Munster won’t, he’s probably earned a weekend off.
The Knights have a surprising recent advantage in stats having beaten the Storm the last two times they met in Newcastle. But their home form this season isn’t great – Newcastle have won one of their last seven home games and are 2/8 this season. But the Storm, despite their current five game winning streak aren’t great away from home this season – Melbourne are only 2/4 for away games in NSW this season. Melbourne have won only one of their last five away games v NSW teams on a Friday.
SAT – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v ROOSTERS @ Kogarah
The Roosters have almost half a team back in this weekend, including all their State of Origin stars at this stage. Some happier than others. Some big non-Origin players return too with Victor Radley, Billy Smith and Sam Walker back in the side. Eight top line players coming back, no wonder they lost to the Tigers last weekend. Dragon’s centre Valentine Holmes returns from Origin after a big game for the Maroons.
H2H Stats don’t favour the Dragons though as they have won only three of their last 17 v Roosters. The Dragons win % is worse if you exclude Anzac Day clashes – it’s two wins from their last 15 matches. Dragons have also lost their last four games v Roosters on a Saturday. And Saturdays aren’t all right for fighting for the Dragons as they are 2/8 on a Saturday this season and are 2/5 at home. Roosters are 2/3 on a Saturday this season. Dragons are W2 L1 at Kogarah this season and W10 L8 since 2022.
SAT – NORTH QUEENSLAND v BULLDOGS
Given the Cowboys have won just once in their last five games, and that was against the Gold Coast, perhaps some of that winning Maroons magic will filter through to the north of the state. One would expect all of the Origin reps to plays, and they also have Murray Taulagi returning too. Bulldogs have their Origin players returning too, and they also need a pick-me-up after their shock collapse against the Broncos last weekend. They’ll need more than water bottles to help them. Rumour is that Stephen Crichton may not back up so Jethro Rinakama could make his debut.
The stats are hot and cold for both teams, much like their recent form. Since 2015, the Cowboys are W5 L2 v Bulldogs at home. Home or Away it is W11 L4. North Qld are W4 D1 L6 on a Saturday this season. At home that’s W3 D1 L4. North Qld are W1 D1 L2 v Sydney teams at home this season and W3 D1 L4 overall. Bulldogs have a 40% win rate v Qld teams this season, with three of their four losses this season coming against Qld sides.
SUN – WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS
Well who’d thought the Wests Tigers would beat the Roosters last weekend. Parallels for this week too. As the Tigers broke an eight game losing streak to the Roosters last weekend, and their current losing streak to the Warriors is?….Eight. Warriors haven’t been great on Sundays this season, as they are W2 L3 on a Sunday this season and have lost their only Sunday home game this season. But are W6 L1 v Sydney teams this season. Wests Tigers are very even in their Sunday/away form with a W4 L4 record on a Sunday this season and are also W4 L4 away from home this season.
Wests Tigers spine looks great this weekend, despite high profile departures of recent weeks. Apisai Koroisau returns to hooker, Jarome Luai returns from Origin, and Sunia Turuva is finally the obvious answer to fill in at fullback. On the flip side the Warriors have to deal with the loss of Luke Metcalf and it is Tanah Boyd who comes into halfback for this weekend. Warriors have had two losses inside a bye at each end, and need to start re-winning to keep the Broncos out of the top four.
SUN – PARRAMATTA v PENRITH
A good old fashioned battle of the west, with Penrith with a bunch of players returning from Origin. It remains to be seen whether that will help, given the nature of the loss for NSW and so many Panthers players involved. If they do rest players, let’s not forget how well they did in Auckland last time when the Origin players were excluded. Parramatta have their Origin player returning in Zac Lomax, but more exciting for them is Tallyn Da Silva’s inclusion in the number 14 jersey after his mid season shift from the Wests Tigers. Hopefully it goes down better with fans than the previous Tigers mid season move.
Stats heavily favour Penrith as you could imagine, but at least It’s three wins each at CommBank Stadium. That aside, Penrith have won their last three v Parramatta, Penrith have won nine of their last ten games v Parramatta on a Sunday, and Parramatta have lost all four Sunday games v Sydney teams this season. Plus, Penrith have won 16 games in a row v Sydney teams on a Sunday.
SUN – GOLD COAST v BRISBANE
Looks like the Titans are churning through another coach and will start the cycle over again, so that won’t help them much this season considering they are already last. They do have big Tino back from Origin, but also returning are Jayden Campbell and David Fifita, two potential game changers there and gives them their best looking spine. Broncos have their Origin heroes returning too, the Queensland players on a high and Payne Haas probably tired from carrying the Blues. That’s OK because man mountain Xavier Willison is starting prop again.
Gold Coast have won their last three games on a Sunday v Brisbane, but all of those games were at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos only recently halted a terrible losing streak on Sundays. Gold Coast have won three of their last five at CBUS Stadium v Brisbane, but the overall win % is 39%. Gold Coast have lost both of their Sunday home games at CBUS this season and conceded 30 points on both occasions. Titans are W2 L4 at CBUS Stadium this season.
2025 NRL Round 18 Review + Round 19 Preview
Here’s the best of our wrap ups of last weekend and look forward to this weekend.
Here are The Gurgler’s 2025 British Grand Prix Ratings – our way of rating the performances on the track without injuring our wrist or running up the back of our team mate’s car.
Our G-Power Rankings goes a little bit deeper than just points scored on the Sunday and has a slightly cooler name than most. We take on board Free Practice, Qualifying, performance in relation to teammate, fastest lap, and a few more stats that are attempting to highlight a driver outperforming the car and/or thrashing their teammate.
Normally we have a season long bunch of stats, but we’re saving that for the end of season review that will be way too long for anyone to want to read. Regardless, here is our shortened version for contractual obligations.
2025 British Grand Prix Race Result Summary
2025 British Grand Prix Ratings – Drivers
Here are the current overall standings for our Driver of the Year winner – the Martini Medal. Named in honour of one of F1’s most unsung heroes – Pierluigi Martini of Minardi fame.
We have the overall scores as they stand, plus a visual which shows the flow of each driver’s position throughout the season, plus a few points of interest below.
Here is the breakdown of the Driver of the Year points from the most recent race and the season so far. Remembering our ratings go across a whole weekend, so the race winner who may not have had a great qualifying or sprint race may not come out on top.
LATEST RACE RATINGS & DRIVER OF THE YEAR UPDATE
2025 British Grand Prix Ratings – Teams
This is essentially using the same drivers stats but in reverse for the worst score, but taking out anything that is a H2H between the drivers.
And our annual award focuses on the other end of the grid, highlighting the worst team of the season.
Of course, the worst team of the season award needs to be named after the worst F1 team of all time. And if you want to fund out more about Andrea Moda, follow this link.
LATEST RACE & SEASON RATINGS
Here is the best of the stats from the 2025 F1 season so far. Which we admit isn’t much, but stay tuned throughout the year for more.
H2H
Here is the ultimate H2H comparison, with the overall qualifying and race measures, plus one that calculates all official sessions across the weekend.
QUALIFYING – DRIVERS
With qualifying becoming all important, here are some key stats from the season that is.
QUALIFYING – TEAM
And some Teams trends too.
FASTEST LAP
The most random of stat to follow, but good filler.
1ST LAP PROGRESS
FREE PRACTICE
Some say Free Practice is a giant waste of time, and they are probably right. Regardless here is the average position for each drivers in Free Practice this season. Each round an average of all the sessions.
2025 F1 Season Power Rankings – Points Explanation
Here’s how the points work this season. Essentially the perfect race (Win from Pole, Fastest Lap, thrash team mate, best in race etc) should amount to the perfect 100 points.
FIRST LAP GAINS +0.5pts per position gained -0.5pts per position lost.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – 25pts to 1pt as per World Championship – Sprint Race Points added.
BEAT TEAM MATE (RACE) – 10pts (if both finish or other driver got self inflicted DNF)
FASTEST LAP – 5pts – 1pt for top five drivers.
GRID POSITION TO RACE POSITION – formula +/- relative finish to grid
BEST OF THE REST (RACE) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
QUALIFYING – 20pts to 1pt – Grid Position 1 to 20.
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) – 5pts
BEST OF THE REST (QUALIFYING) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
GREAT/GRAPE – 5pts Great 2pts Honourable Mention -2Pts Dishonourable Mention -5Pts Grape
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Time Gap – Formula for % beaten team mate by
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Position – 0.5 Pts for every position team mate is beaten by. 0 points for second car.
FREE PRACTICE HERO – 10Pts to 1Pt – Average Position across all three practice sessions.
WIN FROM POLE – Bonus 5 Points
WIN FROM POLE WITH FASTEST LAP – Bonus 10 Points
DNF Not Driver or Team Fault Minus 2 Points
DNF CAUSED BY DRIVER/TEAM INCOMPETENCE Minus 5 Points
SPRINT RACE POINTS – Points 8 to 1 as handed out in the sprint race.
SPRINT RACE CHANGE – 0.5 Points per change in end position to starting position.
SPRINT RACE QUAL – Points 8 to 1 as handed out in the order of qualifying 1st to 8th.
The State of Origin series decider is here, and rugby league’s biggest rivalry needs to be settled for another year. As ever The Gurgler dives into stats way deeper than is needed (and wanted) but nevertheless we serve up a platter of 2025 State of Origin Game Three Stats.
Presented below is as many stats as The Gurgler team could muster heading into the big game in the West.
2025 State of Origin Game Three Prediction
We put all the stats together, look at the head to head between the states, plus the amount of points scored for different scenarios and come up with a score prediction for Game Two of the State of Origin
2025 State of Origin Game Three Stats
Queensland have won nine of the last 11 series deciders.
The record for H2H Deciders in Sydney is Qld 4 NSW 3 Draw 1
The record for who wins the series after NSW win Game One is Qld 6 NSW 2 Draw 1.
Queensland have won the last four series deciders after NSW have won Game One.
NSW have won the last three Game Three matches at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.
Overall NSW lead the H2H at the Olympic Stadium for Game Three by 5-3 with one draw.
State of Origin Game Three Stats – Player Comparison – Centres
With Gehamat Shibasaki making his Origin debut after playing Queensland Cup last season, we take a look at the stats for the four starting centres for comparison. Shibasaki’s stats hold up. But will Origin be different?
State of Origin Game Three Stats – Full Game Three History
Here is all the Game Two Results from 1982.
Year
Result
Venue
1982
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 10-5
S.C.G.
1983
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 43-22
Lang Park
1984
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 22-12
Lang Park
1985
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 20-6
Lang Park
1986
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 18-16
Lang Park
1987
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 10-8
Lang Park
1988
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 38-22
S.F.S.
1989
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 36-16
Lang Park
1990
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 14-10
Lang Park
1991
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 14-12
Lang Park
1992
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 16-4
S.F.S.
1993
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 24-12
Lang Park
1994
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 27-12
Lang Park
1995
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 24-16
Lang Park
1996
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 15-14
Lang Park
1997
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 18-12
S.F.S.
1998
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 19-4
S.F.S.
1999
NewSouthWales drew Queensland 10-10
Lang Park
2000
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 56-16
Stadium Australia
2001
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 40-14
QE II
2002
NewSouthWales drew Queensland 18-18
Stadium Australia
2003
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 36-6
Lang Park
2004
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 36-14
Stadium Australia
2005
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 32-10
Lang Park
2006
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 16-14
Docklands
2007
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 18-4
Lang Park
2008
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 16-10
Stadium Australia
2009
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 28-16
Lang Park
2010
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 23-18
Stadium Australia
2011
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 34-24
Lang Park
2012
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 21-20
Lang Park
2013
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 12-10
Stadium Australia
2014
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 32-8
Lang Park
2015
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 52-6
Lang Park
2016
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 18-14
Stadium Australia
2017
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 22-6
Lang Park
2018
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 18-12
Lang Park
2019
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 26-20
Stadium Australia
2020
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 20-14
Lang Park
2021
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 20-18
Gold Coast
2022
Queensland def. NewSouthWales 22-12
Lang Park
2023
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 24-10
Stadium Australia
2024
NewSouthWales def. Queensland 14-4
Lang Park
State of Origin Game Three Stats – Full Series Decider Stats
Here are all the results from all the Game Three series deciders.
We separate the rugby league Wheat/Chaff to present the 2025 NRL Round 18 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 18 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 18 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.
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 18 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 18 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.
Friday, 8:00 pm
Bulldogs 18 Brisbane 22
Saturday, 5:30pm
Canberra 28 St George Illawarra 24
Saturday, 7:35 pm
North Queensland 20 Melbourne 26
Sunday, 2:00 pm
Roosters 28 Wests Tigers 30
Sunday, 4:05 pm
Manly Warringah 30 South Sydney 12
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.
Angrier than a room full of Fox League writers, more at fault for rugby league’s ills than Lachlan Galvin and Phil Gould combined and ducking for cover like a Melbourne Storm Assistant Coach, it’s time for the weekly Rugby League rant of The Gurgler’s NRL Donkey, who provides his NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 19 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 19 Weekly Rant
Not for the first time, and surely not the last, the Angry Any that is Ricky Stuart right.
How refreshing to hear an NRL coach actively encouraging booing of an opposition player.
And wonderful he was sticking up for rugby league players over journalists.
Unlike other coaches, Ricky knows that his fans know rugby league. Well he presumes they do, because why else would people turn up to Canberra Stadium in Green clothing in those temperatures.
Booing is a fan’s right, it can either be used a distraction for opposition teams or a motivational tool for their own. What other way can you quickly and easily give feedback for the product you are consuming. Maybe the NRL could introduce a five star system via a NRL Fan’s Eye App that the results are fed into the dressing room at half time to let the team and individual players know what the fans think.
But think of the technology to do that. Apps, someone to plan and build all that, keep servers going to keep the app alive, add advertising to pay for it. So much to do.
So given how badly the NRL do technology with The Bunker, maybe they should stick to booing. Not booing themselves, although given their officiating and picking Ashley Klown to be the Origin ref, maybe they should boo themselves.
Just remember if you’re booing an opposition kicker, make sure it’s for the right reasons. For most it’s because you don’t want an opposition player to score more points than they have to. Only rugby league journalists would be low enough to boo someone because of their relationship to the coach. Or any other personal reason.
You do wonder sometimes why rugby league journalists are rugby league journalists, because a lot of the time they seem to hate the game more than anyone else on earth. And not just temporarily like fans of underperforming teams, proper year-round hate.
Of course Buzz is the most hate filled, but his saving grace is he appears to really dislike Gus Gould, which is funny.
Sometimes booing doesn’t work. Like when Bulldogs fans booed Ezra Mam last weekend every time he touched the ball. After an hour of Super League standard rugby league, the Broncos woke up, inspired by Ezra Mam, and stole victory from the previous competition front runners. Making it 0/2 for the Bulldogs v Broncos this season.
Given the lack of success with the booing, a fan attempted something different by throwing a water bottle onto the field. Although it isn’t sure whether it was a Bulldogs or Broncos fan. And if it were a Bulldogs fan whether the bottle’s destination was Ezra Mam, another Broncos player or Lachlan Galvin.
It certainly wouldn’t have been aimed at Man Mountain Xavier Willison who was so good that Channel Nein couldn’t be bothered interviewing him. Talk about people who don’t know rugby league. When he becomes the next best Prop in the game behind Payne Haas they’ll care. As long as he never moves to the Warriors.
A bottle of water is kind of dangerous, but nowhere as bad as the olden days at olden Lang Park where beer cans were hand delivered to match officials by fans who wanted to let them know that 1980’s King Wally was not allowed to be sin binned. Or having known and occasionally drunk XXXX Bitter in the past, perhaps the Queensland fans were simply rejecting the drink itself.
What would be funnier is if one club had the guts to turn one night into a La Tomatina special. You know, that thing in Spain where everyone throws tomatoes at each other. You could do it on a Thursday night game, where there’s usually bugger all fans anyway and fruit would liven it up. Perhaps it could be part of a fruit themed, healthy eating round where fans can bring in certain fruit at certain grounds.
The players at the rockmelon game would be very wary of stuffing up, so their concentration would be sky high, and lead to a better standard of rugby league.
But that’s all a pie-high dream. Pardon the pun.
Speaking of fruit, here’s a fresh bunch of grape Round 19 Expert Tips.
The NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 18 Expert Tips
FRI – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
It’s the battle of the Fins. Two coastal teams from opposing states playing each other. Seems like a good time to ask AI to come up with a punny name for the clash. Here are some of the suggestions.
“The Great Bait-Off” – sounds like “bake-off,” but with ocean flair.
“The Fin-ale” – for a dramatic, pun-filled final showdown.
“Sea-rious Business” – because it’s seriously silly.
“The Chomp-ion-ship” – because someone’s biting their way to victory.
“Porpoise vs. Predator”
I suggested something involving Greg Norman because of Sharks references and a presumption he has played at the Redcliffe Golf Club. But AI rejected that as silly. Which is pretty rude given their above suggestions.
Dolphins by 10
SAT – NEWCASTLE v MELBOURNE
Newcastle have beaten Melbourne the last two times they have visited Newcastle. Seems hard to believe. And hard to believe it will repeat.
Melbourne by 10
SAT – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v ROOSTERS @ Kogarah
This game is far less interesting when not on Anzac Day. And it’s not really that interesting then. Almost as uniteresting as the two Roosters fans I saw walking out of the ground before half time last weekend against the Tigers.
Dragons by 2
SAT – NORTH QUEENSLAND v BULLDOGS
If the Bulldogs lose to busted ar$e Cowboys then it will probably be Lachlan Galvin’s fault. And funny.
Cowboys by 12
SUN – WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS
The Tigers have lost eight in a row to the Warriors. But……they had lost eight in a row to the Roosters before winning last weekend.
Tigers by 4
SUN – PARRAMATTA v PENRITH
I wonder if Penrith will rest Origin players or not. And whether if they do if it will work out as good as it did last time. Which then makes me wonder whether Penrith are better off without them all the time. Considering one of them is Nathan Cleary, probably not. Either way, this game couldn’t be more Channel Nein.
Penrith by 6
SUN – GOLD COAST v BRISBANE
For some reason I can’t help but think of Warwick Capper when thinking about this game. I wonder if he could have been any good at rugby league in his prime. Maybe he can coach the Titans when Des Hasler steps down. I then think who would want the job.
Round 19 of the NRL is here and we’re almost free of the Origin period ruining the NRL. Talking of ruins, our 2025 NRL Round 19 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview is here and are having their bones dusted by archaeologists as we speak.
Each week this season we offer up a quick preview glance for each match, throw in a bunch of barely interesting stats, and mix in a pinch of opinion, some spicy tips and you have a rugby league soup with probably more flavour than one could ever need or want. It’s all you can eat NRL stats.
2025 NRL Round 19 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
DOLPHINS by 20
MELBOURNE by 6
ROOSTERS by 20
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 6
WARRIORS by 8
PENRITH by 16
BRISBANE by 12
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
FRI – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Dolphins are yet to lose to the Sharks.
Dolphins have won their last three away games, with 1/3 games in Sydney. Also doesn’t include the home game they took to Perth. But that was against Newcastle who they never beat.
Dolphins have won their last two away games in Sydney too after losing the previous five.
Cronulla have won their last four Friday games.
Cronulla have won seven games in a row at Shark Park on a Friday, with a last loss in 2018.
Cronulla have a 63% win rate v Qld sides under Craig Fitzgibbon, which drops to 50% at home.
SAT – NEWCASTLE v MELBOURNE
Newcastle have won their last two at home to Melbourne.
Newcastle have won one of their last seven home games and are 2/8 this season.
Newcastle have lost their last five Friday games and are 1/6 this season and have lost all three Friday home games with two of the three losses against current bottom three sides.
Melbourne are on a five game winning run.
Melbourne are only 2/4 for away games in NSW this season.
Melbourne have won only one of their last five away games v NSW teams on a Friday.
SAT – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v ROOSTERS @ Kogarah
Dragons have won only three of their last 17 v Roosters.
The Dragons win % is worse if you exclude Anzac Day clashes – it’s two wins from their last 15 matches.
Dragons did win their last game v Roosters at Kogarah, which was in 2023, and it’s 2/4 otherwise going back to 1998.
Dragons have also lost their last four games v Roosters on a Saturday.
Dragons are 2/8 on a Saturday this season and are 2/5 at home.
Roosters are 2/3 on a Saturday this season.
Roosters are 1/3 away to Sydney clubs this season.
Roosters have won their last seven away games v opposition in the bottom half of the ladder (at time of match).
SAT – NORTH QUEENSLAND v BULLDOGS
Since 2015, the Cowboys are W5 L2 v Bulldogs at home. Home or Away it is W11 L4.
North Qld are W4 D1 L6 on a Saturday this season. At home that’s W3 D1 L4.
North Qld are W1 D1 L2 v Sydney teams at home this season and W3 D1 L4 overall. Bulldogs have a 40% win rate v Qld teams this season, with three of their four losses this season coming against Qld sides.
Bulldogs have won all three Saturday games this season and their last five away on a Saturday going back to 2024.
SUN – WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS
Warriors have won eight in a row v Wests Tigers with a last loss in 2019.
Warriors have won three in a row at Mt Smart v Tigers too.
Warriors are W2 L3 on a Sunday this season.
Warriors have lost their only Sunday home game this season.
Warriors are W6 L1 v Sydney teams this season.
Wests Tigers are W4 L4 on a Sunday this season.
Wests Tigers are also W4 L4 away from home this season.
Going back to 2023, the Tigers have won two of 15 away games v non Sydney opposition.
SUN – PARRAMATTA v PENRITH
Penrith have won their last three v Parramatta.
It’s three wins each at CommBank Stadium. Penrith have won nine of their last ten games v Parramatta on a Sunday.
Parramatta’s recent win over the Gold Coast stopped a seven game losing streak on a Sunday.
Parramatta have lost all four Sunday games v Sydney teams this season. Penrith have won 16 games in a row v Sydney teams on a Sunday.
SUN – GOLD COAST v BRISBANE
Gold Coast have won their last three games on a Sunday v Brisbane, but all of those games were at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane have won the only game between these sides on a Sunday at CBUS Stadium.
Gold Coast have won three of their last five at home to Brisbane, but the overall win % is 39%.
Gold Coast are W2 L4 at CBUS Stadium this season.
Gold Coast have lost both of their Sunday home games at CBUS this season and conceded 30 points on both occasions.
Brisbane are W6 L2 from their last eight games away to Qld sides, noting some of those away games are at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane’s recent win over Cronulla broke a run of six straight defeats on a Sunday. Broncos are still on a five game losing streak v Qld sides on a Sunday.
2025 NRL Season Stats
The best of the stats from the season that has been.
The 2021 Village Cricket Season Starts
PRISTON,UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 2: An aerial view of cricket being played on the Priston Cricket Club field in the village of Priston, on May 2, 2021 in Somerset, England. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions has meant the gradual return of normality in some areas of life, including amateur sport, which was halted during the previous lockdowns. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
A tailender has enjoyed a surprisingly long innings.
Adam’s team, the Funky Streets, looked set for a tough day with only nine players available (including one fill-in).
A right arm leg spinner, Adam bats number 11 and doesn’t expect to have many hits in the 35-over games. But he was promoted to number eight (ahead of the fill-in) and found himself coming in at 6/36 after 15 overs.
“Luckily I’d had a good hit before the game, so I was ready to go,” said Adam.
That practice paid off as Adam batted the next 20 overs for 14 not out, with three boundaries as the frustrated bowlers started to tire.
“My partner was motoring along to 50 so I thought I’d better play sensibly and focus on staying in there.”
Adam received an unexpected compliment from the opposition captain, who told his team that “he wasn’t going to give his wicket away.”
“That motivated me even more. I could tell the oppo were getting the shits with me, so why not dig in further? The boundaries at the end were a reward for my hard work.”
The Funky Streets’ score of 106 all out wasn’t enough, with the opposition reaching the target four wickets down and with 10 overs to spare.
“I was too buggered from batting and only got two overs. For once I didn’t mind not bowling much. I did my job earlier.”
Though Adam isn’t expecting a promotion in the next game.
“Mate, I’m still a number 11 for a reason, and I expect to stay there when we have a full team again. Doesn’t worry me one bit.”
The Gurgler presents stories of the Park Cricketer, where we explore the lower reaches of the great game of cricket from the suburban ovals and rural grounds across Australia.
A campaign to look at the ‘worst superhero movie ever’ in a better light has begun.
Bulletman and Bulletboy (released in 1995) is regarded as one of the worst – if not the worst – superhero movie. As the fourth film in the series, it was slammed for being too broad, too family-friendly, and too focused on selling toys and junk food related to the franchise.
Though a recent article from website PopKol4U has defended the movie, celebrating its good points for its 30th anniversary.
Excerpts from the article below:
“At the time, Bulletman and Bulletboy was controversial. After two excellent movies that focused on the hero’s dark and gothic side, and a third that was slightly more mainstream but still enjoyable, this fourth movie tried to introduce the sidekick Bulletboy and seemed to fail miserably. Bulletboy was hard to take seriously in the comics, and the homoerotic undertones between him and Bulletman were unavoidable, no matter how hard the writers tried to ignore it…
So, was Bulletman and Bulletboy just a loud and blindingly bright two-hour toy commercial? Or is it redeemable? While the director and lead actors have publicly acknowledged the movie as a mistake, surely it gets bonus points for leaning into the campiness and having fun with how blatantly silly it was?…
It didn’t help that the cast was made up of ‘so hot right now’ TV stars – cast to get the casual fans into theatres – and not ‘proper’ film actors. They did their best with a barely-there script and shouldn’t be blamed. And remember this was a time when comic book movies were still for kids and weren’t taken remotely seriously? Especially after the darker tone of the first two movies scared off the studio because they couldn’t sell the toys tied to movies that were too creepy and violent for kids…
The movie’s failure was good in hindsight: rather than the studio pumping increasingly boring Bulletman movies every second summer, the franchise had a much-needed break before the excellent Bulletman trilogy in the early 2000s….
So, is Bulletman and Bulletboy the WORST of the eight movies since 1989? Probably. But it’s wasn’t the crime to cinema that some people believed it was. Would you rather watch an overly-serious, convoluted superhero movie that’s so obsessed with connecting to its Extended Universe that it becomes impossible to follow? Or would you rather heat up some popcorn and enjoy some silly superhero fun?”
