Missed all the rugby league results this weekend because you were running out of petrol? Fell asleep on the lounge for one or all of the matches this weekend? 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 3 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 3 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.
SET RESTARTS / PENALTIES
Less Set Restarts this weekend – more penalties – higher than last season.
GOOD/BAD RUNS CONTINUE
Penrith have won 13 of their last 14 clashes with the Roosters. Six in a row as the away side.
Parramatta have won their last five at home to the Dragons.
North Queensland have won 13 of their last 14 home games v Gold Coast.
Gold Coast have lost 15 Sunday games in a row.
DROUGHT OVER
It was the Dolphins’ first win for a Saturday away game not in Qld at their eighth attempt.
It was Brisbane’s first win at AAMI Park v Melbourne since 2016, and just their fourth ever.
WORST AWAY TEAM
Going back to 2020, no team has a worse Win % away from home than the Dragons (24%). For the record Penrith have the best away record win % since 2020 with 75%.
2026 NRL Round 3 Results & Stats – Match by Match
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
That’s two wins in a row in Canberra now, after a run of five straight losses.
Raiders had over twice the tackle breaks of the Bulldogs.
Tamale did the rare first try / last try double. Kaeo Weekes had twice as many tackle breaks as the next best.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
Penrith have won 13 of their last 14 clashes with the Roosters.
The Roosters have lost five straight as the home side v Penrith.
Penrith have now kept a “clean sheet” or conceded zero points in four of their six halves this season.
It was Penrith’s first win over the Roosters on a Friday at the Sydney Football Stadium in the NRL era.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
It’s the second time in two games v Broncos that Melbourne have been kept scoreless in the second half.
It was Brisbane’s first win at AAMI Park v Melbourne since 2016, and just their fourth ever.
It is only W2 L10 v Melbourne away at any ground on a Friday.
This was the sixth game Broncos were behind at half time in a row. They have won four of those games.
Harry Grant’s 17 Dummy Half runs equals his own single match record from 2023. (Our records only go back to 2022.)
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
Warriors haven’t started the season with three wins since 2018.
That’s now three wins in a row v Newcastle for the Warriors and five of the last six.
It’s four losses in a row for Newcastle at home on a Saturday.
Warriors haven’t scored 30 or more points in a row for three games since March/April 2010.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
Dolphins broke Cronulla’s run of eight straight wins at home.
It was the first win for the Dolphins on a Saturday in Sydney v Sydney teams at their fifth attempt.
It was the Dolphins’ first win for a Saturday away game not in Qld at their eighth attempt.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
Wests Tigers haven’t won two games in a row to start a season since 2019.
Souths have won ten of their last 12 v Wests Tigers.
South Sydney have won the only two clashes in Gosford v Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers have lost 14 of their last 15 away to any team on a Saturday.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
Eels are W13 L4 from the last 17 clashes.
Parramatta have won their last five at home to the Dragons.
Going back to 2020, no team has a worse Win % away from home than the Dragons (24%). For the record Penrith have the best away record win % since 2020 with 75%.
Dragons are still worst for away record v Sydney teams since 2020, and the win % drops to 18%.
One Minute Big Stats Summary
Most of the stats you need, and just a few you want.
The Points of Interest
North Queensland have won 13 of their last 14 home games v Gold Coast.
Cowboys have won their last six home games on a Sunday.
Gold Coast have lost 15 Sunday games in a row.
Gold Coast have lost nine away games in a row on a Sunday.
2026 NRL Season Stats so far….
Here are the choicest cuts of main NRL data from the season.
Here are The Gurgler’s 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Ratings – our way of rating the performances on the track without causing any red flags or running into our nearest website.
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.
We offer up a season long bunch of stats, enough to distract you until the next Grand Prix comes along, and enough to tell the story of the 2025 F1 season so far.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix Race Result Summary
2026 Chinese 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
2026 Chinese 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
F1 2026 SEASON STATS
Here is the best of the stats from the 2026 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 – TEAMS
More of the same, but for teams.
FASTEST LAP
It may be a token win, so here is a token bunch of stats.
1ST LAP PROGRESS
The movers and shakers of 2025 F1 Season.
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.
OTHER STATS
Almost not good enough to make this stats summary, here are the other stats.
Gurgler 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 – 5 Pts to 1Pt – Average Position across all three practice sessions.
H2H OVER WEEKEND – Calculation of combination of all H2H comparisons.
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 – 0.5 for every position away from last place on the Sprint Race grid
Been too distracted by mega sulks from dropped NRL players? Been too crowded from a pitch invasion to read the form guide? Do you need some last-minute NRL tipping advice? Or simply want something else to blame when the tips go wrong? Either way, The Gurgler’s 2026 NRL Round 3 Ratings and Late Mail is here to deliver a little help.
In addition to our huge stable of NRL stats and tipping gear, we have used all the stats we have, smashed them against each other like atoms, and come up with a H2H rating as dangerous to the outside world as Chernobyl.
We include lots of things, and add to it as the season progresses, come up with a magic number for each team, then slice up the scores out of 100% between the two sides. The bigger the percentage, the more likely to win.
And always, Win Early, Win Often.
2026 NRL Round 3 Ratings
Here are the latest H2H ratings and winners for the big weekend of NRL action ahead.
2026 NRL Round 3 Late Mail
Now we go through every game pointing out the good and the grape (a different way of saying not so great). Be it stats, players ins and outs, or any word on the street we can share.
THU 8pm – CANBERRA 65% v BULLDOGS 35%
Canberra having the recent H2H advantage helps the Raiders ahead on the Ratings here.
Good:
CAN: Good recent record v Bulldogs – before the Bulldogs win in Canberra last season it was six straight wins for Canberra.
CAN: Canberra have won the only Thursday clash v Bulldogs.
CAN: Josh Papali’i returns.
BUL: Big comeback win over Raiders last season in Canberra might still play on minds of the Raiders.
Grape:
BUL: Bronson Xerri saga.
BUL: Away form? Bulldogs ended 2025 with four straight away losses.
FRI 6pm – ROOSTERS 43% v PENRITH 57%
An indifferent start to the season for the Roosters and poor form against Penrith tips the ratings toward the Panthers.
Good:
PEN: H2H Form – Penrith have won 12 of their last 13 clashes with the Roosters.
PEN: Have conceded just six points for far in two games.
ROO: Friday’s are all right – The Roosters have won all three Friday clashes v Penrith at the SFS. Going back to 2017, the Roosters have won 13 of their last 14 games at the SFS on a Friday v all teams. Going back to 2014, the Roosters have won 17 of their last 18 games at the SFS on a Friday v Sydney teams.
PEN: Liam Martin returns.
ROO: Reece Robson to make Roosters debut.
Grape:
ROO: Roosters home form v Penrith – The Roosters have lost five straight as the home side v Penrith.
FRI 8pm – MELBOURNE 68% v BRISBANE 32%
Mainly Brisbane’s (and Queensland teams’) bad record in Melbourne sees them on the Ratings outer, but an 0/2 start to the season doesn’t hurt.
Good:
MEL: Brilliant record at home – Since 2020, Melbourne’s record at AAMI Park on a Friday v any team is W16 L2.
MEL: Brilliant record at home v Brisbane – Melbourne have won nine in a row at AAMI Park vs Brisbane, with a last loss ten years ago in 2016.
MEL: Brilliant record at home v Qld – Melbourne have won 17 in a row at AAMI Park on any day v Queensland opposition.
MEL: Trent Loiero returns.
MEL: Sualauvi Faalogo a very good replacement for Paps.
Grape:
BRI: Poor record in Melbourne.
BRI: Adam Reynolds out.
BRI: Not playing great.
SAT 3pm – NEWCASTLE 43% v WAHS 57%
Ratings advantage to Warriors seems like a bit of a hangover to Newcastle’s terrible 2025.
Good:
NEW: Strong 2/2 start to the season.
WAHS: Strong 2/2 start to the season.
Grape:
NEW: Key injuries to star players – Dylan Brown, Kalyn Ponga
WAHS: Key injuries to star players – Chanel Harris-Tavita, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
SAT 5:30pm – CRONULLA 63% v DOLPHINS 37%
Cronulla’s unbeaten run at home and the Dolphins weak-ish Sydney form tips the fin battle towards the Sharks.
Good:
CRO – Great home form – Cronulla are on a run of eight straight wins at home. Cronulla were W10 L2 at home in 2025. Both losses were on a Saturday. Cronulla have won their last four games at Shark Park v Qld opposition.
CRO – Teig Wilton returns.
DOL – First win under belt, despite not playing great in Round 2.
DOL – Ray Stone.
Grape:
DOL – Terrible interstate away record – Dolphins have lost all four games on a Saturday in Sydney v Sydney teams. Dolphins are 0/7 for Saturday away games not in Qld.
CRO – Not great against Penrith last weekend.
DOL – Injury concerns about Tom Flegler again.
SAT 7:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY 76% v WESTS TIGERS 24% @ Central Coast Stadium
Souths H2H dominance and the Wests Tigers poor Saturday form gives the Rabbitohs a huge Ratings advantage.
Good:
SOU – Souths recent form v Wests Tigers, they have won nine of their last 11.
SOU – Jamie Humphreys returns.
SOU – Alex Johnston try scoring feat done and dusted.
WTI – Bunty Afoa returns.
Grape:
WTI – Taylan May is out.
WTI – Bad away form on a Saturday – Wests Tigers have lost 13 of their last 14 away to any team on a Saturday. Wests Tigers have lost six in a row v Sydney opposition away on a Saturday and lost 11 of their last 12.
SUN 4pm – PARRAMATTA 67% v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 33%
Parramatta doing better of the two recently with H2H, and the Dragons Sunday and away form is bad.
Good:
PAR: J’maine Hopgood returns.
PAR: Better H2H stats recently – Parramatta have won their last four at home to the Dragons.
PAR: H2H advantage on a Sunday – Parramatta are W7 L2 v Dragons at home on a Sunday.
Grape:
STI: Despite being generally competitive still 0/2.
STI: Away form not great – and against Sydney teams. Dragons were W2 L10 away last season v all teams. Plus, Dragons were W1 L6 v Sydney teams away last season.
STI: The Dragons have lost 11 of their last 12 games on a Sunday v Sydney teams.
PAR: Parra form v Sydney teams not much better Parramatta lost all five games last season v Sydney clubs on a Sunday. Three of those games were at home.
SUN 6:15pm – NORTH QUEENSLAND 67% v GOLD COAST 33%
Neither team is going well so far, but the Cowboys have a great H2H over the Gold Coast, and the Titans seem to dislike playing ion Sundays.
Good:
NQL: Reuben Cotter should play this week.
GCT: Jayden Campbell should play this week.
NQL: North Queensland have won 12 of their last 13 home games v Gold Coast.
Grape:
GCT: Bad away record v Cowboys as above.
GCT: Gold Coast have lost 14 Sunday games in a row and Gold Coast have lost eight away games in a row on a Sunday.
NQL: Cowboys have conceded the second highest total of points in 2026 so far with 72 points.
Looking for a way to get into this weekend’s NRL action, but don’t have the time to examine the form guide, Facebook pages, Fox Sports website, or watch the Channel Nein Sports news to help with your selections? Of course you can always try the excellent NRL Tipping Club. But if none of those work for you The Gurgler website is nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our 2026 NRL Round 3 Bets & Best Bets.
We’ve done the math and the homework of all our stats and offer up just our favourite suggested bet in each game. Then roll them up in a mega multi at the end.
2026 NRL Round 3 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.
THU 8pm – CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Best Bet: First Half Total Points – Under 22.5 Points @ $2.00
Neither of these teams have great Thursday form, so hard to know where to go from there. Bulldogs weren’t great in Canberra until last season’s big comeback win. Canberra led 20-0 last season before losing 32-20. Since these teams have scored just 24 first half points between them in three attempts so far this season, we’re going for a quiet first 40 minutes. Then let the entertainment run free after we’re counting the money.
FRI 6pm – ROOSTERS v PENRITH
Best Bet: Penrith to win @ $1.57
Tough one here, Roosters record is so bad against Penrith – the Panthers have won 12 of their last 13 clashes with the Roosters and the Roosters have lost five straight as the home side v Penrith. But then going back to 2014, the Roosters have won 17 of their last 18 games at the SFS on a Friday v Sydney teams. But the way Penrith choked Cronulla to sleep last weekend leads me to Go West not East this weekend.
FRI 8pm – MELBOURNE v BRISBANE
Best Bet: Melbourne Win 1-12 @ $3.15
Even without the current underwhelming form it was hard to pick the Broncos, but their record and Queensland teams record in general in Melbourne is an additional reason to stay away from betting on them. Melbourne have won 17 in a row at AAMI Park on any day v Queensland opposition and Melbourne have won nine in a row at AAMI Park vs Brisbane, with a last loss ten years ago in 2016. But keeping within the 1-12 margin as 10 of their last 14 at home on a Friday have been wins by 12 points or less. And surely the Broncos won’t be that bad again.
SAT 3pm – NEWCASTLE v WAHS
Best Bet: Alternative Total Points Under 54.5 @ $1.54
Both sides have key injuries, both sides are out-performing expectations. But perhaps the missing key players will harm the chances of lots of points. Plus Newcastle passed 20 points at home just twice last season in 12 home matches, and the Warriors scored 20 points or less away from home more than not last season.
SAT 5:30pm – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Best Bet: 1st Half Head to Head – Cronulla to win first half @ $1.57
Sharks are so good at home at the moment, they have won their last eight, and the Dolphins haven’t been great in Sydney since their inception. Cronulla were W10 L3 at home last season and won the first half at home 10-3 also. Dolphins have been slow to start this season and trailed at half time in both games.
SAT 7:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS @ Central Coast Stadium
Best Bet: Pick Your Own Line – Wests Tigers +8.5 @ $1.62
So many stats point towards a South Sydney win, in fact most of them point to running away from betting on the Tigers. But there’s just a feeling that the Wests Tigers are a chance of an upset here, but we’ll take the coward’s way out and snap up the points start for Wests Tigers.
SUN 4pm – PARRAMATTA v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Best Bet: Parramatta to Win 1-12 @ $3.00
Four of the last seven clashes between these teams at Commbank Stadium have been decided by six points or less. Two of the other three saw a 14 points margin. Parramatta have a good recent record v Dragons at home, and the Dragons are poor on a Sunday and away, especially against Sydney teams. But they are playing good enough for Parramatta not to flog them.
SUN 6:15pm – NORTH QUEENSLAND v GOLD COAST
Best Bet: North Queensland to win @ $1.60
Gold Coast’s record on a Sunday is so bad there can only be one betting option here. And that’s saying something as the Titans are playing the Cowboys.
2026 NRL Round 3 Bets MMMMMega Multi
Add all the specials together for turning $1 into plenty. But gamble responsibly, by betting within your limits and ignoring our tips all together.
Missed all the hype of the latest NRL Round and need and/or want to catch up in the quickest way possible? Well The Gurgler has you covered for the latest Dolphins game with our 2026 NRL Round 2 Dolphins v Gold Coast Titans – One Minute Match Report.
Our popular One Minute Match Reviews offer up just enough facts and figures and opinion to make it through the waiting for an Uber or Monday morning coffee catch ups, fifty cent train rides or carpools. This one is specifically designed to follow all the Dolphins NRL games in 2026, and to praise Ray Stone where possible. Or else.
For The Gurgler’s One Minute Match Reviews for all games, kindly follow this link…..
A win is a win, and holding the title of Queensland’s best so far in 2026 feels a little shallow, but again Dolphins fans will take it.
It took a long time for the Dolphins to get going in their game v Gold Coast on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium, for a second week the attack looked a little clunky, and forward momentum relied upon the big forwards and Herbie Farnworth giving it everything with every run. Herbie has been exceptional for the Dolphins since defecting from the Broncos. The most recent Broncos defector Selwyn Cobbo put in a decent shift on Sunday night in terms of cleaning up at the back, but we’re yet to see the best of him in attack. Hopefully the Dolphins can open up in the coming weeks.
Once again, with the Titans proving hard to crack, and the Dolphins handing over too much ball, it was the perfect stage for Trai Fuller to come into the game, but unfortunately by the time he would have been very useful the Dolphins had used the four players off the bench. Of course you’re not going to say no to Ray Stone, who would dare, and Felisa Kaufusi is always good value before he gets suspended, and Oryn Keeley deserves game time after his 2025 heroics. That leaves the back up hooker Brad Schneider. He’s a great signing for depth in the halves, but he isn’t a hooker, and the Dolphins kind of need an 80 minute hooker so they can add Trai Fuller unto the rotation.
The Gold Coast were good value for the first half, and the points festival many were hoping for didn’t eventuate as the Titans were able to apply pressure to shut down anything threatening. It was a better effort against the Dolphins than Round 1’s loss to the Sharks, but they too lacked cut-through in attack, especially in the second half.
Eventually the Dolphins got going with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki’s try a bit lucky with a bouncing ball after a short drop out from the Titans, but it was no less a reward than the second rower deserved. He has been very good for the Dolphins both weeks, getting solid 80 minute performances out of him.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow lit up the Sunday evening crowd at Suncorp with an almost length of the field run late in the game, and his try to take the lead was well received. It came after a slightly different tactic from Isaiya Katoa on the last, dropping a shorter bomb inwards to a flying Hammer. When Katoa changes it up it pays dividends more often than not, so as good as he is, mixing up a little more might unlock a little more out of the Dolphins attack.
A timely win for the Dolphins, who have a hard run over the next six weeks, with a trip to Sydney for Cornulla, a Battle of Brisbane, plus trips to Darwin to play Penrith and over to Auckland for the in-form Warriors, with home games to Manly and the Storm thrown in. You could argue that even two wins from that six would be a decent return, but that would leave your 2026 at W3 L5, which isn’t great, but better than last season’s 0-4 start.
The Points of Interest
Dolphins lead the H2H v Gold Coast 6-1 now.
Gold Coast have lost their last eight away games on a Sunday v all teams.
Dolphins have won their last three games at Suncorp Stadium v Qld opposition as the home side.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (3rd) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (6th) are in the top six for players with the most run metres of all players this season. The Hammer’s 314 runnign metres was nearly 100 clear of the next best.
Tom Gilbert made 43 tackles in his 44 minutes on the field.
NRL Round 2 Dolphins Player Stats
Here are the choicest cuts of stats from the Dolphins latest match.
Time to separate the rugby league Wheat/Chaff or the NRL Mutton/Lamb and maybe the Burton/Flanagan for our 2026 NRL Round 2 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.
It’s got more science and math, and less bias than a pair of Dally M judges.
2026 NRL Round 2 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.
And a few of the players we thought the stats were a little too harsh on. Or just super bias on players we love.
2026 NRL Season Team of the Year
Same stats and calculations as above, but for the overall season so far.
2026 NRL Round 2 Player Stats Summary
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2026 NRL Season Player Stats Summary
The same stats as weekly, just rolled up for the season that is so far.
2025 NRL Team of the Season
Remember 2025? Well here is the Team of the Season from 2025.
Angrier than a room full of Fox League writers, ducking for cover like a Melbourne Storm Assistant Coach, trying his best to not lash out at kids at NRL games while wondering what he’s done wrong not to be a current NRL mascot, sitting on the extended bench and not expecting to play for the good of the team, and getting the full support of the board, it’s time for the weekly Rugby League rant from The Gurgler’s NRL Donkey. The NRL Donkey provides his NRL Donkey’s 2026 NRL Round 3 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 2026 NRL Round 3 Weekly Opinion
What a sight to see rugby league in Bathurst last weekend, there’s so much to like. The noisy locals cheering, the less plastic-ky grandstand, a BBQ somewhere you just know the local Lions clubs would probably be involved in, and the duller than usual floodlights.
Rugby league takes so much from the bush. Hundreds of young men every year head to the various big smokes to try for a NRL career, leaving the plains out of Narrabri, or where everything for miles is high on the silence, or evading Tucker’s daughter’s attentions. But what does rugby league give back to the bush?
Not much. A few token games and that’s it. One of which was Penrith’s torture of the Sharks on Saturday in Bathurst, the Sharks rehearsing for September when they usually waste another year of a top eight finish.
Given the cost of living crisis, the War in Iran seeing fuel prices go berserk and supply dwindle, and the rise of One Nation, it’s never been harder to live out in the rural and regions. Yet here is rugby league fat with cash travelling to Las Vegas, and selling off State of Origin to the highest bidder, and inventing more ways to drive fans insane with more penalties, doing nothing.
Time for rugby league to give back.
Whilst I know that the draw for 2026 is set and in the case of everywhere other than the Gold Coast, tickets have been sold, but the NRL should set fire to the draw, or at least singe it a bit and make each team take a game to the bush. Proper bush. Preferably the rubbish Friday 6pm game, or the even worse Sunday 6:15pm shift.
That includes you Broncos. For years you’ve been trading off Roma Street without giving anything back to Roma itself.
The Sydney and NSW teams can find sister towns and teams throughout the state, and Melbourne, well they can play wherever they want because no one outside of Melbourne will want to see them anyway. One could argue before September that would also include most of Melbourne. Some Melbourne folk do love their rugby.
Queensland teams are spoiled for choice for great places to play, but if Charters Towers doesn’t get a game, then you may have one or multiple Katters hunting you down like a croc. And we all know how much one of the Katter’s like crocs.
But not only should the players, and in turn the games themselves just arrive and play, as part of the caravan of rugby league hope there should be at least five fully filled Fuel Tanker, to help ease the Iran’s war burden of getting fuel out to the country.
If the politicians or greedy fuel companies can’t do it. Then why doesn’t rugby league fill the void pitching in like the everyday heroes they should be. Like the pitch invasion for Alex Johnston’s record-breaking try, when rugby league bands together they can achieve anything.
Perhaps the NRL could donate any fines from pitch invasions last weekend and every weekend to the Rural-Regional Rugby League Foundation. Which would make future games interesting with fans knowing the $10K fine would be going to a good use.
What isn’t useful it the weekly expert tips, which are available below.
The NRL Donkey’s 2026 NRL Round 3 Expert Tips & Match Analysis
GAME BY GAME
THU 8pm – CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Bronson Xerri must really not like Canberra, who could blame him. All I know is of course it isn’t Gus’ fault.
Canberra by 6
FRI 6pm – ROOSTERS v PENRITH
The Roosters have a better record in games where 10,000 people rush onto the field than against Penrith. They are unlikely to do anything this weekend that deserves that kind of crowd action.
Penrith by 8
FRI 8pm – MELBOURNE v BRISBANE
Tough game for neutrals, tougher game for Broncos based on recent and historical stats in Melbourne and their form.
Melbourne by 16
SAT 3pm – NEWCASTLE v WAHS
Two less fancied teams to be 2/2, and Newcastle keep doing it with their best players getting injured. Either Justin Holbrook is a coaching genius, and let’s face it, Wayne Bennett wouldn’t win a Premiership on the Gold Coast, or in Newcastle, or for the Dolphins. Or perhaps those injured stars aren’t really that good. As for the Wahs, the rugby league gods are smiling on them, along with well-wishers everywhere.
Wahs by 6
SAT 5:30pm – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Battle of the fins/phins, one could only hope that given it is Sharks, and there’s a team from Brisbane-ish, that the best shark of them all Greg Norman could make an appearance. Perhaps a celebrity conversion kick followed by five minutes of body building poses. Something for the fans. As for the game, Sharks are great at home, and Dolphins pretty terrible in Sydney. The only saving grace for the Dolphins is and always will be Ray Stone.
Dolphins by 2
SAT 7:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS @ Central Coast Stadium
How much of a let down will this game be this weekend? Not just because it is in Gosford, but after the mobbing celebrations of Alex Johnstons record. The Rabbitohs will want to be switched on this weekend because the Tigers looked good last weekend. Sure the Cowboys stunk, but who could begrudge the Tigers from enjoying themselves. Genuinely hard to pick. The key to victory is annoying Cody Walker. Once he’s on the push and shove it’s all over for Souths.
Tigers by 8
SUN 4pm – PARRAMATTA v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Yep, this is the Sunday 4pm game all right. Two traditional Sydney teams. Just the way Channel Nein like it. It’s not an all-Sydney clash that is the beef, it’s the choice of all Sydney clash. Especially when Roosters v Penrith gets the Fish n Chip Friday 6pm slot. Picking the Eels on the basis of halves and halves only.
Parramatta by 12
SUN 6:15pm – NORTH QUEENSLAND v GOLD COAST
Now this is the perfect time slot for this game. One for the mini, or perfect background noise for dinner.
North Qld by 4
READ MORE: THE GURGLER’S FULL NRL 2026 GEAR
We’ve been working hard for you to bring you the 2026 NRL Season Previews from every angle and angel possible. But never Jo Angel.
Nice to see a weekend of celebration as the rugby league community got behind record breaker Alex Johnston, many of them invading the field for the iconic moment. It may never be broken again, although they said that about Ken Irvine’s record. Talking of broken records, our 2026 NRL Round 3 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview is back again this repeating the same barely interesting facts and mediocre tipping selections.
Each week this season we will offer up a quick preview glance for each match, throw in a bunch of barely interesting stats, and mix in a pinch of opinion, plus throw in our weekly predictions like chicken salt on hot chips and you have something that seagulls and humans will fight over.
2026 NRL Round 3 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
CANBERRA by 6
PENRITH by 2
MELBOURNE by 22
WARRIORS by 6
CRONULLA by 14
WESTS TIGERS by 8
PARRAMATTA by 1
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 20
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for you convenience and arguments.
THU 8pm – CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Canberra have a W3 L3 record at home on a Thursday. One of those losses was in Mackay.
Overall on a Thursday Canberra are W7 L6. Bulldogs are W11 L26.
Away it is even worse for the Bulldogs on a Thursday with W5 L17.
Canberra have won the only Thursday clash v Bulldogs.
Bulldogs win in Canberra last season broke a run of six straight losses.
Bulldogs ended 2025 with four straight away losses.
FRI 6pm – ROOSTERS v PENRITH
Penrith have won 12 of their last 13 clashes with the Roosters.
The Roosters have lost five straight as the home side v Penrith.
Last season’s win for the Roosters broke a run of five straight losses v Penrith on a Friday.
The Roosters though, have won all three Friday clashes v Penrith at the SFS.
Going back to 2017, the Roosters have won 13 of their last 14 games at the SFS on a Friday v all teams.
Going back to 2014, the Roosters have won 17 of their last 18 games at the SFS on a Friday v Sydney teams.
Penrith have won 17 of their last 20 games on a Friday v Sydney opposition.
FRI 8pm – MELBOURNE v BRISBANE
Melbourne have won only one of their Round 3 clashes since Covid in 2020.
Melbourne have won nine in a row at AAMI Park vs Brisbane, with a last loss ten years ago in 2016.
That 2016 loss is the only loss in 11 games on a Friday for Melbourne v Brisbane at AAMI Park/Olympic Park.
Melbourne are W16 L1 v all Queensland teams on a Friday at AAMI Park/Olympic Park.
** Melbourne have won 17 in a row at AAMI Park on any day v Queensland opposition.
Since 1998, Melbourne’s win % on a Friday anywhere v anyone is 71%. The next best is Canberra on 58%.
Across the four home grounds used in Melbourne, the Storm’s record v Brisbane is W22 L5.
Since 2020, Melbourne’s record at AAMI Park on a Friday v any team is W16 L2.
Since 2020, Brisbane’s record on a Friday at a ground not in Qld is W4 L10.
SAT 3pm – NEWCASTLE v WAHS
Warriors haven’t started the season with three wins since 2018. It’s 2015 for Newcastle.
Warriors won both clashes v Newcastle in 2025.
Newcastle’s home record v Warriors since 1998 is W13 L9.
On a Saturday at home Newcastle’s record v Wahs improves to W8 L3.
Newcastle lost both Saturday home games last season.
Newcastle were W1 L5 v non Sydney opposition at home in 2025.
Warriors were W4 L2 away on a Saturday last season.
SAT 5:30pm – CRONULLA v DOLPHINS
Cronulla are on a run of eight straight wins at home.
Cronulla were W10 L2 at home in 2025. Both losses were on a Saturday.
Cronulla have won their last four games at Shark Park v Qld opposition. It helps the lasty two games were v Gold Coast and they scored 104 points.
Dolphins have lost their last four games v Sydney teams.
Since their inception, the Dolphins are W3 L8 v Sydney teams in Sydney.
Dolphins have lost all four games on a Saturday in Sydney v Sydney teams.
Dolphins are 0/7 for Saturday away games not in Qld.
SAT 7:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS @ Central Coast Stadium
Wests Tigers haven’t won two games in a row to start a season since 2019.
Wests Tigers and South Sydney both have a 44% win record at Central Coast Stadium.
For the record Penrith and Parramatta have a 100% record and Canberra 0%.
Souths have won nine of their last 11 v Wests Tigers.
South Sydney have won the only clash in Gosford v Wests Tigers.
Souths are W8 L1 v Wests Tigers on a Saturday as the home side.
Wests Tigers have lost six in a row v Sydney opposition away on a Saturday and lost 11 of their last 12.
Wests Tigers have lost 13 of their last 14 away to any team on a Saturday.
SUN 4pm – PARRAMATTA v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
St George Illawarra may have won the last match v Parramatta, but the Eels are W12 L4 from the last 16 clashes.
Parramatta have won their last four at home to the Dragons.
Parramatta are W7 L2 v Dragons at home on a Sunday.
Parramatta lost all five games last season v Sydney clubs on a Sunday. Three of those games were at home.
The Dragons have lost 11 of their last 12 games on a Sunday v Sydney teams.
Going back to 2019, the Dragons have won just eight of 45 games away on a Saturday v Sydney teams.
Dragons were W1 L6 v Sydney teams away last season.
Dragons were W2 L10 away last season v all teams.
SUN 6:15pm – NORTH QUEENSLAND v GOLD COAST
North Queensland have won 12 of their last 13 home games v Gold Coast.
It’s a win a piece in Townsville on a Sunday between North Qld and Gold Coast.
Cowboys have won their last five home games on a Sunday.
Gold Coast have lost 14 Sunday games in a row.
Gold Coast have lost eight away games in a row on a Sunday.
2026 Season Stats so far……
With only a few games gone, there’s not a lot to see yet, but that doesn’t stop us showing what we have.
More Stuff
READ MORE: THE GURGLER’S FULL NRL 2026 GEAR
We’ve been working hard for you to bring you the 2026 NRL Season Previews from every angle and angel possible. But never Jo Angel.
A new season, new cars, new technology, new dominant drivers, and some same old disappointments. Plus plenty of action in between. Talking of action, our 2026 Chinese F1 Grand Prix Result Summary will hopefully do the first Grand Prix weekend of the season justice.
This 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Result, Laps that Matter summary, Review & Ratings gives you just enough to catch up with. With just a hint of cynicism, bias, opinion and colour. The perfect bite sized review for those who couldn’t be bothered, or don’t have enough time.
Didn’t see the race live? Don’t have time to watch the whole race? Here’s where we capture the laps where stuff happened. We write these live as we go, sort of like a minute by minute for the football, but marginally more interesting.
Setting the scene – SPRINT RACE
The first Sprint Race of produced a similar result as expected in the race with George Russell winning, but his team mate Kimi Antonelli fluffed the start again and dropped well back behind Ferraris and McLarens. Antonelli was also involved in a dust up with Isack Hadjar for which he received a 10 second penalty. Antonelli was then involved in the race’s most controversial moment as he fell off the track on a Safety Car restart at the final corner, allowing Oscar Piastri to go past, but Piastri was then penalised for overtaking before the start line, which although is the rule for normal restarts, was harsh on Piastri. He gave the place back to Antonelli a few laps later to avoid a penalty. A bit of early racing between George Russell and the Ferraris settled down, although among that was the Ferrari drivers racing each other hard, leading to an unhappy-ish Leclerc chatting about widths of Ferraris on Team Radio. The Safety Car caused by Nico Hulkenberg breaking down was a key with Ferrari not pitting straight away and blowing a chance to put more pressure on Russell.
SPRINT RACE FINISH – RUS LEC HAM NOR ANT PIA LAW BEA
Setting the scene – QUALIFYING
And ultimately, it’s all about Mercedes again, but for interest’s sake it is Kimi Antonelli taking pole and becoming the youngest ever driver to do so. George Russell did well to make it onto the front row, with his car in the pits for most of Q3 with an issue. He made it out just in time to do a lap good enough for second. Behind him the Ferrari’s look next best, and with a decent strategy could….pffft, we know that’s not going to happen. McLaren are getting the maximum they can, which isn’t as good as a Mercedes but they are faster than Red Bull, whose car Max Verstappen called undriveable.
GRID AFTER Q3 – ANT RUS HAM LEC PIA NOR GAS VER HAD BEA
Setting the scene – RACEDAY
Sensation as World Champion Lando Norris doesn’t make it out of the garage with electrical issues, and if that wasn’t enough misery for McLaren Oscar Piastri is pushed off the grid while the intro for the Chinese Grand Prix was playing. Not outright front runners, but contenders for podiums in the event of Ferrari strategy stuff up, so huge news. Less huge but notable is Alex Albon starting from the pit lane, and even as the grid is being shown on TV Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto is being pushed off the grid and he is officially out. Alex Albon doesn’t make the race either. What a new era we have in Formula 1. Back to the good old days of the 1980’s where the cars would keep you guessing despite their pace. Good news for Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen who now have a big gap in front on them to speed off, if they can. Who knows with this new technology….Although Pierre Gasly initially drove past his grid slot, but reversed back onto the right place.
Lap 1 – Pole sitter Kimi Antonelli makes a better start than the Sprint Race but not as good as Lewis Hamilton who sweeps around the outside of turn one to take the lead. Charles Leclerc threatens to steal second too over the next few corners but Antonelli keeps him behind. George Russell settles in fourth. Isack HAdjar and Oliver Bearman battle for 6th place, with Bearman leaving the track to stay in front, then Hadjar sweeping past a corner later, only to spin at the next corner where Bearman has to leave the track again to avoid the rotating Red Bull. Hadjar rejoins but told to pit before the lap ends. Two Racing Bulls battle Colapinto, which sounds like a recipe for disaster. Behind them is the incredible Fernando Alonso doing his thing and hauling the Aston Martin up to 10th. Max Verstappen makes a shocking start and is 13th at the end of the first lap. Sergio Perez apparently goes off early in the first lap too and not long into the Grand Prix find out that Valtteri Bottas is being investigated for it. His team mate Valtteri Bottas is up to 14th, which is ahead of Hulkenberg and Stroll. The McLarens are both eventually out as well.
ORDER – HAM ANT LEC RUS GAS COL LAW LIN OCO ALO
Lap 2 – The top four are circulating very close around the second lap, covered by a seconds and a half and already almost two seconds in front of fifth. It’s not long though before Kimi Antonelli breezes past the Ferrari down the back straight to take the lead. Meanwhile Oscar Piastri has jumped out of his car in the pits, safe in the knowledge that he has completed zero racing laps so far in 2026. Goerge Russell passes Charles Leclerc up the inside of the pit straight at the beginning of lap three.
ORDER – ANT HAM RUS LEC GAS COL LAW OCO LIN VER
Lap 4 – George Russell hits his power button down the straight to begin lap 4 and scorches Lewis Hamilton as he goes past to take second. It is a bit too easy some of this new technology.
Lap 7 – The race has settled down, which means it’s going to be pretty dull from here. We could usually rely on Lance Stroll to do something silly, but sadly his car isn’t fast enough. Although Franco Colapinto circulating in 6th place is kind of cool for him. At the front Kimi Antonelli is1.5 seconds clear of George Russell who is 2.2 seconds in front of the Ferraris which are less than a second apart.
ORDER – ANT RUS HAM LEC GAS COL OCO LAW LIN VER
Lap 8 – Max Verstappen announces via Team Radio that his tyres are dead, after just eight laps. He is on softs, so kind of his fault. And explains why he is struggling to get past the Racing Bulls ahead. The Racing Bulls themselves swap positions and back again into and out of the hairpin. For the record on strategy Colapinto, Ocon and Lindblad are on hard tyres. Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 9 behind Liam Lawson.
Lap 10 – What was that about Lance Stroll before? The broadcast goes from pit stops to a dead stop of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin at turn five. Now we know the Aston Martin is unreliable, so will presume unfairly that Lance Stroll has done something silly until evidence suggests it’s definitely car failure. Whoever’s fault, the stoppage causes the Safety Car to be deployed, and how will this play out with tyre stops. Surely the Ferraris pit after messing up the Sprint Race.
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED
Lap 11 – Mercedes pit their front running cars, Ferrari double stack as well. Russell stays ahead of the Ferraris. Colapinto, Ocon and Lindblad’s choice of hard tyre means they stay out and grab higher than usual positions – Colapinto (2nd), Ocon (3rd), Lindblad (6th). Those cars might be a nuisance to the faster cars behind, which is good.
ORDER – ANT COL OCO RUS HAM LIN LEC HUL GAS BEA
SAFETY CAR PERIOD ENDS
Lap 14 – Kimi Antonelli does a better job at the restart than yesterday’s Sprint Race and keeps his lead. Esteban Ocon does his best to steal second from Colapinto, but Colapinto does his best work to stay in front. Next position down changes hands as Lewis Hamilton takes fourth from George Russell. Lewis Hamilton double down on the overtaking and takes second from Ocon into the hairpin. At the beginning of lap 15 Charles Leclerc sweeps past George Russell.
Lap 15 – Lewis Hamilton makes light work of Colapinto to take second halfway around the lap. Before the lap is done Leclerc gets past Esteban Ocon. And not to be left out George Russell overtakes Ocon for fifth. Further back and there’s a decent battle brewing between Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman.
ORDER – ANT HAM LEC COL RUS OCO LIN BEA HUL GAS
Lap 18 – With the top four clearing out of the midfield cars, it leaves two Alpines, Two Haas’ and one Max Verstappen to fight over the lower half of the points places. It’s good racing. This group is a full five second behind Russell. But this is a time for the Alpines and Haas cars to score some points with the McLarens away and Hadjar resetting to standard Red Bull number two driver mode.
Lap 20 – This midfield racing is really good, with attempts made and rebuked. And with Max Verstappen edging further to the front in 8th. Then 7th a lap or so later. Although, you have to wonder about the efficiency of all this racing, as leading car Colapinto is over ten seconds behind Russell now.
Lap 21 – The top four remain as they were, but George Russell appears to be a driver keen on a move and it right on Charles Leclerc. He in turn catches his team mate for a nice three car bunch racing for stuff. Ahead Kimi Antonelli has a comfortable lead of just over two seconds.
ORDER – ANT HAM LEC RUS BEA VER COL OCO HUL LAW
Lap 25 – Oooooh, and wow, the Ferraris are racing so close together and not sure how they don’t touch. Maybe it is professionalism. That aside Charles Leclerc passes Lewis Hamilton for second as part of that tense racing, and George Russell almost pinches his third place too, but doesn’t. For now.
Lap 26 – Lewis Hamilton passes Charles Leclerc for second into the hairpin on Lap 26, only for Leclerc to pass him into turn one on Lap 27. The Ferraris then race and swap positions around the 27th lap but Leclerc stays in front. All the racing hurts Hamilton as George Russell passes him for third into the hairpin. So much racing for just one lap. While this is all going on, Kimi Antonelli is seven seconds ahead.
Lap 28 – Arvid Lindblad has a spin, briefly blocks the track but recovers and continues in 14th.
Lap 29 – It took almost 30 laps, but it is now a Mercedes 1-2 as George Russell passes Charles Leclerc for second.
ORDER – ANT LEC RUS HAM BEA VER GAS COL HUL LAW
Lap 33 – Something spicy in the midfield as Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto collide. The Alpine driver had just come out of the pits as Esteban Ocon was travelling into turn one. Colapinto doesn’t see Ocon on the inside of turn two and they touch, spinning in unison like a pre-planned dance move. It looked graceful enough for ballet. Ocon goes right to the back of the field while Colapinto is at least ahead of the Cadillacs. Fernando Alonso has also just retired. Two thirds, or so, of the race is a decent test run.
Lap 36 – Lewis Hamilton is complaining about low power or power issues, but then all of a sudden is flying past Charles Leclerc. Maybe it was the ultimate bluff to the Leclerc side of Ferrari. Either way Hamilton takes third and keeps his team mate at bay to keep third for the time being. A lap later, the broadcast is riding with Charles Leclerc when he almost runs up the back of Hamilton’s car.
ORDER – ANT RUS HAM LEC BEA VER GAS LAW HAD SAI
Lap 39 – Charles Leclerc passes Lewis Hamilton into the hairpin, but Lewis Hamilton passes him back into turn one on Lap 40 and keeps third place. They continue to race hard, but fair. And true but fair as well.
Lap 41 – Kimi Antonelli is good a cracking job in front, has only conceded less than one second of lead to his more experienced team mate since we last looked, which was a while ago. For the record he is 7.1 seconds in front. No surprise the Mercedes is the fastest car, second placed Russell is almost 13 seconds behind.
Lap 46 – Red Bull over the radio, telling Max Verstappen to retire the car. He crawls round the 46th lap and retires from 6th place. Oliver Bearman may breathe a sigh of relief.
Lap 50 – Kimi Antonelli is in the zone now. He has extended the lead to almost ten seconds. What a drive from the youngster.
Lap 53 – Lucky Kimi Antonelli had an almost ten second lead…..He out brakes himself going into the hairpin at the end of the back straight. He only loses two seconds to George Russell in second.
Lap 54 – Lewis Hamilton is on track for his first Ferrari podium, leading his team mate by 3.6 seconds and looking comfortable enough.
FINAL LAP – Kimi cruises around the final lap and does a better job of the hairpin than some of his previous laps. He crosses the line as F1’s new youngest race winner. Not quite as excited or momentous, but probably close is Lewis Hamilton’s first podium for Ferrari. Good points for midfield teams with McLaren and Max Verstappen out.
FINAL ORDER (Across the line) – ANT RUS HAM LEC BEA GAS LAW HAD SAI COL
Here we go through the field and highlight the very best (Great) of the race, and the plodders, the over-ambitious, the out of luck, and simply hopeless (Grape).
These points get added to our Driver of the Season scores. 5 points for a great nomination, and -5 for the worst or grapest driver in the pack. Then it is +2 /-2 for honourable or dishonourable mentions.
THE GREAT-EST – KIMI ANTONELLI
Bit of a no-brainer this month. Kimi Antonelli became the youngest ever pole position winner, then goes on to win his first race, dominating in a way beyond his years, although young drivers like him rarely get the car he currently has. But he did it better than George Russell, which is no mean feat. Tears in the post-race interview shows what it means. Aside from blowing the Sprint Race start, it was a magic weekend for Kimi.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
LEWIS HAMILTON – We have been pretty harsh on Lewis Hamilton in recent seasons here with our F1 reporting, and he has mostly deserved it with some ordinary performances. So his Chinese Grand Prix pace and razor sharp racing proves there’s still plenty of the old Lewis in there to give his second year of the Ferrari stint a real crack.
GEORGE RUSSELL – After almost missing Q3 in Qualifying, Russell did well to make the front row of the grid, and did well to finish second, looking racey enough at times.
OLVIER BEARMAN – Another magnificent effort from Bearman. Avoiding too much trouble early, then was in the upper midfield for the early part of the race, and when pitstops and strategy sorted themselves out he settled 5th and earned himself a big bad of points.
PIERRE GASLY – A very good weekend for the Alpine driver. Points and making Q3 is a decent effort in current F1.
CARLOS SAINZ – First points for 2026.
THE GRAPE-EST – McLAREN
Qualifying fifth and sixth was as good as they could do pace-wise, and as good as they could do in the race, as neither car started, both retiring from the pitlane.
DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS
OSCAR PIASTRI – Oscar Piastri gets an additional nomination for completing zero laps in two grands prix.
GABRIEL BORTOLETO & ALEX ALBON – Never got to start.
MAX VERSTAPPEN – Not particularly fast this weekend, only able to qualify 8th, dropped positions at the start and although climbed to 6th in the race, he made hard work of it, and never really looked up to speed. Then retired anyway.
ASTON MARTIN – Improvement at least by doing more laps, but it is still rubbish for the spend.
Was it a good race, loads of action, a tense ending, a surprise result or DNF, or just a big, fat, snooze-fest?
We rate the big race itself, so we know which races to go back and watch in the off season or one to simply remember the winner for the post season quiz nights.
PRE RACE ACTION (FP, QUAL, SPRINT, OFF TRACK etc) – 3 / 5
The Chinese GP isn’t usually one that is usually full of action, being a reasonably dull track and location, but the Sprint Race had enough action to slightly interesting, Qualifying saw a new record set for youngest pole sitter, and off track there was the announcement of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs going amiss due to Middle East conflict. Apparently pre-warned via social media by Antonelli.
ON TRACK ACTION (RACE) – 7 / 10
Lots of action down the field and throughout the race stages. After the usual chaos of the opening laps these days, there were plenty of battles to keep fans and well wishers entertained.
ANY SURPRISES? – 4 / 5
A Mercedes winning isn’t much of a surprise, but Kimi beating George to pole and the win is. Same with disappearing McLarens and other cars pre-race due to failures. Oliver Bearman running as high as fifth and Gasly sixth is also a surprise.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 2 / 5
Won’t change the order up the front for the Championship, but does give Kimi a subtle nudge towards believing he can be a title nuisance to George Russell.
ENDING – 2 / 5
Kimi Antonelli out-braking himself was about the highlight, but it was quieter than earlier. Although, nice to enjoy Kimi winning his first race.
OVERALL RATING – 20 / 30
Some great racing, and a nice moment to see Kimi Antonelli win and break records for pole position and race win age.
2026 F1 Season Preview Gear
In case you haven’t got enough with the above. Here’s the best of 2026 in advance……
A hardline Facebook podcast fan group has continued to push the limits of fan dedication.
The Ardal’s REAL Fans page has a reputation for testing – and alienating – its members with the admin’s strict policing of the podcast.
And now they’ve gone a step further.
With new celebrity interview episodes released every Monday afternoon, the Facebook admin team has starting posting an ‘Episode Reactions’ thread.
While that’s fine on the surface, it comes with strict rules.
EVERY SINGLE page member MUST post in this thread EVERY WEEK! NO exceptions. Forgetting or not having enough time to post (for whatever reason) is NO excuse!
Members have 24 hours (depending when the podcast is available) to listen to the episode IN FULL and post their views in the thread.
Absolutely NO negative comments will be tolerated! This is a positive and safe space. If you don’t like a guest one week (if so, what is wrong with you? All of Ardal’s guests are wonderful!), then find something positive to talk about.
Breaking ANY of the three rules will result in IMMEDIATE EXPULSION from the group! No warnings, no second chances! Goodbye and good riddance!
While the strict rules saw some members leave the group voluntarily, most members have complied with their thoughts on the episodes within the time frame.
Everyday News reporters reached to a former member of the page (who wished to remain anonymous), for their reactions.
“Oh, is that silly page still going? Mate, I scrapped my Facebook during the Christmas holidays, why would I care? I still like the pod, but I listen to it when I want to, and I skip episodes if I don’t like the celebrity,” they said. “Whoever runs that page is either desperate for a power trip or they have nothing else in their lives so they have to obsess over a podcast to feel useful. I enjoy the podcast, but it’s only a podcast!”
