Been too distracting by the recent election results? Or whether David Fifita is more useless for Ipswich or the Gold Coast? So do you need some last-minute NRL tipping advice? Want something else to blame when the tips go wrong? Well then saddle up for The Gurgler’s NRL Round 10 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. Then slice up the scores out of 100% between the two sides. The bigger the percentage, the more likely to win.
2025 NRL Round 10 Ratings
Here are the H2H ratings and winner for Magic Round of the NRL.
Our ratings picked a just the five winners last weekend, and have a few upsets up their sleeve this weekend.
2025 NRL Round 10 Late Mail
PARRAMATTA v DOLPHINS
Dolphins have a terrible record in NSW (2/12), but have shown they can play some great rugby league, 40 minutes at a time. Whether that 40 minutes will be enough for a win over Parramatta. Probably. But the battle of the halves will decide the game. And as always, Ray Stone.
NEWCASTLE v GOLD COAST
Nothing is pointing to a Titans win here. Of the last 15 games between these sides, going back to 2017, the home side (either team) has won 14 times. Newcastle have a good record v Qld sides in NSW, and Gold have a bad record against NSW teams in NSW. And Gold Coast are poor on a Friday. Wonder if there will be a Dom Young surprise in time.
SOUTHS v BRISBANE
Both of these teams have good Friday stats. Not the religious day, but good stats. Broncos have won eight of their last nine away on a Friday and South have won four of their last five at home. Latrell is back for the Rabbitohs who need him to do something badly. Broncos halves/hookers will be looking over their shoulders for the pending return of Ezra Mam. As will anyone driving near Ezra Mam around inner Brisbane.
CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Game of the round. Both teams in form. Canberra have an excellent recent record against the Dogs, except for the last game played in 2024. But that was a different Bulldogs, and arguably a different Canberra too. Coin toss.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v WAHS
You can feel that Wahs bandwagon starting to gain momentum. St George Illawarra have won seven of their last eight games v non NSW sides, but their form at Win Stadium is patchy. At least it’s not at Magic Round where the Dragons are still winless.
NORTH QUEENSLAND v PENRITH
Since 2020, Penrith have won 18 of their 21 away games on a Saturday. Cowboys do tend to struggle in Townsville v Sydney teams on a Saturday (5/15).
MELBOURNE v WESTS TIGERS
So many stats point to a Melbourne win against the Tigers. Hoem ground advantage, Sunday games, games v Sydney clubs on a Sunday. But, Wests Tigers are 2/2 away on a Sunday this season.
MANLY v CRONULLA
Cronulla have a good recent record vs Manly, but Manly are exceptional at home on a Sunday. Except when playing Cronulla.
2025 NRL Season Stats So Far
And if you don’t believe our ratings, then help yourself to a bunch of stats from the 2025 NRL season.
Here’s the best of the NRL Team Stats from last weekend.
2025 NRL Round 9 Review + Round 10 Preview
Here’s the best of our wrap ups of Round 5 and the best look forward to Round 6.
Here are The Gurgler’s 2025 Miami Grand Prix Ratings – our way of rating the performances on the track without getting into trouble for swearing.
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.
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 Miami 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
Early days, but trouble for some drivers.
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.
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.
1ST LAP PROGRESS
OTHER RACE STATS
Fancy knowing who has led the most laps. Or which grid position fills which position at the end of the race. Note: 99 means DNF.
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.
Angrier than a room full of Fox League writers and NRL 360 hosts, slower than a Bunker decision, and spending more time in the Sin Bin than his contract allows, it’s time for the weekly Rugby League rant of The Gurgler’s NRL Donkey, who provides his NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 10 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 10 Weekly Rant
You know the NRL is back to business after the excitement and magic of Magic Round when they serve up four of the bottom six in the first two games of Round 10. A cold shower of sorts for rugby league fans. At least one of them won in Magic Round I guess. Oh, and the all-Sydney clash on a Sunday afternoon at 4pm. Just the way Channel Nein like it.
But maybe there’s an exciting silver lining, the four teams have all had/are having runs of bad form this season, so maybe this is a potential shopping window into this season’s wooden spoon, and punters can get their form guides and black books ready.
And after the success of spoon bowl last season, wouldn’t a four team, mini Bowl competition to end the season among the worst four teams to determine dead last be a lot of fun. Two games on the Tuesday after the regular season has finished, and the final on the Thursday. Losers proceed to the next round. The ultimate losing teams punished with two further games. It’s like a Premier League relegation battle without a club dropping out.
Talking of relegation and dropping out, what about the Australian Federal Election…….
The historic win for ALP and loss for the Coalition has been blamed on many things: Donald Trump, MAGA hats, Greens, News Ltd, Donald Trump, ABC, Fake News, Petrol Bowsers, Baby Boomers, Generations Y and/or Z, Cyclones, Greg Norman, the fact that Peter Dutton was as unlikeable a person as any political party in any country outside of the 1930’s – 1950’s could have offered up for a population that has more younger voters than old, but ultimately there’s only one simple reason for ALP’s success and Coalition’s demise……Rugby League.
Now this is not based on any political preference, as you could imagine being a donkey I only vote one way…..the only way…..
People know Albo’s NRL preference for rugby league with his constant wearing of Souths merch at any opportunity, often being the random Souths Guy himself. And doesn’t the Federal Parliament need an uplift of Random South Guy every now and again. Actually not with the great Milton Dick as the speaker of the house. Milton Dick provides entertainment and discipline.
But back to Albo, and despite the furious Baby Boomer keyboard warriors on the News Ltd comments section, and it is most often the most entertaining part of News Ltd media offerings, Albo is quite likeable. And even the Baby Boomers in between watching Sky News, keying Teslas at Shopping Centres, aiming their shopping trolleys at kids they don’t like at Coles shopping on a Saturday despite being retired and able to shop anyway, telling younger people they should work in an office five days a week and to stop buying avocados, they would begrudgingly admit that they could easily associate Albo with rugby league.
One could easily see him at Henson Park sitting on the hill with a beer, or sampling a delicious Chicko Roll at Bishop Park, or wandering down to the Brighton Roosters on a Friday night to shake hands and watch rugby league. I can only guess that when the time came to vote on Saturday the people of Australia came to pencil in their numbers on the fifty foot wide Senate ballot paper that they pictured which candidate they could see on a cold Saturday night with a beer, scarf, and hope for their team.
I have to point out, that the previous person to win the Federal Election before Albo was Scomo. And he was very easily associated with his beloved Cronulla Sharks, and therefore rugby league. Politics and rugby league is simply a winning combination.
No one knows Peter Dutton’s league team, and they can probably imagine him at Suncorp in RM William boots watching rrrrrrrrrrrrrrugby union. Or tuning into Bloomberg instead of Fox League on a Friday night. Of course people will argue about pictures of him in token scarfs of various teams for photos for the website, but no one would easily associated Peter Dutton with rugby league. Or laughing. Or night fishing for Wrasse in Burpengary Creek after a bottle of Stones Green Ginger Wine.
There was also no word from the Coalition during the campaign whether they would continue the Australian Government support of a team out of PNG. The ALP were smart enough on two fronts to know rugby league votes in Australia, and the key to Pacific security over China and any other threat is rugby league, and a happy PNG where rugby league is the main game. It’s fair to say that Australia’s security during WWII was thanks to PNG, and in part rugby league.
Given his unpopularity, it begs me to ask the question, is Peter Dutton the Lance Stroll of politics? Or is Lance Stroll the Peter Dutton of F1? Both are unpopular, and appear to hate rugby league. You get the feeling that Peter Dutton would support Aston Martin over Rugby League.
Other losers of the election were the Greens who may lose all their Lower House seats. Very few, if any, and not many, would associate the Greens with rugby league. Or indeed anything fun.
See the trend? Low 2025 Federal Election results, low association with rugby league.
Vote 1 Rugby League, always.
And for something as popular as a Liberal candidate in Brisbane, here are the weekly tips.
The NRL Donkey’s 2025 NRL Round 10 Expert Tips
PARRAMATTA v DOLPHINS
Perhaps the coach will tell the Dolphins team at the start of the game that it’s half time. Or maybe at half time that’s it full time. Or half time at the end of the game. Either way, the Dolphins need to put two good halves together. And give Ray Stone more game time. Or else, you get the feeling from Ray Stone.
Dolphins by 10
NEWCASTLE v GOLD COAST
Tucked away in the Friday 6pm timeslot is a game for the purists. The home side have won 14/15 so maybe the Titans could forfeit and save the time and travel budget. Or maybe as punishment make David Fifita drive the team bus Flintstone’s style all the way from the Gold Coast to Newcastle. The Knights look back after thumping a terrible Rabbitohs. Gold Coast aren’t going better than Souths.
Newcastle by 20.
SOUTH SYDNEY v BRISBANE
It’s the game where the coaches have had great success with the other team. And Adam Reynolds should get a new tattoo with him giving the Rabbitohs the finger with “I’m Still Playing” underneath. Although, he wasn’t great at Magic Round but was the week before.
Brisbane by 8.
CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Game of the round between two form sides, and no surprise it isn’t on Channel Nein. It will be enjoyed by us Fox League/Kayo snobs.
Bulldogs by 2
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v WAHS
The Warriors bandwagon is growing, and a good Warriors is good for rugby league. Like Raymond, everybody loves the Warriors, except for the grinchiest of rugby league supporters, who we presume that Buzz Rothfield is the Vice-Captain of. As for the Dragons, only Fox League loves Flanno.
Warriors by 12
NORTH QUEENSLAND v PENRITH
This game will prove whether Penrith are fully back, or they just like to troll the Broncos.
Cowboys by 4.
MELBOURNE v WESTS TIGERS
Melbourne don’t lose two in a row very often. Maybe out of fear of a Craig Bellamy spray. Or out of fear of a Craig Bellamy spray. One can only imagine the size of the one Trent Loiero got after his match winning performance for Canberra at Magic Round. So combining a Bellamy spray with the Tigers terrible record v the Storm, I can’t go past and also don’t dare to go past the Storm.
Melbourne by 12
MANLY v CRONULLA
Just a lazy Sunday afternoon, settling back with a few beers, enjoying the almost Winter sunshine, and doing anything else than watching this game. I’m sure it will be great though.
With the fun of Magic Round done and dusted it is time to get serious as the State of Origin series and the NRL’s hibernation isn’t far away, so we have to enjoy these full rounds with all players available while they are still available. Talking of Origin Bolters, our 2025 NRL Round 10 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview are being thrown around the selection tables in someone’s house somewhere.
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 10 Tips
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
Our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
PARRAMATTA v DOLPHINS
Both of the games between these two sides have been at non regular grounds.
Dolphins have a decent 5/7 strike rate on a Thursday, that shrinks to W1 L1 away.
Dolphins are on a five game losing streak away to Sydney clubs.
Dolphins have lost both of their games at CommBank Stadium.
Parramatta are W6 L8 at home at CommBank Stadium since the start of 2024. On a Thursday since 2022 that improves to W3 L3.
Parramatta have lost four in a row v Qld sides.
NEWCASTLE v GOLD COAST
Newcastle have won seven straight at home to the Gold Coast.
Of the last 15 games between these sides, going back to 2017, the home side (either team) has won 14 times.
The two games between these sides on a Friday has also been won by the home side.
Newcastle have won their last three home matches v Qld opposition and since 2018 have won 15/18.
Since 2021, the Titans have lost 11/14 Friday games.
Since 2022, the Titans have won just four of their last 24 away games to NSW clubs.
SOUTHS v BRISBANE
Since 2019, these teams have alternated winning the games played on Friday, regardless of venue.
Since 2023, the Broncos have actually won eight of their last nine away games on a Friday. Their only loss was against Souths.
South Sydney have won four of their last five home games on a Friday.
CANBERRA v BULLDOGS
Prior to the Bulldogs’ last start win over Canberra, the Raiders had won nine straight.
Canberra have beaten the Bulldogs at home for six straight games with a last loss coming in 2015.
These two teams have only played in Canberra on a Saturday twice since 1998, and wins are shared.
Canberra’s home form in Canberra on a Saturday is patchy with 12 wins in 23 matches since 2020.
Bulldogs are W8 L3 on a Saturday since 2024.
Bulldogs have won their last four away games on a Saturday.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v WAHS
While the Warriors have won three of their last five away games v St George Illawarra, overall since 1998 their record is W4 L14. It’s 2/13 at Win Stadium.
The Warriors last start win at Win Stadium v the Dragons on a Saturday in 2018 is their only win there and then in seven games.
Warriors away form on a Saturday since 2023 is W6 L7.
Since 2023, the Dragons have won seven home games at Win Stadium out of 15 matches.
St George Illawarra have won seven of their last eight games v non NSW sides.
NORTH QUEENSLAND v PENRITH
The Cowboys are W2 L2 at their new stadium v Penrith.
Of the 15 home games at the Cowboys new stadium on a Saturday v Sydney clubs, they have won five.
Penrith are W1 L3 away this season. Although their win at Magic is geographically an away game.
Since 2020, Penrith have won 18 of their 21 away games on a Saturday.
MELBOURNE v WESTS TIGERS
Melbourne have won five straight and 10/11 home games at AAMI Park on a Sunday.
Melbourne are W17 L4 at AAMI Park on a Sunday v Sydney teams.
Melbourne are the leading team for scoring points at home on a Sunday with 28.5
Melbourne have won seven straight v Wests Tigers.
Melbourne have won 15/17 home games v Wests Tigers.
Storm have won the only game at AAMI Park v Tigers on a Sunday.
Wests Tigers are 2/2 away on a Sunday this season. Prior to that it was 11 straight losses.
MANLY v CRONULLA
Cronulla have won five of their last six games v Manly.
If you take out Cronulla, Manly have won 12 of their last 13 home games on a Sunday.
Cronulla have lost both of their Sunday games v Sydney clubs this season.
2025 NRL Season Stats So Far
Here’s the best of the NRL Team Stats from last weekend.
2025 NRL Season Preview Stuff
We’ve done a lot of stuff ahead of the new NRL season, and here it all is.
Oscar Piastri takes out the Miami Grand Prix, extending his Championship lead, and looking as bothered as ever about it. Talking of being bothered, we have been with our 2025 Miami F1 Grand Prix Result Summary wins the race for covering just enough from the race and beyond.
This 2025 Miami Grand Prix Result, Laps that Matter summary, Review & Ratings which 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 – Kimi Antonelli took a sensational Sprint Pole but the race was delayed due to rain. When it dried enough to race Antonelli was beaten into the first corner by Oscar Piastri and dropped backwards after that, and wasn’t helped with making two pitstops for dry tyres after an unsafe release by Red Bull saw him abort the first attempt. Max Verstappen was penalised after the race and dropped out of the points.
The tyre changes from wets to dry were key. Lewis Hamilton timed his well enough to change his car from undriveable in the wet to fast and third place by end of sprint. The McLarens waited until late, Oscar Piastri pitted first and Norris stayed out rather than double stacked. It proved a masterstroke as Liam Lawson tipped Fernando Alonso in a low speed but high-mess crash which brough out the Safety Car, which was perfectly timed for Lando Norris to pit and keep the lead. In fairness, Norris was right on Piastri’s tail when he pit.
Onto qualifying and Max Verstappen showed his class with a McLaren defying pole position again. He beat Lando Norris who was on a high from the Sprint Race. Kimi Antonelli continued his great weekend with third beating Oscar Piastri who was quickest in Q2 and looked the most likely for pole position. Notable performances were the Williams cars in 6th and 7th, Lewis Hamilton dropping out in Q2, and Lance Stroll extended his Q1 exit record with 19th.
As for race day, it is not raining at race time but it has been, and there’s a few slightly damp patches. There’s huge downpours going north and south of the track so a dry race it looks like. For now.
GRID (Starting Order) – VER NOR ANT PIA RUS SAI ALB LEC OCO TSU
Lap 1 – Max Verstappen and Lando Norris make good starts and head into the first corner together, with Verstappen locking his brakes and looking a little loose. The Red Bull is still that way heading into turn two and there is contact with Lando Norris. Only slight but enough to push the McLaren off the track and drop him a few places and is passed by three cars leaving Kimi Antonelli to harass Max Verstappen. Behind the front runners the rest of the field play nice, except for Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson. Doohan appears to run into the side of Lawson at turn one. Not great for a driver already under pressure.
ORDER – VER ANT PIA RUS ALB NOR SAI LEC TSU OCO
SAFETY CAR EXITS
Lap 2 – Antonelli locks a brake into turn one leaving Oscar Piastri right on his tail.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED – RACE RESUMES LAP 4
Lap 4 – Oscar Piastri flies past Kimi Antonelli for 2nd into turn 11 and Lando Norris does the same to Alex Albon for 5th in a double move for 5th. Piastri sets fastest lap trying to keep Verstappen within a second.
Lap 6 – Team Radio for Alonso declares “Rain in 20 minutes, and it will be heavy when it comes”. Excellent. Although the dry is shaping OK. More off track news with the Verstappen-Norris first lap clash under investigation. That will work more for Piastri than Norris, and Verstappen obviously.
Lap 7 – Lando Norris passes George Russell into turn one to jump to fourth. If he gets to third and Verstappen gets a penalty will McLaren ask Piastri to move over? You wouldn’t think so but would be interesting. Sainz has also become the highest Williams driver getting past Albon. Williams looks on a par with Mercedes in race trim, and they are comfortably ahead of Ferrari.
ORDER – VER PIA ANT NOR RUS SAI ALB LEC TSU OCO
Lap 9 – Lando Norris gets past Kimi Antonelli for third and will need to keep going as his team is four seconds up the road, and is right on the tail of Verstappen. Oh, and another team says rain is five laps away, and will be heavy.
Lap 10 – Piastri really pressuring Verstappen using the DRS but the Red Bull holds on for now. Quality dice so far, Verstappen’s car is just wide enough. There’s nothing in it.
Lap 12 – The Verstappen-Piastri battle allows Lando Norris to close into the pair with a fastest lap so far. Piastri locks a brake a touch into turn one ruining any chance of an overtake this lap.
Lap 14 – Oscar Piastri is closer than ever going down the pit straight and Verstappen keeps the inside line and locks his brake. Piastri switches to the inside of turn two and takes the lead. Good, clean racing, and the Championship leader, leads in Miami. This will leave Norris to play with Verstappen, who occasionally don’t play nicely.
Lap 15 – Norris is very close to getting by in Piastri fashion but Verstappen holds on for now. Lando a touch less patient there. He probably needs to be with Piastri in clean air, before the rain comes. Piastri is already four seconds in front. The battle continues for Verstappen-Norris without threatening too much.
Lap 17 – Lando Norris passes Max Verstappen halfway around the circuit but both run off the track to do so. Using DRS Max Verstappen takes the lead back down the back straight. Commentators suggesting it he told to do so after the previous pass. Looked easy, and likely.
Lap 18 – Norris does it for real the next time around at the same place and Verstappen can’t come back down the back straight this time. Norris will need to get moving, Piastri is 8.7 seconds ahead.
ORDER – PIA NOR VER ANT RUS ALB SAI LEC TSU OCO
Lap 20 – Despite the clean air Piastri slightly extends his lead out in front. Soon enough Verstappen is three seconds behind and probably waiting for rain.
Lap 23 – Lando Norris sets fastest lap as he chases Piastri in front. TV turns to the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon, for 10th. The Ferrari driver eventually taking the position. In an underwhelming race for Ferrari, Leclerc is only a few places ahead. Elsewhere and further down the order, the pit stops for tyres have begun.
Lap 26 – The front running pit stops start as Antonelli and Sainz in. Verstappen and Albon in the next lap. No rain for now so only dry tyres are chosen. Meanwhile McLaren are waiting for their pitstops. Their drivers exchanging fastest laps and the gap remains in the eight to nine second range.
Lap 29 – Oliver Bearman is crawling around the track. Teams are starting to panic about a Safety Car for those who haven’t pit. McLaren get into action pitting both of their front running cars. The rest of the top ten who hadn’t pitted already do so.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED – RACE RESUMES LAP 30
ORDER – PIA NOR RUS VER ANT ALB LEC SAI HUL HAM
Lap 30 – Notables post pit stops. George Russell has passed Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc is now the meat in a Williams Sandwich, although that doesn’t last long as Sainz gets past, and The Hulk has a point. Albon passes Antonelli to ruin the sandwich analogy too. Piastri’s lead reduced slightly to just over seven seconds.
ORDER – PIA NOR RUS VER ALB ANT LEC SAI HAM HUL
Lap 33 – Bortoleto’s race ends in retirement for engine failure, which wouldn’t normally be significant, but it is this time as the Virtual Safety Car is deployed again.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED – RACE RESUMES LAP 34
Lap 34 – Former Ferrari team mates Leclerc and Sainz battle on the restart and both run deep into turn one. The end result is both Leclerc and the trailing Hamilton get past Sainz.
Lap 36 – From former team mates to current team mates, Piastri maintaining a 7ish second lead over Lando Norris in front. And off to Ferrari where Hamilton is complaining about burning his faster tyre strategy behind Leclerc who is holding him up. Maybe Hamilton should qualify higher. But he is being dudded by his team as the radio back and forths go on.
ORDER – PIA NOR RUS VER ALB ANT LEC HAM SAI TSU
Lap 41 – Obviously the rain hasn’t come, which is good news for Oscar Piastri as he continues to lead comfortably in front, albeit dropping half a second to Norris over the last five laps. George Russell is 25 seconds behind Norris, so it’s a McLaren only show for first.
Lap 43 – Liam Lawson retires, making it four DNFs. All four are Rookie drivers, although only one is driver related.
Lap 46 – That lead between Piastri and Norris is down to five seconds and Norris is on a charge. Maybe Piastri is keeping his tyres under control or maybe Norris is genuinely quicker. Ten laps to find out.
Lap 48 – That gap is down to 4.2 seconds now, but the cars are lapping the back markers.
Lap 50 – The lead maintains at 4.2 seconds, so crisis averted for Piastri for now. Still seven laps to go, and Norris is in the zone. In other team mate battling news the Ferraris are nose to tail again. This time Leclerc looking to get past Lewis Hamilton.
Lap 52 – That lead is now down to 3.7 seconds. Five laps to go, can Norris get within the critical one second DRS gap and steal a late win?
Lap 54 – Piastri leads by 3.7 seconds, so a late race challenge looks unlikely, unless Piastri does something stupid, which never looks likely.
Lap 55 – The McLaren duo are split by 3.9 seconds, so race for first done and dusted. Worth noting, these two are a full 33 seconds ahead of George Russell in third.
FINAL LAP – Oscar Piastri maintains his lead over Lando Norris in the race while extending his Championship lead. Half a minute behind is George Russell and Max Verstappen settling for fourth. The Ferraris have swapped back but Hamilton almost loses 8th to Carlos Sainz on the last lap.
FINAL ORDER (Across the line) – PIA NOR RUS VER ALB ANT LEC HAM SAI TSU
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 – OSCAR PIASTRI
A solid weekend, one that Champions do all season. Probably a tad unlucky with the Sprint Race and finished second. Took advantage of the Verstappen-Norris opening lap shenanigans to inherit third. Then made some bold passes to move to the front and cleared away to lead with ease early, then deal with Lando Norris pressure late.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
KIMI ANTONELLI – A great weekend without much reward. Sprint Race pole, which was then ruined at the start after an aggressive move by Piastri and then a pit lane incident. Ran second in the early stages of the race before dropping back. But point/s made, he’s a star of the future.
LANDO NORRIS – A Sprint Race win and second isn’t a bad return. Losing a little ground to Piastri but gaining on Max Verstappen. But does tend to find more trouble than Piastri, which isn’t great for a Championship run.
MAX VERSTAPPEN – Magnificent pole position showing all his champion speed. Led in the race for as long as his Red Bull allowed.
ALEX ALBON – Great weekend resulting in fifth for the race after strong qualifying.
GEORGE RUSSELL – Another anonymous weekend that ends up on the podium. If McLaren start dropping the ball then George Russell may be a sneaky, outside chance at the Championship.
THE GRAPE-EST – JACK DOOHAN
Under pressure for his drive and runs into Liam Lawson at the first corner.
DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS
FERRARI – Ferraris are outqualified by the Williams cars. They race for lower points, and it took Hamilton a third of a race to get past the Haas of Ocon. Took too long to allow Hamilton’s faster strategy to work.
ASTON MARTIN – Hard to isolate either driver, both weren’t great. Lance Stroll second last, and Alonso lower midfield with a mid-race spin. Newey’s cars can’t come quick enough.
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) – 4 / 5
A wet sprint race and Rookie pole sitter gave the weekend a good start. Max Verstappen taking pole position set up a race that wouldn’t be pure McLaren all the way. The gridwalk for Martin Brundle was as awkward as you’d expect. One point off for too much Danica Patrick (>0).
ON TRACK ACTION (RACE) – 5 / 10
The first half of the race was great, with first lap action, and battles all the way through the top ten until the pit stops. Not much happened after that, despite the threats of rain earlier in the race.
ANY SURPRISES? – 2 / 5
Williams’ strong pace and Ferrari’s lack of was a bit of a surprise. A McLaren 1-2 isn’t.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 3 / 5
A few reminders for the Championship ahead. McLaren are quick. Max Verstappen is still a very quick fly in the ointment but can only do so much. Oscar Piastri is ice cold.
ENDING – 3 / 5
A looming battle between McLaren team mates and Championship rivals stirred up some late race interest.
OVERALL RATING – 17 / 30
Not a bad race with some early action, and a good Sprint Race the day before. A potential battle for first between the McLarens fizzled out along with the promised rain during the rain, which could have added some spice. Better enjoy the Miami races, they signed a contract to stay under the 2040’s.
We separate the rugby league Wheat/Chaff to present the 2025 NRL Round 9 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.
NRL | 2025 NRL Round 9 Team of the Week & Player Stats
2025 NRL Round 9 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 9 Player Stats Summary
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2025 NRL Team of the Season….So Far
Here’s our stats rolled up into the team of the season so far.
2025 NRL Season Player Stats…So Far
How the Team of the Week works
Want to know how we come up with the numbers to rank the players, the below table should explain hopefully.
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 Magic Round 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 Magic Round 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, 6:00 pm
Cronulla 28 Parramatta 18
Friday, 8:05 pm
Roosters 36 Dolphins 26
Saturday, 3:00 pm
South Sydney 4 Newcastle 30
Saturday, 5:30 pm
Warriors 30 North Queensland 26
Saturday, 7:45 pm
Wests Tigers 34 St George Illawarra 28
Sunday, 1:50 pm
Gold Coast 18 Bulldogs 38
Sunday, 4:05 pm
Penrith 32 Brisbane 8
Sunday, 6:25 pm
Melbourne 18 Canberra 20
2025 NRL Magic Round Stats of the Week
Need some barely interesting stats to round up your weekend NRL experience? Here’s the choicest cuts of data from the weekend that was.
Cronulla have won their last three at Suncorp Stadium and five of their last six there on a Friday. Parramatta have lost four in a row at Suncorp Stadium.
Roosters have won their last four at Suncorp Stadium on a Friday and the Roosters have won six straight v Qld sides on a Friday in a game not in NSW. Dolphins are 1/7 on a Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
Newcastle broke a winless run of five games, which is a record now held by the Gold Coast. Newcastle’s Magic Round opponent Souths are only one loss behind.
Warriors have won four in a row v Cowboys. Warriors For and Against is still not positive despite being in the top four.
Dragons are now the only winless at Magic Round.
Bulldogs have now won their first Magic Round games on their sixth attempt. It was the Bulldogs’ second win in their last 16 visits to Suncorp Stadium.
Broncos have now lost six day games in a row (games starting on or before 4pm).Penrith have won nine of their last ten v Broncos. Broncos have lost six in a row v Penrith in Qld.
Canberra have won their last five Magic Round games.
Game eight of the last two rounds have had the same result. A 20-18 win decided by a Golden Point penalty.
2025 NRL Magic Round Stats Special
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.
Isn’t this season over yet? 1st and the bottom three are done, and disappointingly so as an Ipswich fan. I guess the positives are we’re not the worst team in the league (although we didn’t beat that team), we were only playing third division two seasons ago, and Chelsea didn’t beat us this season. Talking of silver linings, our Premier League Predictions Week 35 are here and are shiny as.
Each gameweek in the Premier League in 2024-25 we offer up a stat filled prediction preview, with some barely interesting stats and visuals, just enough to bluff your way through various tipping competitions or betting shops.
2024-25 Premier League Predictions Week 35
Barely Interesting Premier League Stats Week 35
Help yourself to a buffet of barely interesting stats to help pick a winner.
MCI v WOL
Man City have won the last four home games v Wolves by a combined 13-2. Wolves have won both of the Friday clashes between the sides. Man City have the second highest points per game on days other than the weekend this season, behind Arsenal. Spurs are the worst with just 0.14 PPG this season, half of Southampton’s figure.
AVL v FUL
Aston Villa have the better record against the current middle eight teams this season – W5 D4 L2 vs Fulham’s W4 D1 L7. Aston Villa have won four straight v Fulham.
EVE v IPS
Ipswich won both of their games at Everton in their last two season stint in the Premier League. Everton’s record v promoted sides this season is W2 D1 L1. Ipswich’s record against the bottom six teams is W2 D1 L4.
LEI v SOU
Leicester have won the last three games v Southampton with five goals scored in all three matches. Leicester have lost nine games in a row at home without scoring a goal. Their xG over that nine games run is better than Southampton’s at home and almost beats Ipswich’s home xG too. Southampton are still equal with Derby County as the team with the lowest points in the EPL history.
ARS v BOU
Arsenal have won every home game v Bournemouth.
WHU v TOT
West Ham are unbeaten v Spurs in their last four home games – W2 D2. The two wins were both on a Sunday. Spurs have played the equal most Sunday games this season – their record is W6 D3 L12. West Ham’s Sunday record is W1 D1 L2.
BHA v NEW
Brighton are undefeated v top six sides this season at home – W2 D2. Brighton are undefeated v Newcastle at home for the last seven meetings – W3 D4. Newcastle’s record v middle eight teams away this season is W2 D2 L3.
BRE v MUN
Man Utd have lost just one of the last 12 games v Brentford, but that was a 4-0 hiding by Brentford. Man Utd’s record away v London clubs this season is W1 D1 L3. Man Utd have played the equal most Sunday games this season, and their record is W5 D7 L9.
CHE v LIV
Chelsea are W2 D4 L2 v big six clubs this season. At home they are W1 D1 L1. Liverpool, along with Arsenal, are the only two teams who are undefeated v big six clubs this season (W6 D2). Arsenal’s record is D4 W5. The last seven games between Liverpool and Chelsea has seen Liverpool win the two most recent games and then five draws before that. It’s been three draws in a row at Chelsea between these sides. Liverpool’s record v Chelsea for the last six Sunday games is W4 D2.
CRY v NFO
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last eight games v Crystal Palace (W3 D5) and lost just once in the last 14 games v Palace (W7 D6 L1). Forest are also unbeaten in their last seven away games v Crystal Palace (W3 D4). There have also been a lot of draws between these sides. 12 from the last 20 games at Crystal Palace.
General Premier League Season Stats
This is where we put the current season stats featuring form, xG, goals scored and conceded, shots, tackles and more.
Faster than a Max Verstappen, more expendable than a Red Bull #2 driver, with more swearing than the FIA would like, and harder to get out of than a Brazilian gravel trap, it’s the F1 Donkey with his unique view on F1 and more. Before each race The F1 Donkey puts the ass in sass and unloads his alternative, slightly unhinged thoughts on F1 including this week’s Bold 2025 Miami Grand Prix Predictions and opinion.
The F1 Donkey’s Pre Miami Grand Prix Thoughts
So here we are at the first USA Grand Prix, and what a time to be there, to join in the celebrations of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. Not forgetting the current US President was there last year in the McLaren put and that saw Lando Norris breakthrough for his first ever Grand Prix win.
Perhaps after that, some struggling teams and driver may reach out to Mr Trump to appear in their garage to turn around their fortunes.
One driver struggling who probably won’t be sending out an invite will be Lewis Hamilton. Although given current form he could use the extra or indeed any help. Lance Stroll being a Canadian also probably wouldn’t like an American President, although it is Lance Stroll and he doesn’t appear to like anything. Or anyone. Especially not Formula 1.
Esteban Ocon could do with some extra luck, same with Liam Lawson, but neither seem the Trump type.
Or maybe like the shadow of Mr Trump on the Canadian election, he might be bad luck this season, so maybe no one will invite him. I’d like to invite him onto the grid to see what Martin Brundle does with him. That’s a better showdown on anything we’ll probably see this weekend.
And at least Martin Brundle will know who he is. Presumably. Rather than a parade of high profile for some generation other than mine of Brundle’s US celebrities and influencers that pollute this Grand Prix. It seems a race weekend designed to just parade around these sort of people.
Who can forget the underwhelming driver introductions of past years. Although from memory Sergio Perez was ignored in one. So someone obviously knew their F1.
I’d love to go back to the good old days before Netflix when the US fans ignored F1 as a Euro snobbery thing, where the US drivers had cool names like Andretti, Speed, Gurney, and Christian Horner was just a team principal. Although on the flip side, love Gunther’s work.
Then we wouldn’t need three US races. Just one. And we certainly wouldn’t have one like this run around a football stadium and under a highway. Although (fact checks) there was a Las Vegas Grand Prix in a carpark, and one in Pheonix of all places, so as you were.
But to a degree the effort into sucking up to US markets F1 puts into the Miami Grand Prix is sickening. Much like when your Mum puts out all the really good dinner plates and cutlery for when relative or people they’re showing off to come over and the next day you’re back on the Ikea plates.
This weekend sees the F1 team whip out special liveries, drivers have special helmets, and special celebrities will no doubt hog the camera glimpses rather than drivers on track.
And boy aren’t some of the one-off liveries awful. Ferrari have made big noises about a Blue Ferrari as a historic nod to when they did it in the 60’s, but their 2025 effort looks like a mesh of a design that got jammed in the colour photocopier and pulled out as one design.
Sauber’s Black and Green looks as black and green as their usual effort, and will probably result in the same amount of points as usual.
The Racing Bulls Magenta colour is certainly interesting, and proves they are as able to change the car colour as the team name. I can imagine Magenta is Liam Lawson’s favourite colour, but they didn’t have permanent scowl, so what do you do?
Even Jack Doohan will have a special design for the Miami Grand Prix. Although one could cruelly yet possibly close to the truth argue that it could be a great limited edition special.
I’ve always regretted not buying the Prost Grand Prix team shirt when it was available, as well as the Forti team flag, the used overalls from Thierry Boutsen’s ill-fated stint as a Jordan driver, and the front wing from the Spyker of Marcus Winklehock, who remains the only driver to lead his only Grand Prix.
I do have a Super Aguri shirt. Which is by far the most treasured piece of F1 gear I own.
So Jack Doohan fans get in now, and his merch and his Alpine drive may not be coming back to Europe.
But onwards to this weekend’s bold predictions. Halfway through I realised there was a sprint race, so some may not make sense. That’s OK, no one checks them after the race anyway.
Note: that my predictions will be applying a tariff based on the calculation of Constructor Points from the Past five seasons, divided by average Grid position and multiplied with number of podiums the team has scored in Sprint races.
The NRL Donkey’s Bold 2025 Miami Grand Prix Predictions
And here they are, in a convenient team by team format, so you can ignore them all at your convenience or peril. Depending on the outcome of our prediction.
McLAREN
Could be a comeback race for Lando Norris, but a stalking Piastri retains the Championship lead after seconds in both races.
RED BULL
Yuki Tsunoda to give Max a run for his money in qualifying in the middle of the Q3 pack, then bin it in the race. That’s after a pointless Sprint race and Q2 Sprint Qualifying exit for Yuki. Max will have an off, no-podium weekend.
FERRARI
Sprint race win for Charles Leclerc. Main race podium for Charles Leclerc. More misery for Lewis Hamilton.
MERCEDES
Kimi Antonelli to out-qualify George Russell for sprint qualifying and lose a podium with a few laps to go. A strangely off form George Russell has an ordinary weekend.
WILLIAMS
Williams to lock out Row Three for Sprint Qualifying and score double points. The main race is less successful.
RACING BULLS
Izack Hadjar to make Q3 for both Sprint and the main race. Scores a handful of points on the Sunday. Liam Lawson to scowl his way through the weekend.
ALPINE
Jack Doohan’s last race.
ASTON MARTIN
People say I don ‘t like Lance Stroll and every week I wish him to crash and embarrass himself because he outwardly appears to hate being an F1 driver, one of the best jobs in the world. And he’s a spoiled brat who won’t deserve an Adrian Newey car. And they’re right. Stroll to qualify last, spin out of Sprint race and crash out of the main race. Fernando Alonso ticks another box on his calendar waiting for 2026.
HAAS
Bearman to charge through the field on Sunday for eighth. Bearman thrashes Ocon in both qualifying who has Lance Stroll to thank for not being last.
KICK SAUBER
Solid Q2 for both drivers in qualifying, and a first point for Bortoleto.
F1 2025 Season Stuff
We’ve worked hard getting ready for the 2025 F1 Season, and this is our best work below.
By popular demand, and despite the vocal objections of one person, The Gurgler’s NRL Stats Team has produced another Stats Extra, this time focusing on one of the NRL’s hardest men, a rugby league weapon if you will, so enjoy if you dare the Ray Stone NRL Stats and more.
We know Ray Stone would probably hate the attention, he does seem to hate a lot of things: missed tackles, losing, scoring tries, seagulls that land on the field at Kayo Stadium during games, and lots of other things.
But he only takes it out on the field, in the form of a body jolting low tackle, a breath squeezing midriff tackle, or even just an icy stare at an opponent is enough.
Ray Stone has no time for accolades, he simply needs to go on tackling, which is why we must do it on his behalf for all the Ray Stone fans out there.
All the main stats are here, and while some don’t make top 10 lists, Ray Stone’s impact on the Dolphins and Dolphins fans alike is huge. We are sure he would make a Top 10 for punishing low tackles, scowls, and hate per square inch.
But onwards now to the definitive Ray Stone NRL Stats.
Ray Stone NRL Stats
Here are some of the stats you’ll need for keeping up with Ray Stone’s 2025 NRL season.
Updated each week. Or else.
Ray Stone NRL Stats Analysis
The Dolphins enforcer has hit the ground running, as well as hitting opposition players in 2026.
He was injured for Game One, a game the Dolphins didn’t win, but returned for Round Two, which coincided with the return to winning ways for the team.
Ray Stone NRL Stats Testimonials
“That’s the bottom line, because Ray Stone says so”
Dan Ginnane 2025 – commentary Dolphins v Storm.
“He had other things on his mind there”….
“He saw Ray Stone in front of him, and thought Hello”…..
“Ray Stone hits as hard as anyone in the NRL”
Warren Smith and Steve Roach 2025 – commentary Dolphins v Raiders.
Ray Stone admits his favourite part of the week is getting needles. Follow via this link.
