Another weekend of NRL action featuring a few teams sinking their teeth into finals contention, and some players just sinking their teeth into other players. For now, we’ll let the stats do the talking and separate the Wheat/Chaff to present the NRL Round 23 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 and some bite sized points of interest.
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.
2024 NRL Team of the Season…so far
Here is the above but for all rounds.
2024 NRL Round 23 Player Stats
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2024 NRL Season Player Stats…so far.
Same as the above stats, but this is for the 2024 season.
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 Player Stats? Neeeeed more NRL data and stuff? Why not try our friends at Nothing But League for bite sized pieces of NRL Stats and more every day.
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 Stats and Stuff via our 2024 NRL Round 23 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 2024 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.
NRL Round 23 Results
NRL Round 23 Stats Extra
ZERO POINTS SCORED
Gold Coast added a second zero point score in Round 23, which leaves them as the only team to do it twice this season. But which teams join the Titans on at least one zero point game in 2024. Look below to find out. And the Home v Away split is interesting.
And here is the Zero Points Scored tally for all seasons since 1998.
TEAM WINNING % BY HOUR
We have some stats on winning % later, but for now is a look at each team’s performance at a certain time/hour.
NRL Round 23 Results and Match Summaries
Want or need a quick summary of every game from last weekend? Well here they all are.
Souths have never beaten Melbourne on a Thursday in five attempts, and retain the worst H2H record of any game between current NRL teams (except Dolphins games).
Gold Coast have lost five in a row at home to Cronulla.
Parramatta have lost their last five home games on a Friday.
Canberra have won just three of their last 14 at home to Manly.
Cowboys have won one of their last five games at home v Qld sides.
Bulldogs have won six of their last eight v Sydney teams.
All four of the Dolphins v Warriors games have been won by the home side. It was the Dolphins first day time win this season.
Newcastle have won their last six games v Tigers. Wests Tigers have lost 11 in a row away on a Sunday.
NRL Round 23 Stats Season Summary
Some weekly and season stats and additional interesting visuals for the weekend that was and the season that is.
OVERALL LADDER AND FORM
WIN / LOSS RECORD BY HOME / OPPOSITION LADDER POSITION
It’s time for weekly Rugby League rant of The Gurgler’s angry man Buzz equivalent known only as the NRL Donkey, who provides his NRL Round 24 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 NRL Round 24 Expert Tips and Weekly Rant
What to talk about for this week’s NRL Donkey preview? More strange decisions made by the Bunker? Na, plenty of weeks left for them to get worse. The Broncos revival? Na. The epic showdown between the two leading clubs this decade to kick start Round 24? Don’t be ridiculous.
How about Break Dancing? Or Biting? How about giving it the Old El Paso treatment and attack both. Although I do wonder if there ever was or is a New El Paso.
First of all, Break Dancing at the Olympics was excellent. Anyone who says differently only watched one particular person on social media. And like news.com.au articles used one person’s tweet to generate a story. Overall it was truly excellent and a refreshing change from the usual Olympic events. Which I also like. Except for the Pommel Horse, that’s the worst of all the equestrian events. Except for Dressage.
Secondly, the treatment of Australian break dancing star RayGun has been totally unfair. Mostly by people jealous that they will never represent any nation at any Olympics.
It was a great routine, showcasing a lot of good about Australia, unlike the proposed Brisbane 2032 Olympics which due to election promises will be held in a Harvey Norman carpark.
Everyone always think they can do better, which is why Twitter (also called X and always close by to brackets) was created. For a bunch of bitter, hateful people bagging people for doing stuff.
I’m standing by RayGun, as someone needs to stand up for someone having a go. And giving the Olympics the rock it needed.
If the NRL are smart, and one of them is, the rest aren’t but most organisations have disappointments, usually the CEO, they should book RayGun now for the Grand Final entertainment.
Of course alongside the every-second-year mandatory inclusion of someone either associated with Cold Chisel, or Cold Chisel themselves. It is their 50th birthday after all. As long as they play Shipping Steel. If not, I’ll ask for my money back from Channel Nein.
Then there’s the biting, which of course came ironically in the Bulldogs game but wasn’t by a Bulldogs player. Not the kind of ironic like rain on wedding days or too many spoons, you know things that aren’t actually ironic. I guess songs can say whatever they want. Was Sharona really his? And was everyone actually Kung Fu fighting? Questions for the off season, and/or the background music for end of season player trips to Bali.
One has to wonder on the scale of 1 to Todd Carney for rugby league stupidity, given there’s cameras literally aiming at everything on the ground, just so The Bunker can still get things wrong if slow motion up to a 1/3200th of a second, why would a player bite another player?
Of course it’s no surprise that the Fox League crew rushed to the defence of a Dragons players, especially one with a last name of Flanagan. The Fox League journos Trump-like worship of “Flanno” shouldn’t surprise, given the word Fox in their employer’s title, but to push theories of Stephen Crichton being to blame for this is more absurd than insisting that anyone likes Buzz Rothfield. Actually, I don’t think they do. How could they. He is one step of evolution away from a Stonefish.
Saying he pushed his face and nose into Kyle Flanagan and that should be punished is pure Fox. Both Sports, Writers and News. If that’s the case then they should be pushing for penalties every time that happens in a game. So they will be happy when 150 penalties are awarded every game and it turns into NFL. Maybe that’s what they want?
Maybe Fox League don’t anything related to Penrith past, future or present. Maybe they hate Gus Gould. Or maybe like Fox News they are so far up Donald Flanagan’s rear end that they can only smell not see.
Either way, I’m surprised that they haven’t suggested Stephen Crichton is into nasophilia. If that’s a thing. If not blame Wikipedia.
Maybe the NRL are happy that a case involving a nose isn’t one using a white powder for a change.
Maybe I should just concentrate on the actual game itself. Or more break dancing. Or both. Unlike New El Paso, which I’m sure only allows one thing at a time.
The NRL Donkey’s NRL Round 24 Expert Tips
PENRITH v MELBOURNE
For once the NRL or Channel Nein have got the TV Scheduling right. Overlooking the obsession with Parramatta and going with two teams likely to finish in the top four for the first game of the weekend instead of the usual dross of the Eels, Rabbitohs or another team even less likely to finish in the top eight – Wests Tigers. Fancy that. And it should be a quality game with both teams getting back close to full strength after being a bit XXXX Gold the past few months during Origin. Note: full strength doesn’t imply that the full strength XXXX is good, far from it. But after Penrith’s exciting win over Parramatta last weekend, and Melbourne being, well Melbourne-like this is a clash to look forward to.
Penrith by 8
MANLY v WAHS
This looks a relatively straight forward in a week that feels relatively straight forward. Manly have won 7/8 at Brookvale this season, while the Warriors have won two of ten away games this season.
Manly by 10
ROOSTERS v PARRAMATTA
Somehow Parramatta snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last weekend against Penrith, sealed with a C Grade Friday Chook Run shank from Clint Gutherson for a late, score-equalling penalty kick. It’s just a team who aren’t sure how to win. That won’t help when you consider that the Roosters have won nine games straight at home v Parramatta and the Eels have won just one away game all season, and none in Australia.
Roosters by 20
BULLDOGS v DOLPHINS
Grab the Canecutters cordial as it’s time for Bundaberg’s annual showpiece between the Bulldogs and Dolphins. Bulldogs are unstoppable at home, even though this isn’t home officially it is on paper and so who am I to argue. There should be 100% less biting in this game, but you just never know when Bundy Rum is involved. People get punchy, fighty, and maybe bitey. Dolphins need to keep winning to make the finals, and after casting just one eye over this game it has to be the Dolphins.
Dolphins by 2
NORTH QUEENSLAND v CANBERRA
Canberra players will probably be glad to leave Canberra for the weekend, and not just because of the weather. The Cowboys have snuck under the radar, not the weather one, with the second best haul of competition points since Round 11. With finals on the line Cowboys coach Todd Payten won’t dare to add a second facial expression, nor us to tip against his team.
Cowboys by 4
WESTS TIGERS v SOUTH SYDNEY
If the Wests Tigers lose this game they will equal Souths’ record for most games spent at the bottom of the ladder in 2024. After checking the ladder, there’s no way the Tigers can move off last even if they win, unless this is a secret five point game introduced by Peter V’landys at short notice to spice up the last rounds of the season.
Tigers by 6
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v GOLD COAST
One imagines that playing at a home ground called Win Stadium will lead the Dragons to victory this weekend. That also means that the Titans played at Pisspoor Effort Stadium last weekend.
Dargons by 18
CRONULLA v NEWCASTLE
I’ve run out of stream so this is the who cares game of the week.
Four rounds to go of the regular season and some teams are starting to bite off more than they can chew in the hope of finals this season. Talking of chomping, our 2024 NRL Round 24 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview is the perfect snack ahead of the latest weekend of rugby league action.
Each week 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.
2024 NRL Round 24 Matches
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
Thu 7:50 pm – Penrith v Melbourne
Fri 6:00 pm – Manly Warringah v Warriors
Fri 8:00 pm – Roosters v Parramatta
Sat 3:00 pm – Bulldogs v Dolphins @ Bundaberg
Sat 5:30 pm – North Queensland v Canberra
Sat 7:35 pm – Wests Tigers v South Sydney @ Campbelltown
Sun 2:00 pm – St George Illawarra v Gold Coast @ WIN Stadium
Sun 4:05 pm – Cronulla v Newcastle
2024 NRL Round 24 Tips
Penrith by 8
Manly by 14
Roosters by 18
Dolphins by 2
North Queensland by 16
South Sydney by 2
St George Illawarra by 20
Cronulla by 10
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one size fits all visual.
Plus our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
Penrith have won five of the last seven meeting with Melbourne, and have kept the Storm to an average of just under nine points in that seven game run. But Melbourne’s two wins in that run managed to keep Penrith to zero points.
It’s a one a-piece for the H2H between these sides on a Thursday at Penrith. The most recent game in 2022 Melbourne kept the Panthers scoreless.
Penrith have won eight of ten games on a Thursday v non-Sydney clubs.
Melbourne have won eight in a row on a Thursday. It’s also four in a row away from home, including both games this season.
New Zealand have won the only game between these sides at Brookvale on a Friday.
Warriors have won only two of their last 13 away games and their last three in a row v Sydney teams.
Manly have won eight of their last nine at Brookvale.
Manly are W3 L1 at home to non Sydney sides this season.
Roosters have won nine of their last 11 games v Parramatta.
Roosters have won nine games in a row at home to Parramatta, last losing in 2008.
It’s three in a row for the Roosters over the Eels at the Football Stadium too, with a last loss coming in 2002.
Roosters lead the Friday H2H by 13-4.
Roosters have won nine straight home games on a Friday not played at Suncorp Stadium.
Parramatta have won one of nine away games in 2024. But at least it was the most recent match.
Parramatta have won just one of their last ten games on a Friday.
Roosters average 38.5 points scored per Friday game this season. Parramatta is at 20.5.
Bulldogs have won the only clash between these sides last season. Which was in Bundaberg.
Dolphins have won only one of seven games played at non regular venues (e.g. Perth, Darwin).
Dolphins won their first day game last weekend v Warriors. Bulldogs have won all six of their day games this season.
Bulldogs remain the only unbeaten home team this season.
Dolphins have won four of their last five games on a Saturday.
Cowboys have won five in a row v Canberra. And three in a row at home.
Of the 23 games between the Cowboys and Raiders, all 23 have been on a Saturday night. Cowboys lead the H2H by 15-8.
Cowboys have won just two of seven home games on a Saturday this season. And lost the last three at home on a Saturday to non-Sydney sides.
Canberra are 50-50 for games v Qld sides this season and 50-50 for away games v Qld sides this season.
Canberra have lost four of their last five games on a Saturday.
Souths have won eight of their last nine v Tigers.
Surprisingly, these teams haven’t met at Campbelltown. But Wests Tigers have won 2/3 at home to Souths on a Saturday at other venues.
Souths lead 9-3 in the H2H on a Saturday everywhere.
Wests Tigers have lost their last three at Campbelltown on a Saturday. And eight of their last nine there v Sydney clubs.
Souths have won four of their last five games on a Saturday but not their most recent v Cronulla.
If the Wests Tigers lose to Souths they will equal the Rabbitohs on the most weeks spent in last position on the ladder at nine.
Dragons are W3 L1 v Gold Coast at home on a Sunday including winning the only game between them on a Sunday at WIN Stadium.
Dragons have won all five games v Gold Coast at WIN Stadium.
Dragons have won four in a row at WIN Stadium v Qld sides.
Dragons have won just two of their last 14 games on a Sunday.
Gold Coast have lost their last four away games on a Sunday to Sydney teams and seven of their last eight.
Gold Coast have won three of their last 18 away games v Sydney clubs on any day.
Cronulla have won six of their last seven at home to Newcastle.
Cronulla have won five in a row on a Sunday. Four of those games were at Shark Park.
Cronulla are the only team with a 100% record on a Sunday this season.
Newcastle have won just two of their last seven away games on a Sunday.
2024 NRL Round 24 Helpful Betting Stuff
Here’s a few betting things to enhance your tipping.
Two Melbourne-based friends are using a double birthday celebration to call a truce on their ‘code wars’.
Cameron, originally from Sydney and a devoted Sydney Roosters fan, moved to Melbourne for work, where he struck a friendship with Aaron, who’s a passionate Richmond fan.
While Cameron and Aaron have similar tastes in many things (movies, music, books, video games, and TV shows), the one thing they argue about is football.
“It’s like a lame ’90s sitcom. Az calls The Greatest Game of All ‘Rugby’, where I call his sport ‘Aerial Ping Pong’. We’re always arguing over which footy code is better,” said Cameron.
But – as luck would have it – the new friends both have birthdays in late August, which gave them an idea.
“Why not use our birthday presents to break the code wars?” said Aaron. “I’ve bought Cam and I tickets to Melbourne vs Collingwood at the ‘G [Friday August 23], and Cam is buying us tickets to Storm vs Dolphins game at AAMI Park [Saturday August 24]. We’ll enjoy each other’s games and then spend the rest of the weekend discussing them. Over plenty of beers of course.”
“I’ve been to a couple of Swans games back home, but Az has never been to a Storm game, so he’s going to get an education,” said Cameron.
Another weekend of NRL action featuring a few teams who are looking finals ready, and others that are looking Bali ready. For now, we’ll let the stats do the talking and separate the Wheat/Chaff to present the NRL Round 22 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 and some bite sized points of interest.
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.
2024 NRL Team of the Season…so far
Here is the above but for all rounds.
2024 NRL Round 22 Player Stats
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2024 NRL Season Player Stats…so far.
Same as the above stats, but this is for the 2024 season.
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 Player Stats? Neeeeed more NRL data and stuff? Why not try our friends at Nothing But League for bite sized pieces of NRL Stats and more every day.
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 Stats and Stuff via our 2024 NRL Round 22 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 2024 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.
NRL Round 22 Results
Thu – Wests Tigers 30-48 North Queensland
Fri – Warriors 20-30 Parramatta
Fri – Dolphins 34-40 Roosters
Sat – Gold Coast 46-18 Brisbane
Sat – Melbourne 16-18 St George Illawarra
Sat – Cronulla 20-6 South Sydney
Sun – Penrith 22-14 Newcastle
Sun – Bulldogs 22-18 Canberra
NRL Round 22 Stats Extra
WORST SECOND HALF EFFORTS
The Broncos second half effort against the Gold Coast seemed pretty bad. Maybe it was because we expect better, or maybe it was just bad. But was it the worst effort this season by any team?
As per usual we decided to grab some stats and over-complicate it to try and prove it one way or the other.
So we took and ranked the team with the highest second half score against, the worst score for in the second half, plus the lowest second half possession and territory figures. The lowest overall total rank is the worst second half.
Here are the ten worst second halves this season.
Team
Round
Result FT
Wests Tigers
14
Dragons 56 Wests Tigers 14
St George Illawarra
12
Bulldogs 44 Dragons 12
Wests Tigers
19
Cronulla 58 Wests Tigers 6
Dolphins
17
Dragons 26 Dolphins 6
Brisbane
22
Gold Coast 46 Broncos 18
Penrith
13
Penrith 10 Dragons 22
Brisbane
14
Broncos 12 Cronulla 22
Newcastle
13
Newcastle 2 Bulldogs 32
South Sydney
9
Souths 12 Penrith 42
St George Illawarra
18
Roosters 42 Dragons 12
NRL Round 22 Results and Match Summaries
Want or need a quick summary of every game from last weekend? Well here they all are.
Wests Tigers have received three more Sin Bins/Send Offs than the next worst teams with 16.
Wests Tigers have received three more Sin Bins/Send Offs than the next worst teams with 16.
The Dolphins have the highest average total points scored v top half teams this season at 24 points per game.
Broncos are yet to win a day game this season.
It was the Dragons first win at AAMI Park in seven attempts. At AAMI Park v Sydney teams on a Saturday this is the result sequence for the last 11 matches. Most recent game first – LWLWLWLWLWL. So Melbourne are currently losing every second game.
23 teams have failed to score in the second half this season.
Penrith have won 11 of their last 12 home games on a Sunday.
Bulldogs remain the only unbeaten team at home this season (nine wins).
NRL Round 22 Stats Season Summary
Some weekly and season stats and additional interesting visuals for the weekend that was and the season that is.
OVERALL LADDER AND FORM
WIN / LOSS RECORD BY HOME / OPPOSITION LADDER POSITION
Interesting rugby league news out of Sydney this week with the NRL announcing that Kasey Badger would not be able to officiate on any more South Sydney games as her partner is currently working with the South Sydney Rabbitohs as a consultant. The NRL insist that Kasey Badger did not do anything wrong in her effort in The Bunker outside of her usual lack of ability, but it hasn’t stopped some smart rugby league operators taking advantage with a NRL Clubs Referee Recruiting Drive.
In a similar situation to “If you can’t beat them, join them” some NRL clubs have taken some real initiative.
First NRL club to act was the Bulldogs who immediately got club supremo Phil Gould to contact Bernard Sutton to see if he would join the Bulldogs in a coaching capacity in their run to the finals and beyond.
The Wooden Spooners team has heard that Gould’s phone call went straight to messagebank. But as part of the message Gould left with the job offer with Bernard, he also invited Bernard to pass the same offer onto Gerard as well. As long as the Bulldogs could recruit one of them it would stop the other from going near future Bulldogs games.
But the Bulldogs weren’t the only smart operators.
Canberra Raiders hierarchy, still hurting from their 2019 loss have sent a job offer to Ben Cummins.
Whilst Cummins retired in 2023, it didn’t stop the Raiders enquiring about his availability, in case he was thinking of a comeback.
Billy “We’re Queenslanders” Slater was quick to blame officiating for Queensland’s awful performances in the second and third State of Origin games, and despite being at fault for selecting Kurt Capewell while leaving out potential game breakers, the Queensland coach has made overtures to bolster his coaching team. Specifically, he has sought out Ashley Klein’s availability for the 2025 State of Origin series in the hope that it will disqualify him from being in charge of more Queensland games.
Fan of at least eight other NRL teams have socialled or written and/or faxed their clubs requested similar job offers be sent to Ashley Klein.
Wayne Bennett refused to talk to any referees, or our Wooden Spooners reporters.
Finally, given their dreadful record with all NRL officiating this season, the Wests Tigers sent job offers to every referee. Including anyone involved with the Bunker.
Sadly for the Wests Tigers The Bunker overruled their job offers and suspended their Office Manager for a week.
It’s time for weekly Rugby League rant of The Gurgler’s angry man Buzz equivalent known only as the NRL Donkey, who provides his NRL Round 23 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 NRL Round 23 Expert Tips and Weekly Rant
What a week to be alive. The Swimming is finally over at the Olympics, the temperatures are slowly rising, footy finals are getting closer, well, for some clubs, and there’s fifty cent fares on Public Transport in Brisbane.
That means you can get from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast for just fifty cents, which with the tremendous SEQ transport network means that only costs five cents an hour of travel. Talk about a city that is Olympics ready.
But I think if the State Government really wants to get re-elected whenever the next vote-fest is on, the fifty cent fares don’t go far enough. First of all, I don’t understand why the rapper with the same name as the cut-price transport fares, and who is no doubt a train enthusiast like all great musicians, wasn’t asked to front the promos on the price drop. Nothing says catching trains and Citycats is cool like a famous US Rapper. Look what Snoop Dog did for Menulog.
Of course the same doesn’t apply for Brisbane City Council buses, because nothing can style up having to catch a bus. It’s literally the worst of both worlds. The inconvenience of Public Transport stops, often within 100 metres of each other, combined with sitting in the same garbage traffic you’re trying to avoid, but you get to do it in the armpits and winter snorts of others. Not even a nude Greg Norman using the catchphrase “We’ve Stripped back to fares to nothing on Buses” could do it either. Although, we’d still love to see it, working campaign or not. Hopefully Greg is seen on one of those Bendy Buses if you know what we mean. He’d be even better on a CityCat. Greg loves the outdoors. And the outdoors loves Greg. Everyone loves Greg. Could be a good name for sitcom, although would have to come on late at night.
But going further than rappers and nude golfing legends, if the Queensland Government want to get re-elected, they should make Public Transport free for all rugby league membership holders forever.
And before you complain to us via our email address gurgler.chat@gmail.com to tell us in 15 words or less that rugby league fans already get free travel to games, which I will ignore for the record, I’m not talking about game days, I’m talking about forever.
Think of the multi layered benefits of forever Free Travel for rugby league members. First, it will keep them off the road, a good thing given many drive home angry after a loss. Especially in Brisbane as both the Broncos and Dolphins have won about three games between them in the last three months. Think of it as a public safety initiative. Then there’s the added benefit of those footy fans not driving, so they can have more $15 beers at Suncorp Stadium. With the Governments now charging $6.70 excise on a plastic cup of beer, that’s a real money spinner for any Government. Finally, with people all over South East Queensland working out that a rugby league membership will give them free public transport it means rugby league clubs will be loaded, and more people coming to Stadiums to watch their team. Government owning the Stadiums and taking their share of the profits from the Poker Machines at the club. Except for the Queen of the Nile, that machine never pays.
But aside from public transport excitement, especially on ABC Brisbane 612 where the phones were ringing hotter than another Daylight Savings debate, there’s the finals series of the NRL approaching. And talking of daylight savings how about the Broncos stat of losing every day time match this season. Maybe the Broncos should push themselves forward an hour. Or maybe there is some kind of vampire blood. Google a picture of Adam Reynolds and Bram Stoker side by side and you’ll be convinced that something is up. Or maybe they are just full of themselves and playing like crap. We say the former.
But that’s enough for now as I sit back and wait the full week to collect my bet on the Olympics Triathlon bet of Over 37.5 compeditors getting gastro from the swimming leg.
The NRL Donkey’s NRL Round 23 Expert Tips
SOUTH SYDNEY v MELBOURNE
The game’s most lop sided fixture deserves the minimum effort in tipping. At least the game isn’t in Melbourne where Souths have never won v Storm.
Melbourne by 18
GOLD COAST v CRONULLA
People haven’t been this excited about a sporting team on the Gold Coast since Warwick Capper played for the Brisbane Bears. Less exciting are Cronulla.
Gold Coast by 8
PARRAMATTA v PENRITH
Fun fact 1, Parramatta won their first away game for the season last weekend, all they needed was an away game outside of Australia. Fun fact 2, Parramatta have the best winning % against Penrith since Covid. It is still under 50%. Fun fact 3, the Rooty Hill RSL is almost halfway between Parramatta and Penrith. Fun fact 4, Penrith will win.
Penrith by 12
CANBERRA v MANLY
Canberra fans will probably enjoy a safer walk home this Saturday than on last Sunday at Belmore if you are to believe social media. That’s mainly because Manly fans probably can’t be arsed travelling to watch their team.
Canberra by 8
NORTH QUEENSLAND v BRISBANE
The world’s longest local derby sees busted arse Broncos take on the Cowboys in Townsville. That’s a much longer trip home than last weekend when they were awful. Which they will probably be again this weekend. The silver lining is Payne Haas’ injury means Xavier “The Beast” Willison gets to start.
Cowboys by 16
DARGONS v BULLDOGS
I’d love to be happy for the Dragons’ unexpected success against Melbourne last weekend, but I can’t, don’t like Flanno. Happier for the Bulldogs turnaround in fortunes, they have some great players and 100% less Flanno.
Bulldogs by 6
DOLPHINS v WARRIORS
Dolphins are outside the Top 8 for the first time in a long time this season, and their close but no cigar form against some very good sides is commendable but bad for the heart. Problem is, Dolphins are yet to win a day game this season, and have a terrible record at Suncorp on a Sunday. Luckily the Warriors away form on a Sunday is almost as bad as the Dolphins Sunday record.
Dolphins by 2
NEWCASTLE v WESTS TIGERS
Given that it is just a question of when not if the Wests Tigers get screwed by the Bunker or by a Sin Bin that only they and Latrell Mitchell would get in trouble for, the Tigers can’t win. And won’t.
Five rounds to go of the regular season and things are looking shaky for Brisbane teams to play finals in 2024 after the results from last weekend. One looking much worse than the other. Talking of Brisbane, our 2024 NRL Round 23 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview has all the Olympic second week tips and stats you need to get your tipping finals sorted.
Each week 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.
2024 NRL Round 23 Matches
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
Thu 7:50 pm – South Sydney v Melbourne
Fri 6:00 pm – Gold Coast v Cronulla
Fri 8:00 pm – Parramatta v Penrith
Sat 3:00 pm – Canberra v Manly Warringah
Sat 5:30 pm – North Queensland v Brisbane
Sat 7:35 pm – St George Illawarra v Bulldogs
Sun 2:00 pm – Dolphins v Warriors
Sun 4:05 pm – Newcastle v Wests Tigers
2024 NRL Round 23 Tips
Melbourne by 14
Gold Coast by 4
Penrith by 8
Canberra by 2
North Queensland by 10
Dragons by 6
Dolphins by 10
Newcastle by 6
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one size fits all visual.
Plus our famed barely interesting stats all in the one place for this week of fewer games.
Melbourne v Souths is the NRL’s most lop sided H2H si9nce 1998 not involving the Dolphins, with the Storm currently sitting at 83%. The next worst is the Roosters over the Tigers at 77%.
Souths have never beaten Melbourne on a Thursday in four attempts.
Souths record v Melbourne doesn’t stink as much at the Olympic Stadium, it’s three wins from the last seven games there. And they won two games ago v Melbourne at the venue.
Since 2022 Souths have won just three of their last 12 on a Thursday.
Melbourne have won seven straight games on a Thursday in general.
Gold Coast are one of six sides to have a last six record of W4 L1 B1. Three of those sides are in the top three.
Gold Coast have won five of their last six and sit in a season-high ladder position of 11th.
Gold Coast have lost four in a row at home to Cronulla. They have also lost four in a row at home on a Friday.
Gold Coast and Cronulla have never met on the Gold Coast on a Friday.
Cronulla have won their last four games kicking off at 6pm on a Friday.
Cronulla have won six of their last eight games on a Friday in Qld v Qld sides.
Parramatta are looking to win two games in a row since winning the last game in 2023 and first game this season.
Parramatta have won their last three games at CommBank Stadium v Penrith.
Parramatta have lost their last four home games on a Friday. But do lead the H2H v Penrith at home on a Friday by 4-3.
Penrith’s record for their last six away games on a Friday is W3 L3.
Penrith have scored more than 40 points on their last three away games v Sydney teams.
Canberra have won just three of their last 13 at home to Manly.
Manly have won just two of nine games away this season.
Manly have won just three of their last 12 away games on a Saturday going back to 2022.
Brisbane are currently last in the Winter Cup with a win rate of 13% since June. For the record Melbourne are winning from Penrith, North Qld and the Roosters. Brisbane’s average of 17 points scored since June is also the worst.
Cowboys have won five of their last six home games on a Saturday v Brisbane, but not last year’s match.
Cowboys have won one of their last four games at home v Qld sides.
Cowboys have won one of the six home games on a Saturday in August since 2020.
Dragons have won their last two games at Kogarah v Bulldogs. It’s W4 L3 overall since 1998.
Dragons have won their last three at Kogarah v Sydney teams.
Dragons have won five games in a row on a Saturday.
Bulldogs have won two of their last 14 games away, but three of their last five away games on a Saturday.
Bulldogs have won five of their last seven v Sydney teams.
Dolphins are one of two sides to not win a day game this season (a game starting at 4pm or earlier). The other is the Broncos.
All three of the Dolphins v Warriors games have been won by the home side.
Dolphins have lost their last three home games at Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday.
Dolphins have won just one of their last eight on a Sunday anywhere.
Warriors record v Qld sides this season is W3 L2.
Warriors have won three of their last 16 away games on a Sunday.
Newcastle have won their last five games v Tigers.
It’s three in a row on a Sunday for the Knights too, with the last two wins seeing them score 14 points on both occasions.
Newcastle have won three of their games v Sydney teams this season.
Prior to Penrith beating them at home last time, Newcastle had 10 Sunday home games in a row.
Wests Tigers have won just two of their last 24 games on a Sunday.
Wests Tigers have lost ten in a row away on a Sunday.
2024 NRL Round 23 Helpful Betting Stuff
Here’s a few betting things to enhance your tipping.
BETTING SUMMARY FOR THIS WEEKEND
FAVOURITES SUMMARY
BETTING RECORD AND RESULT BY TEAM
2024 NRL Round 23 Stats Extra
Here are some extra bits and pieces from the weekly stats.
2024 Winter Cup
