Here are The Gurgler’s 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Ratings – our way of rating the performances of all the drivers from the latest race Down Under, where the race saw a rare Max Verstappen DNF and a win to a driver who doesn’t even have a seat for 2025.
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.
Plus, we have a range of stats and barely interesting facts from the 2024 F1 Season so far. Not much yet, but more to come as the season progresses. So much to read in so little time.
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.
LATEST RACE RATINGS
2024 Japanese 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 RATINGS
Here are the choicest of cuts from the F1 data we compile for season 2024, we a few hand picked barely interesting points to share below.
It was Carlos Sainz’s first podium at the Japanese Grand Prix.
That’s three retirements in a row for Alex Albon at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Half the cars were slower in terms of % to pole position in this year’s Japanese GP to last season.
Valtteri Bottas has finished lower than his grid slot in every race this season.
DRIVER 2024 H2H RECORD
Beating your team mate in F1 is very important, which is why we keep an eye on the H2H stats through the season.
New for this week is the overall H2H. Which means the H2H from every session – FP and Qualifying, plus who set a faster Fastest Lap and two points for beating the team mate in the race. Note: both have to feature in same Q session for H2H point.
2024 F1 QUALIFYING STATS
Here our qualifying analysis covers just about everything we could find on qualifying.
QUALIFYING SUMMARY
QUALIFYING GRID SLOT TO % FROM POLE
QUALIFYING COMPARISON FROM 2023 SEASON to 2024 SEASON
QUALIFYING COMPARISON FROM 2023 JAPANESE GP TO 2024 JAPANESE GP
QUALIFYING COMPARISON IN 2024 BY TRACK TYPE
FIRST LAP POSITION + GRID TO RACE RESULT GAINS
Races can’t be won or lost at the first corner, well actually they can be lost at the first corner, and a good one can make all the difference. Unless you drive a Red Bull, then it doesn’t really matter.
So here are the stats on the lightning fast starters and the slow pokes.
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.
FASTEST LAP
A quick look at the Fastest Lap stats for 2024. Outliers from drivers with few laps removed.
Current Race Power Rankings in Detail
2024 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.
Another big weekend of NRL action featuring new lows for South Sydney and new highs for the Dolphins. There were star performances, work horses giving it their all, and a few getting a spray from Des Hasler. But which players were the best of the best you ask? We’ll let the stats do the talking and separate the Wheat/Chaff to present the 2024 NRL Round 5 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 include the best four interchange players of the week. Seeing who has provided maximum impact from the bench.
Plus we throw in the players we thought were great but the stats did not with Gurgler’s Choice.
2024 NRL Team of the Season…so far
Here is the above but for all rounds.
2024 NRL Round 5 Player Stats
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2024 NRL Player Stats…so far.
2024 NRL Round 5 Player Comparisons
Here is a quick look at the H2H Player stats from the most recent round in key positions.
INTERESTING STATS FROM THIS ROUND
Zac Lomax hit a new weekly record for errors with six. But his errors per game (2.0) is lower than Izaac Thompson from Souths at 3.0.
South Sydney’s Taane Milne topped the Post Contact Metres and was fourth best for all run metres in a side that was thrashed on the weekend.
Xavier Savage’s two line breaks takes him to second best overall for the season (7) two behind Izack Tago.
For all the talk of South Sydney’s poor form and Latrell Mitchell, he leads the competition for Line Break Assists and is fifth for Tackle Breaks. He is tenth for All Run Metres for the fullbacks this 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 Legue for bite sized pieces of NRL Stats and more every day.
Round 6 of the NRL is here and the big game is the competition’s newest big rivalry when the Broncos and Dolphins face off for the third time. The Dolphins are currently spending their second week on top of the ladder. Talking of top of the ladder, our stat-filled preview of the upcoming weekend of rugby league is here to help get you to the top of your tipping comp with our 2024 NRL Round 6 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview.
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, and you have a rugby league soup with probably more than one could ever need or want.
2024 NRL Round 6 Tips – This Week’s Matches
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
Newcastle v Roosters
Thursday, 8:00 pm
Melbourne v Bulldogs
Friday, 6:00 pm
Brisbane v Dolphins
Friday, 8:05 pm
Warriors v Manly Warringah
Saturday, 3:00 pm
Parramatta v North Queensland
Saturday, 5:30 pm
South Sydney v Cronulla
Saturday, 7:35 pm
Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra
Sunday, 4:05 pm
Canberra v Gold Coast
Sunday, 6:15 pm
2024 NRL Round 6 Tips – This Week’s Tips
ROOSTERS by 4
MELBOURNE by 8
DOLPHINS by 2
WARRIORS by 4
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 10
SOUTH SYDNEY by 4
WESTS TIGERS by 12
CANBERRA by 20
Here we take the best points of interest for each match coming up this weekend and share them with you for no cost. Feel free to share with friends and family.
THU – NEW v ROO – Roosters have won 16 of the last 19 games v Newcastle.
THU – NEW v ROO – Newcastle’s home record v Roosters since 1998 is W5 L16. They have only scored 20 or more points v Roosters at home five times too.
THU – NEW v ROO – Newcastle and Roosters have never met on a Thursday.
THU – NEW v ROO – Newcastle have lost their last three home games on a Thursday. And lost all three Thursday games to Sydney opposition anywhere.
THU – NEW v ROO – Roosters are W5 L2 on a Thursday night away to NSW clubs.
FRI – MEL v BUL – Bulldogs surprised most with a comfortable 26-12 win last season over the Storm in Melbourne, breaking a run of seven straight Storm wins.
FRI – MEL v BUL – Melbourne are W4 L1 v Bulldogs on a Friday.
FRI – MEL v BUL – Melbourne have won 14 of their last 16 home games on a Friday.
FRI – MEL v BUL – Bulldogs have won just four of their last 20 away games v non-Sydney clubs.
FRI – BRI v DOL – Broncos have won seven of their past eight games v Qld opposition.
FRI – BRI v DOL – Broncos have won nine of their past ten games on a Friday going back to 2023.
FRI – BRI v DOL – Dolphins are W4 L4 v Qld opposition since 2023. But never beaten the Broncos.
FRI – BRI v DOL – Dolphins are unbeaten at Suncorp Stadium as the away team. (1 game only)
FRI – BRI v DOL – Dolphins are W2 L1 away from home on a Friday.
SAT – WAR v MAN – Manly have won the last two games v Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium. Prior to that the Warriors had won 10 of 13 v Manly at the ground. But Manly are W2 L1 there on a Saturday.
SAT – WAR v MAN – Warriors have lost 10 of the last 11 games v Manly on a Saturday anywhere.
SAT – WAR v MAN – Manly have won just one of their last seven away trips on a Saturday.
SAT – Warriors won all three home games on a Saturday at Mt Smart last season.
SAT – PAR v NQL – Parramatta are W7 L1 at CommBank Stadium v Qld opposition. And won the only game v Qld teams there on a Saturday.
SAT – PAR v NQL – North Queensland are W5 L12 away on a Saturday since 2020.
SAT – SOU v CRO – South Sydney have won their last seven games v Cronulla at the Olympic Stadium and 8/9 overall there.
SAT – SOU v CRO – Since leading the competition in Round 11 last season, Souths have won just one of their next five home games on a Saturday. And just two of ten home games on any day.
SAT – SOU v CRO – Cronulla have lost four of their last five games on a Saturday.
SAT – SOU v CRO – Cronulla are W11 L18 at the Olympic Stadium v Sydney opposition, but that improves to W5 L3 on a Saturday.
SUN – WT v STI – Wests Tigers record at Campbelltown since merge is W37 L54. Although they have lost their last eight games there, and last won against North Queensland in Round 6, 2020.
SUN – WT v STI – Going back to 2017, the Wests Tigers have lost eight of their last nine games at Campbelltown on a Sunday.
SUN – WT v STI – Wests Tigers have one only one of their last 20 games on a Sunday.
SUN – WT v STI – The Tigers won their last home game on a Sunday – v Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. Prior to that it was August 2020 for their last home win on a Sunday.
SUN – WT v STI – Dragons have lost six straight away to Sydney teams and won just two of their last 18 away games to Sydney clubs.
SUN – WT v STI – Dragons have lost eight straight games on a Sunday.
SUN – CANB v GC – Canberra have won 11 of their last 13 on a Sunday at home.
SUN – CANB v GC – Canberra’s record at home on a Sunday to Qld sides is W14 L6.
SUN – CANB v GC – Gold Coast have won their last two games in Canberra on a Sunday. Although Canberra hold a W10 L5 record overall at home on any day.
SUN – CANB v GC – Gold Coast have won just two of their last 20 away games in NSW/ACT.
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 5 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.
2024 NRL Round 5 Stats Summary
NRL Round 5 Stats Points of Interest
HOME > AWAY
Time for a little Home and Away action. No, not that awful thing, but a look into the dominance of home sides in the NRL in 2024 so far.
It was another 7/8 week for the home sides with only the Dolphins and Souths not scoring 30 points or more (Dolphins were 26 points). But it does feel like the home sides are more bankable this season than previous.
It does look historically significant so far.
SOUTH STINK-NEY
South Sydney currently lie at the bottom of the NRL, a decent effort considering the players they have and the fact they led the NRL in Round 11 in 2023. Souths fans and data buffs would know Souths are one of the few teams to go from Minor Premiers one year to dead last the next without drugs or salary cap blowouts.
It means their coach Jason Demetriou is struggling to keep his job, with one source (probably the awful Buzz Rothfield) saying it is just one game. With games against the Sharks, Melbourne in Melbourne (where Souths have never, ever won) and Penrith in the next three weeks you can see why.
So here are some stats to show the decline in the Rabbitohs since leading the comp in Round 11 last season. Their form is getting close to genuine bottom four.
SOUTHS ERRORS/PENALTIES
CAMERON MURRAY VARIOUS STATS
DAMIEN COOK DUMMY HALF RUN METRE AVERAGE
LATRELL MITCHEL CREATIVE PLAYS
CODY WALKER CREATIVE PLAYS
Some quick points…
Souths have the worst home win % since Round 12, 2023.
Souths have conceded the third highest total of penalties + ruck infringements in 2024.
Souths have made the fourth highest total of errors in 2024.
South average 5.0 points scored in the first half of games in 2024.
Just two line break assists and two try assists for Cody Walker this season and no line breaks.
Latrell Mitchell’s stats for 2024 not too bad.
Damien Cook dummy half running metres down.
BEST OF NRL ROUND 5 STATS QUICK HITS
Melbourne are undefeated at home in 17 Thursday night clashes v all opponents.
Melbourne are now on an eight game winning streak at home to the Broncos. Plus have a 100% record v Broncos on a Thursday.
Bulldogs win was just their second on a Friday since 2020 (17 games)
Bulldogs have now won two in a row v Roosters at the Olympic Stadium.
St George Illawarra have lost their last seven away games to NSW sides. And won just two of their last 19 matches v NSW teams away. And beaten just one team of their last 15 away matches to NSW sides on a Friday.
Warriors win over Souths broke a run of eight straight losses.
Manly’s win over Penrith also broke a run of eight straight losses
Dolphins are W3 L1 at Suncorp Stadium on a Saturday.
North Queensland have won 10 of their last 12 on Sunday v all teams.
Canberra have won 11 of their last 13 at home on a Sunday. And seven of their last eight at home on a Sunday v Sydney teams.
NRL Round 5 Stats Summary
Some weekly stats and additional interesting visuals for the weekend that was.
NRL Round 5 Stats Summary – H2H Match by Match Summary
All eight games with all the stats you could ever want or need.
SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 7: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands in the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 and Sergio Perez of Mexico in the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 in parc feme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 7, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Images)
Normal transmission has resumed with Red Bull dominating a Grand Prix and Max Verstappen at the top of the pile. Talking of a pile, here is our 2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Result Summary which covers both races and anything else of interest.
This 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Result, Lap by Lap, Review & Summary 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 – It’s a Red Bull 1-2 with Max Ve3rstappen looking comfortable again. Sergio Perez stepping up helps him keep his seat for 2025 and Lando Norris did an outstanding job to secure third. Further back there looks like not much between Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Fernando Alonso. Under pressure RB driver Daniel Ricciardo qualified 11th behind his team mate and local hero Yuki Tsunoda. Race day is dry and hot, which is a surprise according to forecasts a week ago and the rain we saw on Friday. Fernando Alonso is the lone warrior on soft tyres in the top 10 drivers.
GRID (Starting Order) – VER PER NOR SAI ALO PIA HAM LEC RUS TSU
Lap 1 – Max Verstappen is good away and the top drivers behave themselves for the first sweeping corners. Further back not so much. There’s two cars into the barrier after the third turn, buried in nicely. Drivers are OK and the panning camera reveals it is Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo in the melee. Replays show both RBs had shocking starts, Riccardo’s worse than Tsunoda’s. This put Ricciardo in the Alpine-Stroll region, and he had Albon racing up on the outside of turn three and squeezed him off the track, but not before the Williams tapped the RB and they both crashed into the barriers. Should be classed as a racing incident, but Albon could have realised there was no more room earlier.
RACE RED FLAGGED
The damage to the tyre barriers is big, so this will be a long wait. Lucky it is a daytime grand prix for some. Unlike for the UK viewers, as Sky’s UK Broadcasters continue to point out how early in the morning it is. As a resident on the other side of the globe they need to quit their griping, as this side only get three daytime grands prix.
The wait for restart is around 30 minutes. Plenty of time for shots in the crowd of Japanese F1 fans. They love their F1. Anyone, and everyone gets some support.
ORDER – VER PER NOR SAI ALO PIA HAM LEC RUS HUL
RACE RESTARTS
Lap 3 – Start number two gets underway, and same as the first start up the front as the front runners behave themselves again but this time the midfielders leave each other alone. So with the racing on track a little plain, it’s over to strategy and Alonso is on soft tyres compared to the rest of the top drivers. Mercedes are on hards, and Tsunoda is on softs too. He overtakes George Russell quickly not long after the restart. Replays of the race restart show the Alpines hitting each other. Always up for some intra Alpine spice.
ORDER – VER PER NOR SAI ALO PIA LEC HAM RUS
Lap 8 – Yuki Tsunoda already in for new tyres after a five lap stint on the softs. Alonso is dropping off too but staying out for now. Not quite working out then. Valtteri Bottas was in to rid himself of soft tyres a lap earlier. Tsunoda rejoins in 16th.
ORDER – VER PER NOR SAI ALO PIA LEC HAME RUS STR
Lap 10 – Thank Christ this race is on during the day, because there is very little happening. Max Verstappen is three second ahead of Perez, and there’s similar gaps going through the field, except for Alonso slipping further back on soft tyres and holding up a few cars behind. To emphasise the point of stuff-all happening, we are taken to Logan Sargeant overtaking Pierre Gasly for 13th. Gasly must be having a bad day then.
Lap 12 – First of the front runner pitstops start. First Lando Norris then Oscar Piastri. Fernando Alonso not long after that. Lando leaves the pits in 10th place, just ahead of the midfield crew. Piastri rejoins lower down but makes light work of some of the midfield cars in quick time.
Lap 13 – Lewis Hamilton suggests on team radio to let George Russell past. That’s a first for F1 drivers in general. Russell does get by into the chicane. Amazing.
Lap 15 – The question to whether Guanyu Zhou is still in the race is answered. He now isn’t as his Sauber is retired with gearbox problems. He was in last position.
Lap 16 – Perez and Sainz pit, they hit the track in 5th and 6th, behind the hard-tyred Mercedes cars and Norris whose early pit stop has worked out well. And Max Verstappen of course. Max pits the next lap and comes out behind Leclerc and Russell. Not behind Russell for long as he gets by him quickly. Norris passes Hamilton at the same time. It’s starting to get hard keeping up. A bit like Daniel Ricciardo v Tsunoda. Meanwhile a nice move from Bottas on an Alpine into turn one reminds us that he can still be good, and there’s plenty of good racing right now.
Lap 17 – Perez get by Hamilton in 130R. Woof and Wow. That’s only at 200 kph + into that corner where he overtook. Sergio is in one of those moods by the looks, which often happens in a race. Rarely in qualifying. A lap later Perez steal Russell’s 4th place into the same corner. Perez in the zone.
ORDER – LEC VER NOR PER RUS HAM SAI ALO PIA MAG
Lap 21 – It almost comes as a surprise but Max Verstappen takes first place from Charles Leclerc, almost forgetting he wasn’t leading the race for a change. Leclerc has yet to pit and is doing a good job. Further back Carlos Sainz gets past George Russell, while his team mate Lewis Hamilton is on the radio to his team questioning the strategy.
ORDER – VER LEC NOR PER SAI RUS ALO HAM PIA MAG
Lap 23 – Lewis Hamilton’s prayers are almost answered as his team mate George Russell pits for new tyres. Lewis comes in on lap 24.
Lap 24 – Lewis comes in on lap 24. Not long after he has pit does a bunch of midfield cars for new tyres all at the same time. Five cars jostling for post-stop positions. The RB of Yuki Tsunoda did the best job, making up a place for the local hero.
ORDER – VER LEC PER NOR SAI ALO PIA RUS HAM HUL
Lap 26 – Perez attacking Charles Leclerc who is doing a super job on his old tyres keeping the Red Bull at bay. But not long after typing that line the Ferrari goes a little wide after the turn into the underpass and he loses second to Perez. Lando Norris hounds him for the rest of the lap, which then includes the pit stop as Leclerc and Norris pit. George Russell split the two drivers as they rejoin.
Lap 28 – Lando Norris nails George Russell in a brilliant move in to turn one. Quality overtake. Max Verstappen comes on screen, only to remind us he is 10 seconds up from Perez. Easy like a Sunday morning for Max at the moment.
Lap 34 – Bit of a lull in the racing, so thankfully Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso decided to pit. They both drop down the field for now. Waiting and watching to attack. Perez lives up to that by getting past Lando Norris the next lap. Max Verstappen also pits for a second time and is second behind Carlos Sainz for now. Sainz is on the radio to his team about a pit stop, the team tell him to stay out. Sainz runs wide at the chicane in celebration. Sainz pits on Lap 37 rejoining in 7th.
Lap 36 – Sergio Perez makes a nice move on Charles Leclerc. Perez racing well and started from a decent qualifying position.
ORDER – VER PER LEC NOR RUS HAM SAI ALO PIA TSU
Lap 38 – Oscar Piastri hassling Fernando Alonso for 8th. A bit quieter a weekend for the Australian than in 2023 where he secured a podium. At least he’ll take out the best Australian result from the Grand Prix. Award for biggest catch of a mistake goes to his team mate Lando Norris whose car fishtails for a bit under the tunnel. Norris saves it nicely.
Lap 40 – Lewis Hamilton pits from 9th and rejoins 9th. A bit of a gap between the haves, have nots, and have everythings today.
Lap 42 – Logan Sargeant goes off at the second Degner curve near the crossover. He runs wide but avoids the barrier. Then, covered in dust, rolls back onto the circuit. Which is a bit risky given it is a fast, blind corner. All the drama leaves the American last, which is at least familiar territory. But an upgrade on the Australian Grand Prix, because he has a car.
Lap 44 – The Ferraris and Lando Norris in a group fighting for the final podium. Sainz picks off Norris for 4th easily enough, then sets about annoying his team mate. This is where different strategy is playing out. Leclerc done so well on the one stop. DRS helps Sainz fly past Leclerc into turn one on lap 46 to steal third.
Lap 48 – Oscar Piastri still fighting Fernando Alonso for 6th, and George Russell has joined the party. Piastri and Russell were almost joined at the chicane on lap 50 as Russell takes a dive down the inside but it isn’t enough to take Piastri’s place but enough to force him wide over the chicane. Piastri stays in front for now. But can’t hold on forever, as Russell overtakes him around the outside of turn one after making a little mistake.
FINAL LAP – Max Verstappen wins easy, setting a fastest lap just before the race finishes, no doubt a rapid Up Yours to the rest of the F1 field. Perez completes a 1-2 in his best drive for the season. Carlos Sainz continues to defy the driver market with a handy third place.
FINAL ORDER (Across the line) – VEE PER SAI LEC NOR ALO RUS PIA HAM 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. 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 – MAX VERSTAPPEN
A win from pole position, with a fastest lap thrown, it sounds like a copy-paste from so many races over the past few seasons. But after Australia where his Red Bull suffered a rare break down it will be reassuring for him to be back at the front. And convincingly so. And the neutral fans will have to suck up the business as usual.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
SERGIO PEREZ – Did all he has to, with pushing Max Verstappen in qualifying, and a fine race to collect second place. With no Red Bull family driver really pushing their claims, it’s his seat to lose at the moment.
CARLOS SAINZ – Well, Perez’s seat is safe from red Bull drivers but external, like Carlos Sainz. The soon to be out of work Ferrari driver put in another great shift to take the final podium.
CHARLES LECLERC – Drive a great race without the reward it probably deserved being on a different strategy. Made the odd mistake which cost him higher places, but at least was having a proper crack.
FERNANADO ALONSO – More points for Fernando Alonso, who is constantly out-driving that Aston Martin.
YUKI TSUNODA – Grabbed the final World Championship point, made Q3, beat his team mate in qualifying, his team mate then went into the barriers on the opening lap. Yep, a pretty good day out for him. Might not be enough for a Red Bull ride, but plenty good enough to keep an RB.
THE GRAPE-EST – DANIEL RICCIARDO
Came into the weekend under pressure, and while this may have been a better weekend than the Australian Grand Prix, he continues to be outpaced by Yuki Tsunoda. His 11th was just short of Tsunoda’s 10th and meant he missed Q3 again. Both he and team mate Tsunoda made terrible starts and ended up in the traffic, Ricciardo’s worse start saw him in the lower midfield pack and collide with Alex Albon and finish his afternoon. One wonders if a first lap exit was a mercy as his poor start probably meant he probably would have battling 12th to 17th.
DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS
ALEX ALBON – Involved in Red Flag crash, another big crash in consecutive weekends. At least he didn’t take his team mate’s car this time.
GUANYU ZHOU – Won the race’s most obscure driver with a solid midfield effort of anonymity until he retired in the pits to the surprise of many who had forgotten he was in the race.
LOGAN SARGEANT – Looking to get his marching orders from Willaims with an off in the race.
ALPINE – Drivers hit each other on the restart and they scored no points. At least Esteban Ocon made it out of Q1.
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.
ON TRACK ACTION – 8 / 10
Not a great deal of action at the front at first, as the Red Bull’s drove into the distance, but pit stops saw the racing come alive with different tyre strategies playing out for the rest of the afternoon.
ANY SURPRISES? – 1 / 5
No, not really.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 3 / 5
Red Bull 1-2 is ominous, so important that they will probably win everything if they don’t retire. The battle for next best looks a moving feast for the season.
ENDING 6 / 10
Whilst the race winner question had no need to be answered, the position lower down were fought keenly until the end.
OVERALL RATING 18 / 30
This looked a real dull race in prospect in the early laps but came alive with the tyre strategy. It was the same old winner at the front, but the rest of the podium was a moving feast for most of the race. Not a classic, but a decent afternoon of viewing.
2024 F1 Season Power Rankings
Stay tuned for our Power Rankings from the race soon as it is currently being calculated and will be ready on Monday.
2024 NRL Round 5 Dolphins v Wests Tigers – DOLPHINS 26 WESTS TIGERS 16. The one-minute match report – giving you the bare minimum NRL round up in the bare minimum of time.
The Dolphins reclaim their position top of the NRL ladder after a hard fought win over a resilient Wests Tigers and barring a win for the Cowboys tomorrow of 18 points or more, the Dolphins will remain on top of the ladder for a second straight round.
The win came with a price, with injuries to both of their off-season Broncos signings Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler, coincidentally with the Broncos the next opponent.
Dolphins first half was almost perfect, taking a 14-0 lead to the break, with minimal errors and penalties given. Isaiya Katoa opened the scoring in the 4th minute supporting on the inside of Jack Bostock sideline break courtesy of a beautiful Kodi Nikorima cutout pass. In between two penalty goals was the Dolphins showing some real backbone keeping the Tigers scoreless after a sustained period of attacking their line.
After successfully holding out the Tigers, Dolphins scored their second try with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow backing up perfectly after Felise Kaufusi sliced through the Tigers defence on the halfway line, having just enough fuel left to find The Hammer, who scored his fifth try of the season.
Two tries to Tigers centre Solomona Faataape in the first 15 minutes after the break saw the Dolphins lead cut to just four points, but fears of an in-form Tigers over-powering the Dolphins were cooled when a Katoa grubber found a diving Kodi Nikorima, and Kenny Bromwich was on hand to capitalise on a break from dummy half from Jeremy Marshall-King. Alex Seyfarth scored in the 72nd minute, but the Dolphins had the Tigers covered and re-took the top of the table position they carried in Round 5.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
How good for the Dolphins to return to the top of the table. Whilst a harder run against top eight teams from 2024 is just ahead, the way they have rebounded from an opening round shocker against the Cowboys has been remarkable. Not just the winning, but the errors and penalties are reducing and the attack is getting better. Just in time for the big clash next week against the Broncos.
Signing Isaiya Katoa to the Dolphins for their debut season was a masterstroke and the recent contract extension may prove to be the same as the halfback has shone since and produced arguably his best effort for the Dolphins. His kicking game was spot on all night, and he was lively in attack in addition to being as solid as ever in attack.
Talking of best efforts, Kenny Bromwich had one of his best games for the club against the Tigers. He has had to be patient in recent weeks, being named 18th man for the last two weeks, but in a good sign for team harmony he put in a big shift after starting at lock. He was rewarded for his efforts with his first try of the season, backing up nicely after a Jeremy Marshall-King break. Players stepping up after being left out is a good sign of club culture and they’re going to need it if the injury list continues to grow.
Another player who has come back from missing out earlier in the season was Jake Averillo, who like the men above probably had his best game of the season against the Tigers.
Courtesy of nrl.com
BEST OF STATS
Dolphins actually made fewer Run Metres and Post Contact Metres than the Tigers despite victory. Their Run Metres total of 1,422 is in the bottom ten for a single team/round effort this season, and the lowest total while still winning the game.
Dolphins are W3 L1 at Suncorp Stadium on a Saturday. It’s now W3 L3 as the home side anywhere on a Saturday.
It’s also now three wins in a row on a Saturday.
Coincidentally, the last (and only) time the Dolphins won three games in a row, they played the Broncos the next week.
Wests Tigers have lost their last five away on a Saturday.
It only feels like yesterday since the last round of Premier League fixtures. That’s probably because it was yesterday. Or will be by the time you read this. Talking of yesterdays, our Premier League Week 32 Predictions and useful stats are here and all our troubles seem so far away.
Each week we provide a meandering look into the upcoming round of Premier League football, with not only our predictions for the upcoming Premier League fixtures but offer up a wide range of H2H and in-season stats and barely interesting facts. This week is shorter than usual, that’s because there’s a day to do it. And no one reads this anyway.
2023-24 Premier League Week 32 Fixtures
2023-24 Premier League Week 32 Predictions
Here are our fearless predictions for the fixtures ahead, and tune in below for all the stats and barely interesting stats that go along with them.
Crystal Palace 0 Man City 5
Burnley 1 Everton 1
Fulham 0 Newcastle 3
Bournemouth 2 Luton 1
Wolves 1 West Ham 1
Aston Villa 2 Brentford 0
Arsenal 2 Brighton 0
Man Utd 0 Liverpool 3
Sheffield Utd 0 Chelsea 2
Tottenham x Luton X
Season Progress: 48% – 139/289 – Correct Scores – 18
(Tech Issues GW 6 – not including GW25/28 Midweek Games)
2023-24 Premier League Week 32 Best Stats
Need a reason to pick one team over another, or just have a stat ready to impress friends and family, either way you are welcome to our favourite stats of the current gameweek.
CRY v MCI – Man City are unbeaten in their last nine visits to Crystal Palace. The home side have scored one goal in just two of those nine games.
CRY v MCI – Man City have won only two of the last four Saturday games v Crystal Palace at any ground (W2 D1 L1).
CRY v MCI – Crystal Palace have lost all three home games v big six opposition at home this season. Their record v top six sides anywhere is slightly better – D1 L6.
EVE v BUR – Everton and Burnley are the only two teams in the Premier League this season whose away record is better than their home record.
EVE v BUR – Everton may have won the last match between these sides at Burnley on a Saturday, but Burnley were seven games undefeated before that.
EVE v BUR – Both teams have similar records against bottom six teams this season. Burnley – W3 L2 D1 and Everton W3 L2 D2.
FUL v NEW – Only four teams this season have not won an away games v a London club. Newcastle (L4 D1) are one. Crystal Palace, Brighton and Luton are the others.
FUL v NEW – Newcastle have won their last four games v Fulham by the margin of 10-1. And their last three games at Fulham by 10-1.
LUT v BOU – Luton have won two of the last three games v Bournemouth.
LUT v BOU – Bournemouth are unbeaten at home v bottom six sides this season (W3 D2).
WOL v WHU – Wolves have won the past two games at home v West Ham by 1-0.
WOL v WHU – West Ham (D1 L3) are winless v middle eight teams this season (at time of match).
AVL v BRE – Aston Villa have never been beaten at home by Aston Villa – W3 D6.
AVL v BRE – Brentford (D1 L7) are winless v top six sides this season.
AVL v BRE – Aston Villa are W5 L1 at home to London teams.
AVL v BRE – Aston Villa are W9 L1 on a Saturday.
ARS v BHA – Arsenal’s record v middle eight sides is W5 D1 L1.
MUN v LIV – Man Utd have lost only two of the last ten games v Liverpool at home – W4 D4 L2.
MUN v LIV – Liverpool are undefeated in their last nine v Man Utd on a Sunday – W4 D5. Man Utd failed to score in five of that seven game results.
SHU v CHE – Sheffield Utd have lost all four H2H v top clubs.
SHU v CHE – Chelsea are W3 D2 L1 against lower six opposition this year.
TOT v NFO – Nottingham Forest are 0/4 coming against big six games.
TOT v NFO – Tottenham have won their last five games v Forest.
2023-24 English Premier League Current Season Stats
A quick look at the current state of play in the Premier League. An alternative table, form summary, points per game at home or away, v opposition and expected goals. So many.
The Premier League games are coming thick and fast now with an overdue full midweek round to beat those weekday blues. Talking of weekday blues, our Premier League Week 31 Predictions and useful stats are here to help Chelsea win a game, or not.
Each week we provide a meandering look into the upcoming round of Premier League football, with not only our predictions for the upcoming Premier League fixtures but offer up a wide range of H2H and in-season stats and barely interesting facts.
We’ve even been busy over the break developing a ratings system for each team and match and a predictor model.
2023-24 Premier League Week 31 Fixtures
2023-24 Premier League Week 31 Predictions
Here are our fearless predictions for the fixtures ahead, and tune in below for all the stats and barely interesting stats that go along with them.
Nottingham Forest 1 Fulham 3
Newcastle 6 Everton 1
Bournemouth 2 Crystal Palace 1
Burnley 1 Wolves 1
West Ham 2 Spurs 2
Arsenal 5 Luton 1
Brentford 3 Brighton 0
Man City 2 Aston Villa 0
Liverpool 4 Sheffield Utd 0
Chelsea 1 Man Utd 1
Season Progress: 48% – 133/279 – Correct Scores – 17
(Tech Issues GW 6 – not including GW25/28 Midweek Games)
2023-24 Premier League Week 31 Best Stats
Need a reason to pick one team over another, or just have a stat ready to impress friends and family, either way you are welcome to our favourite stats of the current gameweek.
NFO v FUL – Fulham have won the last three games vs Nottingham Forest and five of their last six. Fulham have won four in a row at Nottingham Forest. And four of their last five midweek matches.
NFO v FUL – Fulham are W1 D2 away to bottom six teams this season.
NEW v EVE – Newcastle have won three in a row at home to Everton.
NEW v EVE – Newcastle are W2 D1 L1 at home to bottom six sides (at time of match). Everton are W3 D2 L3 away to middle eight sides.
NEW v EVE – Everton are winless in their last seven away games (L5 D2)
BOU v CRY – Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last three trips to Bournemouth (W2 D1)
BOU v CRY – Bournemouth have lost just one home game this season (W5 D4 L1) to teams outside the top six (at time of match).
BUR v WOL – Burnley are unbeaten in their last six home games to Wolves (W4 D2).
BUR v WOL – Wolves are unbeaten in their last seven midweek games v Burnley (W4 D3).
WHU v TOT – West Ham are unbeaten in their last three home games to Spurs (W2 D1).
WHU v TOT – West Ham are winless this season top six opponents (D1 L2).
ARS v LUT – Arsenal have won their last six home games v Luton and are unbeaten in their last 12 at home to the Hatters (W10 D2). Luton’s last win at Arsenal was in 1959.
ARS v LUT – Arsenal have a 100% win record v bottom six sides at home this season.
ARS v LUT – Luton are winless this season away to big six clubs (L6 D1).
BRE v BHA – Brighton have won the last five midweek matches v Brentford.
BRE v BHA – Brighton are winless this season in seven games away to London clubs.
MCI v AVL – Man City have won the last 12 Premier League home games v Aston Villa by a combined 38-5.
MCI v AVL – Man City have won all five midweek Premier League games at home.
MCI v AVL – Man City’s record at home to top six sides (at time of match) is D3 W1.
LIV v SHU – Liverpool are the only team with a 100% win record for games between Monday and Thursday this season.
LIV v SHU – Liverpool have won the last six home games v Sheffield Utd by a combined 13-1.
LIV v SHU – Liverpool have a 100% win record in four games against bottom six sides.
CHE v MUN – Man Utd (W5 D7) are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League games v Chelsea.
CHE v MUN – The last three matches between these sides have ended in a draw.
2023-24 Premier League Week 31 Quick Stats – Midweek Record
Here’s our quick result summary visual for just the games this season between Monday and Thursday.
2023-24 English Premier League Current Season Stats
A quick look at the current state of play in the Premier League. An alternative table, form summary, points per game at home or away, v opposition and expected goals. So many.
Time flies when you’re having fun they say, and it’s hard to believe we’re up to Round 5 of the NRL already. We must be having fun then. Talking of fun, our stat-filled preview of the upcoming weekend of rugby league is always fun and here to help with our 2024 NRL Round 5 Tips Predictions & Stats Preview.
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, and you have a rugby league soup with probably more than one could ever need or want.
2024 NRL Round 5 Tips – This Week’s Matches
Here are our tips for the week ahead. How did we get to here? By going through all the visuals and stats below.
Melbourne v Brisbane
Thursday, 8:00 pm
Bulldogs v Roosters
Friday, 6:00 pm
Newcastle v St George Illawarra
Friday, 8:05 pm
South Sydney v Warriors
Saturday, 3:00 pm
Manly Warringah v Penrith
Saturday, 5:30 pm
Dolphins v Wests Tigers
Saturday, 7:35 pm
North Queensland v Gold Coast
Sunday, 4:05 pm
Canberra v Parramatta
Sunday, 6:15 pm
2024 NRL Round 5 Tips – This Week’s Tips
MELBOURNE by 6
ROOSTERS by 14
NEWCASTLE by 12
SOUTH SYDNEY by 4
PENRITH by 16
DOLPHINS by 2
NORTH QUEENSLAND by 2
PARRAMATTA by 6
Here we take the best points of interest for each match coming up this weekend and share them with you for no cost. Feel free to share with friends and family.
MEL v BRI – Melbourne have won 18 of the 21 games played against the Broncos over the past ten seasons. And lost just once in the past five seasons – the last fixture in the finals series.
MEL v BRI – Melbourne are on a seven game winning streak at home to the Broncos.
MEL v BRI – The Storm have also won all three Thursday night clashes v Brisbane in Melbourne. The Storm have also won the other three in Brisbane. A 100% record v Broncos on a Thursday.
MEL v BRI – Melbourne are undefeated at home in 16 Thursday night clashes v all opponents.
MEL v BRI – Melbourne have won 27 of 31 Thursday games v all opposition at any ground.
MEL v BRI – Storm have won 11 straight at AAMI Park. It’s 24 wins in a row if you exclude Sydney teams and Canberra.
MEL v BRI – Broncos’ last win in Melbourne was in 2016, and the only current Bronco left who played in that win was Corey Oates. In fact only three other players are still playing in the NRL at all. For the record the starting halves were Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt.
MEL v BRI – Broncos have lost their last three away games on a Thursday.
BUL v ROO – Bulldogs have lost nine of their last ten v Roosters, but that only win was the most recent game at the Olympic Stadium.
BUL v ROO – Bulldogs have played 16 Friday games since 2020 and won just once.
BUL v ROO – Roosters have beaten Bulldogs ten of the last 11 times on a Friday.
NEW v STGI – Newcastle have a record of W2 L5 at home to St George Illawarra on a Friday. They have a better record away (W2 L1).
NEW v STGI – There have been 48 points or more scored in Newcastle’s last nine Friday home matches.
NEW v STGI – Newcastle have lost their last two Friday games to St George Illawarra, and scored four points on both occasions.
NEW v STGI – St George Illawarra have lost their last six away games to NSW sides. And won just two of their last 18 matches v NSW teams away. And beaten just one team of their last 14 away matches to NSW sides on a Friday.
SOU v WAR – South Sydney have won their last eight games v New Zealand Warriors and won 14 of the last 15 going back to 2013. And won nine of their last 10 on a Saturday v Warriors.
SOU v WAR – It’s three wins a piece for Souths and Warriors at the Olympic Stadium.
SOU v WAR – Souths have lost their last two Saturday games at the Olympic Stadium. The win over the Bulldogs on Good Friday broke a run of four losses at the ground on any day.
SOU v WAR – Warriors have lost four of their last five games on a Saturday. And all of their last four Saturday away games.
SOU v WAR – The Warriors’ record at the Olympic Stadium on a Saturday v all opponents in W5 L8.
MAN v PEN – Penrith have won their last eight games v Manly, including the last four away at Brookvale. And the last four games at any ground on a Saturday.
MAN v PEN – Manly have won just one of five home games v Penrith on a Saturday at Brookvale since 1998. And only four of 16 games v Penrith on a Saturday anywhere.
MAN v PEN – Manly have won one of their last nine games on a Saturday.
MAN v PEN – Penrith have won 31 of 34 Saturday games since 2020. And 15 of 16 away from home. And all eight away against Sydney clubs on a Saturday since 2020.
DOL v WT – Dolphins are W2 L1 at Suncorp Stadium on a Saturday. It’s W2 L3 as the home side anywhere on a Saturday.
DOL v WT – Dolphins are W1 L4 v Sydney opposition on a Saturday.
DOL v WT – Wests Tigers have lost their last four away on a Saturday and scored zero points in two of those games.
DOL v WT – The Wests Tigers’ last game in Qld on a Saturday ended in a 74-0 loss to North Queensland.
DOL v WT – Wests Tigers’ record at Suncorp Stadium is a respectable W10 L12.
NQL v GC – North Queensland have an all-time home record of W12 L4 v Gold Coast Titans. But that improves to nine of the last ten games in Townsville. But Gold Coast have won the only game in Townsville between these sides on a Sunday.
NQL v GC – North Queensland’s home record on a Sunday v all teams since 1998 is W8 L6. But have lost both games at home on a Sunday v Qld opposition.
NQL v GC – North Queensland have won nine of their last 11 on Sunday v all teams.
NQL – GC – Gold Coast have won their last two Sunday games. Gold Coast have also won four of their last six away games on a Sunday v Qld opposition.
CANB v PAR – Canberra have won 14 of 19 home clashes v Parramatta since 1998. And five of seven on a Sunday. But Parramatta won the most recent game away to Canberra on a Sunday.
CANB v PAR – Canberra have won ten of their last 12 at home on a Sunday. And six of their last seven at home on a Sunday v Sydney teams.
CANB v PAR – Canberra have lost their last three games on a Sunday v anyone anywhere. Two of those losses were against Cronulla.
CANB v PAR – Parramatta have lost four of their last five away games on a Sunday. And five of their last six away to non Sydney teams on a Sunday.
Another big weekend of NRL action featuring Cowboy hats and losses. There were star performances, work horses giving it their all, and a few getting a spray from Des Hasler. But which players were the best of the best you ask? We’ll let the stats do the talking and separate the Wheat/Chaff to present the 2024 NRL Round 4 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 include the best four interchange players of the week. Seeing who has provided maximum impact from the bench.
Plus we throw in the players we thought were great but the stats did not with Gurgler’s Choice.
2024 NRL Team of the Season…so far
Here is the above but for all rounds.
2024 NRL Round 4 Player Stats
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
Want to see which players topped the key stats for the latest round of the NRL this weekend?
2024 NRL Player Stats…so far.
2024 NRL Round 4 Player Comparisons
Here is a quick look at the H2H Player stats from the most recent round in key positions.
INTERESTING STATS FROM THIS ROUND
Three players made five errors this weekend – Tom Trobjevic, Scott Drinkwater and Selwyn Cobbo – joining Blake Wilson for the single game high for 2024.
Adam Reynolds’ 645 kicking metres in the wet on Friday night was the fourth best single round effort for the season so far. The top two positions are by Jamal Fogarty.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Patrick Carrigan ran for over 200 metres in Round 4, including those, that has happened just seven times in a match by a forward this season.
The starting props for the Dolphins combined for five assists (Line Break or Try). Jesse Bromwich’s two Line Break Assists and one Try Assist is well on the way to bettering his 2023 tally of three and five respectively.
Josh Kerr’s 365 run metres is top ten for players off the bench in 2024.
Jamayne Isaako’s 10 Tackle Breaks is a new single match record since he joined the Dolphins.
Dylan Edwards has already passed 1,000 run metres for 2024. More than 200 metres clear of next best Brian To’o.
Izack Tago’s efforts has seen Centres become the current top position for Line Break Assists and Try Assists.
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 Legue for bite sized pieces of NRL Stats and more every day.
