2024 NRL: Round 25 Recap and Key Stats

Check out what happened in round 25 of the National Rugby League competition.

Final Scores

TIGERS 34 d SEA EAGLES 26
BULLDOGS 34 d WARRIORS 18
BRONCOS 30 d EELS 24
RAIDERS 22 d PANTHERS 18
STORM 48 d DOLPHINS 6
KNIGHTS 36 d RABBITOHS 16
ROOSTERS 48 d TITANS 22
SHARKS 38 d DRAGONS 10

Current Ladder

Melbourne Storm (Position: 1) 42 pts (213), Sydney Roosters (Position: 2) 36 pts (269), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Position: 3) 36 pts (204), Penrith Panthers (Position: 4) 36 pts (158), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Position: 5) 34 pts (146), North Queensland Cowboys (Position: 6) 32 pts (43), Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (Position: 7) 31 pts (121), St George-Illawarra Dragons (Position: 8) 28 pts (-120), Brisbane Broncos (Position: 9) 26 pts (2), Dolphins (Position: 10) 26 pts (-27), Newcastle Knights (Position: 11) 26 pts (-70), Canberra Raiders (Position: 12) 26 pts (-131), Gold Coast Titans (Position: 13) 22 pts (-140), New Zealand Warriors (Position: 14) 21 pts (-64), South Sydney Rabbitohs (Position: 15) 20 pts (-158), Parramatta Eels (Position: 16) 16 pts (-193), Wests Tigers (Position: 17) 16 pts (-253).

Review

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Melbourne have secured the minor premiership after they beat the Dolphins and Penrith lost to Canberra. The Sydney Roosters and Cronulla-Sutherland are second and third respectively following big wins, while Penrith dropped to fourth.

The Panthers’ loss meant Melbourne only needed a win at AAMI Park to seal the J. J. Giltinan Shield (their first since 2021). They had the win wrapped up by half-time, leading The Dolphins 22-0. Melbourne had eight tryscorers (including Nelson Asofa-Solomona in his 200th game), with a double to Sualauvi Faalogo. Though Faalogo’s second try will likely cause debate, as the ball appeared to touch the dead ball line as it was grounded. The Dolphins’ loss sees them drop behind Brisbane (ninth), with a high stakes “Battle of Brisbane” at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday night.

There was two hat-tricks in the Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast game at Cbus Super Stadium, but the Roosters still won comfortably. While Angus Crichton’s hat-trick was part of nine Roosters tries (with Daniel Tupou scoring a double and Sam Walker finishing with 16 points), Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored three of the Titans’ four tries.

Cronulla-Sutherland had a comfortable win against St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium. Leading 14-10 after 54 minutes, the Sharks dominated the rest of the game, with a double to Samuel Stonestreet.

Canberra responded from last weekend’s mauling in Townsville to not only beat Penrith at GIO Stadium, but send captain Elliot Whitehead out a winner in his last home game. The Raiders sealed the game when Matt Timoko intercepted a Jarome Luai pass on his five metre line and linked with Xavier Savage (his second try of the day). Penrith led 18-10 early in the second half after James Fisher-Harris scored.

Canterbury Bankstown ruined Shaun Johnson’s New Zealand farewell. Johnson was emotional as he ran onto “Shaun Johnson Stadium” (the temporarily renamed Go Media Stadium) with his family, and the Warriors capitalised on that emotion with a 12-0 lead after 15 minutes. While the Warriors led 18-16 at half-time, it was all Bulldogs from there: tries to Harry Hayes, Josh Addo-Carr, and Jacob Kiraz. It was the Bulldogs’ fifth straight win as they continue their quest for a top four finish.

The Wests Tigers kept their wooden-spoon avoiding hopes alive by beating Manly Warringah at 4 Pines Park. Manly looked to be heading closer to the top four when they led 16-0 after 23 minutes before the Tigers scored the next 30 points straight. Not even a Tom Trbojevic hat-trick could bridge the gap. Apisai Koroisau finished with 10 points (a try and three goals). With a bye next round, the Tigers will temporarily overtake Parramatta (depending on the Eels round 26 game against St George Illawarra) before the Tigers-Eels “Spoon Bowl” in round 27.

Brisbane kept their finals hopes alive with a win over Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. Adam Reynolds scored 14 points (a try and five goals) as the Broncos overcame a 16-0 deficit.

Newcastle also kept their finals hopes alive with a win over South Sydney at Accor Stadium. Jack Cogger and Dane Gagai both scored doubles, while Kalyn Ponga kicked six goals from seven attempts.

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Players Making Their NRL Debut

Sebastian Su’a (Knights) vs Rabbitohs, 24/8/2024 (20 years, 11 months, 9 days)

Key Stats

• Wests Tigers have now won their last five matches at Leichhardt Oval against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (last lost March 24, 2007 when the Sea Eagles won 19-8).
• Api Koroisau passed 100 NRL points in a season for the first time in his career.
• Heath Mason and Latu Fainu scored their first NRL career tries playing for the Wests Tigers against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
• Tom Trbojevic scored his ninth NRL career hat-trick.
• Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs won their first game at Mount Smart Stadium since March 18, 2012 (won 32-18).
• Harry Hayes scored his first NRL try playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs against the New Zealand Warriors.
• Tristan Sailor scored his first NRL try in 1,826 days playing for the Brisbane Broncos against the Parramatta Eels (previous try, Dragons vs Roosters on August 24, 2019)
• Canberra Raiders ended a five game losing streak against the Penrith Panthers (last win 30-18 at BlueBet Stadium on July 28, 2019)
• Melbourne Storm won their sixth minor premiership (2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024).

Upcoming Milestones

• 500 NRL points: Corey Oates (484 career points), Jamal Fogarty (462).
• 1000 NRL points: Zac Lomax (807), Alex Johnston (780), Nick Meaney (778).
• 50 NRL tries: David Fifita (49 career tries), Luke Keary (48), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (48), Zac Lomax (48), Marcelo Montoya (48), Kurt Mann (47).
• 100 NRL tries: Maika Sivo (99), Cody Walker (98), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (98), Clint Gutherson (96).
• 150 NRL tries: Kyle Feldt (146), Josh Addo-Carr (139), James Tedesco (133).
• 200 NRL tries: Alex Johnston (195).