Sea Eagles Cherry Ripe as second half swoop downs Eels
102 mins ago | Sam Bourke
Monday's expert - Round 2 wrap
Monday's Expert is back - with a full wrap of everything happening around the rugby league traps this Monday 25 March 2019. Includes match review charges, POTY leaderboard, crowds, ratings and injury news.
First things first...
The results are in. Check out how Round 2 played out in our one-page results wrap.
Our match reports for the opening round can be found here. And while we're on it, a huge huge thank you to our dedicated volunteer updaters - Rob Crosby, Andrew Jackson, Sam Bourke, Justin Davies, Andrew Ferguson, & Josh Robertson, as well as preview writers Rick Edgerton and Jeff Dickinson-Fox.
Match review
No charges Friday or Saturday, with one charge each on Thursday and Sunday.
Liam Knight (Rabbitohs). 28th minute, Grade 2 Dangerous Contact (other) on James Graham.
Base penalty 200 points
No prior offences last two years.
Guilty / no contest 200 points (two matches)
Early guilty plea 150 points (one match)
OUTCOME: Disputed grading at judiciary (guilty plea). Downgrade attempt unsuccessful. Suspended two matches.
Sam Lisone (Warriors). 52nd minute, Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (head/neck) on Thomas Mikaele.
Base penalty 100 points
TWO (2) similar offences in last two years - 100% loading (2 x 50%)
ONE (1) non-similar offence in last two years - 20% loading
72 carry over points to be added
Guilty / no contest = 292 points (two matches)
Early guilty plea = 237 points (two matches)
OUTCOME: Plead not guilty at judiciary. Unsuccessful contest. Suspended two matches.
There were no charges from Friday or Saturday matches.
The LU Leaderboard
At the conclusion of each match our reporters choose their best three players from the match. You can views those points in each match in their respective match reports. Each week we'll update the leaderboard:
6 points - Adam Reynolds (SOU), Robbie Farah (WST)
5 points - Blake Ferguson (PAR)
3 points - Kenny Bromwich (MEL), David Klemmer (NEW), Blake Green (WAR), Jason Taumalolo (NQL), Jarrod Croker (CAN), Sam Burgess (SOU), Cameron Smith (MEL), Corey Oates (BRI), Tevita Pangai Junior (BRI), Briton Nikora (CRO), Shaun Johnson (CRO), James Maloney (PEN), Luke Keary (SYD), Clint Gutherson (PAR)
2 points - Cameron Munster (MEL), Edrick Lee (NEW), Cameron Murray (SOU), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (WAR), Benji Marshall (WST), Michael Morgan (NQL), Dylan Brown (PAR), Josh Papali'i (CAN), Suliasi Vunivalu (MEL), James Fisher Harris (PEN), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (SYD), Luke Brooks (WST)
1 point - Nathaniel Roache (WAR), Russell Packer (WST), John Asiata (NQL), Daniel Alvaro (PAR), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (CAN), Braidon Burns (SOU), John Bateman (CAN), Jack Bird (BRI), Jai Arrow (GLD), Mitch Barnett (NEW), Daly Cherry-Evans (MAN), Shaun Lane (PAR), Benji Marshall (WST)
Sore points
As always, there was some frustrating and even sad injury news to come out of the opening round. Perhaps the most bizarre was Tyson Frizell - the Dragons back-rower rupturing a testicle and looking likely to miss up to six weeks. New injuries this round included:
Jason Taumalolo (NQL) - medial ligament, 6-10 weeks
Joseph Tapine (CAN) - suspected broken thumb, TBC
Matt Moylan (CRO) - knee, TBC
Sosaia Feki (CRO) - knee, TBC
Jayden Brailey (CRO) - concussion, TBC
Curtis Sironen (MAN) - concussion, TBC
Nene Macdonald (NQL) - concussion, TBC
Jake Friend (SYD) - shoulder, 1 week
Cooper Cronk (SYD) - hamstring, TBC
Brett Morris & Lindsay Collins (SYD) - concussion, TBC
Nathaniel Roache (WAR) - calf, TBC
Jacob Liddle (WST) - ankle, 4 weeks
Metrics Metrics Metrics
Each week we'll do our best to keep you across the crowd figures and TV ratings which are often the most talked-about parts of the game.
Round 2 attendance (times are AEDT)
| Thu 7:50pm | Dragons v Rabbitohs | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium | 10,080 |
| Fri 6:00pm | Raiders v Storm | GIO Stadium Canberra | 14,031 |
| Fri 7:55pm | Broncos v Cowboys | Suncorp Stadium | 45,023 |
| Sat 3:00pm | Sharks v Titans | Shark Park | 15,217 |
| Sat 5:30pm | Knights v Panthers | McDonald Jones Stadium | 19,451 |
| Sat 7:35pm | Sea Eagles v Roosters | Lottoland | 9,664 |
| Sun 4:05pm | Bulldogs v Eels | ANZ Stadium | 20,134 |
| Sun 6:10pm | Wests Tigers v Warriors | Campbelltown Stadium | 9,881 |
| Round Average | 17,935 | Round Total | 143,481 |
| Season Average | 17,430 | Season Total | 278,876 |
Round 1 ratings
| Day/Time | Match | Nine Network | Fox League | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 7:50pm | Dragons v Rabbitohs | 692K (430K metro, 262K reg) | 230K | 922K |
| Fri 6:00pm | Raiders v Storm | N/A | 227K | 227K |
| Fri 7:55pm | Broncos v Cowboys | 750K (483K metro, 267K reg) | 250K | 1.0M |
| Sat 3:00pm | Sharks v Titans | N/A | 165K | 165K |
| Sat 5:30pm | Knights v Panthers | N/A |
254K | 254K |
| Sat 7:35pm | Sea Eagles v Roosters | N/A |
211K | 211K |
| Sun 4:05pm | Bulldogs v Eels | 516K (304K metro, 213K reg) | 220K | 736K |
| Sun 6:10pm | Wests Tigers v Warriors | N/A | 272K | 272K |
| Totals | 1.958M | 1.829M | 3.787M |
Note: Ratings figures courtesy of Mediaweek Australia on Twitter and TV Tonight.
One last thing...
The NRL ladder looks different this week - for the first time, the Wests Tigers sit on top of the NRL competition. Thanks to Andrew Ferguson, LeagueUnlimited writer and co-founder of Rugby League Project for that nugget of info!
The @WestsTigers are in 1st place on the @NRL ladder for the first time in their history.#NRLTigersWarriors @Former_legend @AndrewVossy @rugbyleagueproj @bigleaguemag @sidpunts @fcttb_podcast @TheBiggestTiger @FOXNRL @LeagueUnlimited
Donate here: https://t.co/cxJMutGBPf
— Andrew Ferguson (@AndrewRLP) March 24, 2019