Monday's Expert - 2020 NRL Round 15

Monday's Expert is here - with the full results from NRL Round 15, along with Match Review charges, LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year leaderboard, injury news, crowd and TV ratings info.

Check out our exclusive online e-magazine THE FRONT ROW.

Match reports from this weekend's matches can be found in our Match Reports section.

NSWRL scores can be found in our Results & Scorers section.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw and Results.

Round 15 NRL Results & Match Review Charges

Parramatta Eels 14
Melbourne Storm 0

Venue: Bankwest Stadium
Crowd: 6282
Date: Thursday 20 August 2020 at 7:50pm

PARRAMATTA EELS (14)
Tries: Waqa Blake, Maika Sivo
Conversions: Mitchell Moses (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Mitchell Moses (2/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (0)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Nathan Brown (Eels)
2 points - Clinton Gutherson (Eels)
1 points - Junior Paulo (Eels)

Reporter: Justin Davies

Match review - Eels v Storm

Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA (Storm) Grade 1 Careless High Tackle
53rd minute on Marata Niukore
Base penalty $750 fine
1 x non similar prior offences last 2 years (20% loading)
Guilty / no contest = $900 fine OR Guilty - early plea = $750 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $750 fine.

Marata NIUKORE (Eels) Grade 1 Crusher Tackle
30th minute on Tom Eisenhuth
Base penalty 200pts
Guilty / no contest = 200pts (2 matches) OR Guilty - early plea = 150pts (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 1 match, 50 carryover points accrued.

Penrith Panthers 38
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12

Venue: Panthers Stadium
Date: Friday 21 August 2020 at 6:00pm

PENRITH PANTHERS (38)
Tries: Viliame Kikau, Josh Mansour (2), Brent Naden, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (5/7)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (12)
Tries: Jesse Ramien, Connor Tracey
Conversions: Matt Moylan (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Liam Martin (Panthers)
2 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
1 points - James Tamou (Panthers)

Reporter: Adam Huxtable

Match review - Panthers v Sharks

Viliame KIKAU (Panthers) Grade 2 Dangerous Contact (other)
77th minute on Braydon Trindall
Base penalty 200pts
Guilty / no contest = 200pts (2 matches) OR Guilty - early plea = 150pts (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 1 match, 50 carryover points accrued.

Brisbane Broncos 24
St George Illawarra Dragons 28

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Friday 21 August 2020 at 7:55pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (24)
Tries: Richard Kennar, Kotoni Staggs, Cory Paix, Tom Dearden
Conversions: Kotoni Staggs (4/4)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (28)
Tries: Josh Kerr, Corey Norman, Mikaele Ravalawa (2)
Conversions: Zac Lomax (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Zac Lomax (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Ben Hunt (Dragons)
2 points - Corey Norman (Dragons)
1 points - Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

Reporter: Sam Bourke

Match review - Broncos v Dragons

Kotoni STAGGS (Broncos) Grade 1 Careless High Tackle
63rd minute on Euan Aitken
Base penalty $750 fine
1 x similar prior offence last 2 years (50% loading)
Guilty / no contest = $1150 fine OR Guilty - early plea = $850 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $850 fine.

Paul VAUGHAN (Dragons) Grade 1 Crusher Tackle
22nd minute on Richard Kennar
1 x similar prior offence last 2 years (50% loading)
Guilty / no contest = 300pts (3 matches) OR Guilty - early plea = 225pts (2 matches)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 2 matches, 25 carryover points accrued.

Issac LUKE (Broncos) Grade 1 Dangerous Contact (other)
2nd minute on Josh Kerr
Base penalty 100pts
1 x non-similar prior offences last 2 years (20% loading)
Guilty / no contest = 140pts (1 match) OR Guilty - early plea = 105pts (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 1 match, 5 carryover points accrued.

Gold Coast Titans 16
Canberra Raiders 36

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 6561
Date: Saturday 22 August 2020 at 3:00pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (16)
Tries: Phillip Sami, Alexander Brimson, Keegan Hipgrave
Conversions: Jamal Fogarty (2/3)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (36)
Tries: Nick Cotric (2), Jack Wighton (2), Tom Starling, Hudson Young
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Jack Wighton (Raiders)
2 points - Ryan Sutton (Raiders)
1 points - Tom Starling (Raiders)

Reporter: Andrew Ferguson

Match review - Titans v Raiders

Moeaki FOTUAIKA (Titans) Grade 1 Crusher Tackle
58th minute on Jarrod Croker
Base penalty 200pts
Guilty / no contest = 200pts (2 matches) OR Guilty - early plea = 150pts (1 match)
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. Suspended 1 match, 50 carryover points accrued.

Josh PAPALI'I (Raiders) Grade 1 Careless High Tackle
56th minute on Jaimin Joliffe
Base penalty $750 fine
Guilty / no contest = $750 fine OR Guilty - early plea = $550 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $550 fine.

Wests Tigers 16
Sydney Roosters 38

Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Crowd: 3003
Date: Saturday 22 August 2020 at 5:30pm

WESTS TIGERS (16)
Tries: Jacob Liddle, Adam Doueihi, David Nofoaluma
Conversions: Moses Mbye (2/3)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (38)
Tries: Matt Ikuvalu, Brett Morris (2), Josh Morris (2), Drew Hutchison, Joseph Manu
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (5/7)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Brett Morris (Roosters)
2 points - James Tedesco (Roosters)
1 points - Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters)

Reporter: Justin Davies

No match review charges from this game

South Sydney Rabbitohs 56
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16

Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 4712
Date: Saturday 22 August 2020 at 7:35pm

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (56)
Tries: Steven Marsters, Alex Johnston (2), Campbell Graham (2), Latrell Mitchell (2), Tevita Tatola, Cameron Murray
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (8/8), Latrell Mitchell (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (16)
Tries: Jack Gosiewski, Reuben Garrick (2)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (2/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)
2 points - Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)
1 points - Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs)

Reporter: Josh Robertson

Match review - Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles

Tevita FUNA (Sea Eagles) Grade 1 Careless High Tackle
15th minute on Alex Johnston
Base penalty $750 fine
Guilty / no contest = $750 fine OR Guilty - early plea = $550 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $550 fine.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14
Warriors 20

Venue: ANZ Stadium
Date: Sunday 23 August 2020 at 2:00pm

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (14)
Tries: Nick Meaney, Kieran Foran, Will Hopoate
Conversions: Nick Meaney (1/3)

WARRIORS (20)
Tries: Jack Murchie (2), Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Field Goals: Kodi Nikorima (0/1)
Conversions: Kodi Nikorima (2/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Jack Murchie (Warriors)
2 points - Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
1 points - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)

Reporter: Andrew Ferguson

No match review charges from this match

Newcastle Knights 12
North Queensland Cowboys 0

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Crowd: 5304
Date: Sunday 23 August 2020 at 4:05pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (12)
Tries: Hymel Hunt, Enari Tuala
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (0/2)
Penalty Goals: Kalyn Ponga (2/3)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (0)
Penalty Goals: Kyle Feldt (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points:

3 points - Mitchell Barnett (Knights)
2 points - David Klemmer (KNights)
1 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

Reporter: Robert Crosby

Match review - Knights v Cowboys

Josh McGUIRE (Cowboys) Grade 1 Careless High Tackle
75th minute on Kalyn Ponga
Base penalty $750 fine
3 x non-similar prior offence last 2 years (60% loading)
Guilty / no contest = $1200 fine OR Guilty - early plea = $900 fine
PLEA: Guilty - early plea. $900 fine.

RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

At the conclusion of each match our reporters will 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 right here in Monday's Expert.

25 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
19 points - Shaun Johnson (Sharks), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Cameron Smith (Storm)
15 points - Jack Wighton (Raiders), Kalyn Ponga (Knights), Cameron Munster (Storm)
14 points - Brett Morris (Roosters)
13 points - Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
12 points - James Tedesco (Roosters), Luke Keary (Roosters), Clinton Gutherson (Eels)
11 points - Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), George Williams (Raiders), Matthew Dufty (Dragons)
10 points - Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
9 points - Mitchell Pearce (Knights), David Klemmer (Knights)
8 points - Blake Green (Warriors), Dylan Brown (Eels), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)
7 points - Wade Graham (Sharks), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Harry Grant (Storm), Ashley Taylor (Titans), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Josh Papali'i (Raiders), Jarome Luai (Panthers), Kurt Mann (Knights)
6 points - Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Eliesa Katoa (Warriors), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), Matt Burton (Panthers)
5 points - Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs), Maika Sivo (Eels), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Jarrod Croker (Raiders), Peta Hiku (Warriors), Michael Morgan (Cowboys), Nathan Brown (Eels), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Liam Martin (Panthers), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Cade Cust (Sea Eagles), Corey Norman (Dragons)
4 points - Junior Paulo (Eels), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Shaun Lane (Eels), Jamal Fogarty (Titans), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Anthony Milford (Broncos), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Storm), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
3 points - Josh Morris (Sharks), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Kevin Proctor (Titans), John Bateman (Raiders), Adam Clune (Dragons), Jack Murchie (Raiders), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Joseph Leilua (Wests Tigers), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Charlie Staines (Panthers), Nick Meaney (Bulldogs), Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Waqa Blake (Eels), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Brian Kelly (Titans), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Young Tonumaipea (Titans), Bradman Best (Knights), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles)
2 points - Christian Welch (Storm), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Michael Jennings (Eels), David Fifita (Broncos), Nick Cotric (Raiders), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs), Corey Thompson (Wests Tigers), Jorge Taufua (Sea Eagles), Dale Finucane (Storm), Payne Haas (Broncos), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Emre Guler (Raiders), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Sharks)
1 point - Tom Starling (Raiders), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs), Luke Garner (Wests Tigers), Phillip Sami (Titans), James Tamou (Panthers), Ethan Lowe (Rabbitohs), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Justin Olam (Storm), Jordan Pereira (Dragons), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Elliott Whitehead (Raiders), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Connor Watson (Knights), Sam Lisone (Titans), Tom Opacic (Cowboys), Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers), Adam Elliott (Bulldogs), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Herman Ese'ese (Knights), Andrew McCullough (Broncos), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons), Darius Boyd (Broncos), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Brendan Elliot (Sea Eagles), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), Caleb Aekins (Panthers)

Sore points - injury update

Injury news that came out of Round 15 (and the lead-up)

Anthony Milford (Broncos) - hamstring - scans
Blake Green (Knights) - suspected ACL - scans
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) - calf - scans
Moses Suli (Sea Eagles) - foot - scans
Brandon Smith (Storm) - jaw - finals
Kenny Bromwich (Storm) - calf - scans
Ryley Jacks (Storm) - hip - scans
Shaun Johnson (Sharks) - groin - monitored
Daniel Saifiti (Knights) - knee - 2 weeks
Api Koroisau (Panthers) - calf - monitored
Jack Johns (Rabbitohs) - finger - 3 weeks
Dane Gagai (Rabbitohs) - hamstring - monitored
Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) - HIA - monitored
Korbin Sims (Dragons) - calf - scans
Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters) - ankle - scans
Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors) - concussion - monitored

The good news - who's back?

Players who are likely or possible to be back for their side this coming week, either via return from injury or suspension.

Raiders: Semi Valemei
Bulldogs: Dylan Napa
Sharks: Shaun Johnson, Andrew Fifita
Titans: Mitch Rein, Jonus Pearson
Sea Eagles: Joel Thompson
Storm: Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, Marion Seve, Jesse Bromwich
Knights: Daniel Saifiti
Cowboys: Valentine Holmes
Panthers: Brian To'o
Rabbitohs: Hame Sele, Liam Knight
Dragons: Jackson Ford, Billy Brittain
Roosters: Boyd Cordner, Daniel Tupou
Warriors: Nathaniel Roache, Adam Keighran

Metrics Metrics Metrics

Each week we'll also do our best to keep you across the crowd figures and TV ratings which are often the most talked-about parts of the game. 

Crowds - Round 15

Crowd figures can be found above in the match results section where available.

Ratings - Round 15

Thursday 7:50pm - Eels v Storm
FTA: 637,000 (376K metro, 261K regional)
STV: 293,000
Total: 930,000

Friday 6:00pm - Panthers v Sharks
STV: 233,000

Friday 7:55pm - Broncos v Dragons
FTA: 513,000 (324K metro, 189K regional)
STV: 273,000
Total: 786,000

Super Saturday
3pm - Titans v Raiders - STV: 156,000
5:30pm - Tigers v Roosters - STV: 218,000
7:35pm - Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles - STV: 237,000

Sunday 2pm - Bulldogs v Warriors
STV: 161,000

Sunday 4:05pm - Knights v Cowboys
FTA: 452,000 (274K metro, 178K regional)
STV: 230,000
Total: 682,000