NRL Round 16 Results: Highlights & Expert Analysis

Below is BettingPro’s full NRL Round 16 wrap: every result, the standout performers and the talking points. Brisbane, Parramatta and South Sydney all had the bye in a representative-window round played around State of Origin II.

NRL 2026: Round 16 in Focus

Upsets and thrillers everywhere. The Titans downed competition leaders Penrith with a 79th-minute field goal, the Bulldogs edged Manly in golden point, and the Knights held on against the Dragons. At the other end, the Warriors, Storm and Roosters all posted big wins, while the Dolphins made it seven straight.

Knights hold on against the Dragons

Newcastle Knights 22 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 20

Newcastle led 12-0 inside 10 minutes and 22-12 in the second half before surviving a late Dragons charge to win 22-20 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night, the Red V’s last chance dying when Kyle Flanagan couldn’t collect a kick on the line. Fletcher Sharpe scored twice early; the Knights did it without rested Origin pair Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown. The win shored up Newcastle’s spot in the eight.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Knights and Dragons, check out our full Knights vs Dragons head-to-head record & tips →.

Dolphins make it seven straight

Dolphins 36 def. Wests Tigers 22

An undermanned Dolphins outfit steered by Kodi Nikorima ran in six tries to beat the Tigers 36-22 at Campbelltown and stretch their winning run to seven. Jamayne Isaako was flawless with the boot (6/6) and Herbie Farnworth crossed again. The Tigers’ leaky defence couldn’t stem the tide.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Dolphins and Wests Tigers, check out our full Dolphins vs Wests Tigers head-to-head record & tips →.

Titans stun the Panthers with a last-minute field goal

Gold Coast Titans 19 def. Penrith Panthers 18

The upset of the round. Jayden Campbell’s 79th-minute field goal sealed a one-point win over the competition leaders at Cbus Super Stadium, halfback Zane Harrison the architect with three try assists. Dylan Edwards was enormous for Penrith in defeat (312 run metres), but the Panthers’ buffer at the top took a dent.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Titans and Panthers, check out our full Titans vs Panthers head-to-head record & tips →.

Crichton wins it for the Bulldogs in golden point

Canterbury Bulldogs 13 def. Manly Sea Eagles 12 (golden point)

Locked at 12-12 after 80 minutes, Stephen Crichton slotted a drop goal in the third minute of extra time to win it for the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium. Crichton had earlier scored and kicked both conversions; Manly’s wayward goal-kicking (the Sea Eagles missed all their attempts) proved the difference in an agonising one-point loss.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Bulldogs and Sea Eagles, check out our full Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles head-to-head record & tips →.

Nicoll-Klokstad runs riot as Warriors rout the Cowboys

NZ Warriors 38 def. North Queensland Cowboys 20

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad bagged four tries in a seven-try Warriors blitz at One NZ Stadium, the hosts winning 38-20 to climb the ladder. Taine Tuaupiki was excellent at the back; for the Cowboys, Jason Taumalolo was sin-binned as North Queensland’s finals hopes took another hit.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Warriors and Cowboys, check out our full Warriors vs Cowboys head-to-head record & tips →.

Storm power past the Raiders

Melbourne Storm 42 def. Canberra Raiders 20

Melbourne led 20-0 at the break and never looked back, Will Warbrick scoring a hat-trick in a seven-try, 42-20 win at AAMI Park. Cameron Munster was at the controls. The Raiders’ second-half flurry dressed up the scoreline but never threatened the result.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Storm and Raiders, check out our full Storm vs Raiders head-to-head record & tips →.

Roosters shut out the Sharks after the break

Sydney Roosters 27 def. Cronulla Sharks 8

The Roosters scored three unanswered second-half tries to pull away to a 27-8 win at Allianz Stadium. Mark Nawaqanitawase grabbed a brace and racked up a match-high 208 run metres. Cronulla scored twice before half-time and were then kept scoreless.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Roosters and Sharks, check out our full Roosters vs Sharks head-to-head record & tips →.

Ladder implications

Penrith stay top despite their shock loss to the Titans — the Panthers’ buffer held, but the door cracked open. The Warriors and Dolphins were the big winners of the round, the Dolphins’ seventh straight win firing them up the table, while the Roosters, Knights, Sea Eagles and Sharks remain locked in a tight scrap for the back half of the eight. The Dragons and Raiders continue to drift out of finals contention.

Round 16 awards

• Performance of the round: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s four tries in the Warriors’ rout of the Cowboys.
• Moment of the round: Jayden Campbell’s 79th-minute field goal to topple competition-leading Penrith.
• Clutch play: Stephen Crichton’s golden-point drop goal to sink Manly.

Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on the NRL?

Round 16 proved how fine the margins are — two games settled by a single point and a golden-point thriller. Price matters as much as your read on the footy, so compare promotions, odds and markets across the best NRL betting sites before you lock anything in.

FAQ

What was the biggest win in NRL Round 16?
Melbourne’s 42-20 win over Canberra was the largest margin of the round (22 points), just ahead of the Roosters’ 19-point win over Cronulla.

What were the closest NRL Round 16 games?
The Titans beat Penrith 19-18 and the Bulldogs edged Manly 13-12 in golden point — both one-point results.

Did the competition leaders Penrith win in Round 16?
No — Penrith were upset 19-18 by the Gold Coast Titans, beaten by a last-minute field goal, though they held top spot on the ladder.

Which teams had the bye in NRL Round 16?
Brisbane, Parramatta and South Sydney all had the bye.

More NRL Content

• NRL Tips & Hub — all NRL match tips and weekly previews
• NRL Round 15 Results — last week’s wrap and analysis
• NRL Round-by-Round Predictions — every round’s previews and results
• NRL Premiership Odds — title market and futures
• NRL Round 16 Preview — our pre-round tips and best bets

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