NRL Round 23 Results: Highlights & Expert Analysis

Indigenous Round belonged to the underdogs. The Warriors led Penrith 22-0 and won at home for the first time since 2019, the bottom side knocked over fourth-placed Cronulla, and North Queensland climbed back into the eight at Canterbury's expense.

Indigenous Round belonged to the underdogs. The Warriors led Penrith 22-0 and beat them at home for the first time since 2019, the competition’s bottom side knocked over fourth-placed Cronulla, and Newcastle came from behind in Canberra to stay in the top-four race. North Queensland climbed straight back into the eight and Canterbury dropped out of it, reversing what happened a week ago. Here is every result, the fresh ladder and what it means. Wests Tigers had the bye.

NRL 2026: Round 23 in Focus

A week after Round 22 results hardened the eight, Round 23 pulled it apart again. We landed only four of the eight in our Round 23 preview, and our round-by-round predictions and the current premiership odds show how tight the top two and the last two finals spots have become.

Cowboys thump the Titans to climb back into the eight

North Queensland Cowboys 30 def. Gold Coast Titans 8

A 92-point turnaround from one week to the next. Seven days after conceding 82 in Townsville, North Queensland won by 22 at Cbus Super Stadium, with Heilum Luki scoring twice.

The two points move the Cowboys back into eighth on 28 and shove Canterbury out. Gold Coast stay 15th. We had North Queensland by 1 to 12, so the winner was right and the margin was not.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between North Queensland and Gold Coast, check out our full North Queensland vs Gold Coast head-to-head record & tips →.

Warriors blow Penrith away in Auckland

New Zealand Warriors 28 def. Penrith Panthers 12

The result of the round. New Zealand led 22-0 before Penrith found a late response, and Luke Metcalf was the difference on his return with two tries, four goals and more than 500 kicking metres. His second, four minutes from the end, killed the comeback.

It is the Warriors’ first home win over Penrith since June 2019, and Andrew Webster got the better of Ivan Cleary. The cost for Penrith went beyond the scoreline: Isaah Yeo went off after 33 minutes with a pectoral injury. Our preview had the Panthers by 1 to 12.

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

Roosters escape by two to go level on top

Sydney Roosters 20 def. Canterbury Bulldogs 18

The closest game of the round and a scrappy one, with 29 errors between the sides. Sydney trailed 18-8 before Sam Walker converted both second-half tries and put up the bomb that led to Salesi Foketi’s match-winner.

Two points lift the Roosters level with Penrith on 36, and Canterbury’s loss drops them out of the eight to ninth. We had the Roosters by 13 or more, so we got there the hard way.

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

Storm reel off 42 unanswered points in Perth

Melbourne Storm 42 def. Manly Sea Eagles 20

Melbourne were 14-0 down at HBF Park and then scored 42 straight, the most emphatic swing of the weekend. It is one of two 22-point margins in the round.

Manly stay tenth on 24 points and are still the side with the best for-and-against outside the eight at +68. Our preview had the Sea Eagles by 1 to 12.

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

Dolphins win a 72-point Suncorp shootout

Dolphins 40 def. Brisbane Broncos 32

The highest-scoring game of the round. Dolphins came from behind to win by eight, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s 90-metre try in the 24th minute the moment that turned it.

The Dolphins hold fifth on 32 points, level with Cronulla. For Brisbane it is an 11th loss in 12 games and one win since Anzac Round. We had the Dolphins by 13 or more.

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

Rabbitohs hold on after a 28-0 start

South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. Parramatta Eels 24

South Sydney were 28-0 up and still needed the full 80, with Parramatta scoring 24 unanswered after the break. Alex Johnston’s hat-trick did the early damage.

The win keeps Souths seventh on 28 points, and their +66 differential is a big cushion over the Cowboys alongside them. We had Souths by 13 or more, which looked right at half-time.

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

Knights come from behind in Canberra to stay in the four hunt

Newcastle Knights 30 def. Canberra Raiders 24

Newcastle led 12-0, were reeled in and passed as Simi Sasagi’s double put Canberra 22-18 up early in the second half, then found a way back. Dominic Young scored twice, the first for the early lead and the second to seal it, and Corey Horsburgh’s 73rd-minute sin bin for striking Dane Gagai ended the Raiders’ chance to retake the lead.

The Knights are sixth on 30 points. Canberra, minor premiers last season, are 12th on 22. Our preview had the Raiders by 1 to 12.

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

Dragons ambush the Sharks in the upset of the round

St George Illawarra Dragons 24 def. Cronulla Sharks 16

The competition’s bottom side beat the fourth-placed one. Cronulla had won 11 of the previous 12 derbies and a win would have put them within two points of the top two. Instead St George Illawarra led 12-4, were pegged back to level through Ramien, and then went clear again.

Addin Fonua-Blake’s sin bin left the Sharks a man down for 10 of the last 13 minutes, Tyrell Sloan had crossed after the break, and Setu Tu sealed it four minutes from full time. Our preview had Cronulla winning comfortably, the worst of our four misses.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between St George Illawarra and Cronulla, check out our full St George Illawarra vs Cronulla head-to-head record & tips →.

NRL ladder after Round 23

 

Ladder implications

Penrith and the Roosters are level. Both sit on 36 points at 15-5, and Penrith hold top spot only on differential, +292 against +157. The minor premiership is a straight shootout.

The Warriors are the form side. Third on 34 with the second-best differential in the competition at +242, and they have just beaten the side above them.

Cronulla paid for the ambush. A win would have taken the Sharks to 34 and within two of top spot. Instead they stay fourth on 32, level with the Dolphins, and a home final is no longer theirs to assume.

The eight swapped back. North Queensland are in at eighth on 28 and Canterbury are out at ninth on 26, the exact reverse of Round 22. The difference is that the Cowboys still carry a differential of -76 against Souths’ +66, so seventh and eighth are not equal places to be.

Manly are the best-placed outsider. Tenth on 24 points but with a differential of +68, better than three of the sides above them and better than both teams currently in seventh and eighth.

Canberra have unravelled. Last season’s minor premiers are 12th on 22 points and now need a great deal of help to play finals.

Round 23 talking points

Biggest margin: 22 points twice, Melbourne over Manly and North Queensland over Gold Coast.

Closest game: the Roosters by two over Canterbury.

Biggest upset: St George Illawarra, 17th on the ladder, beating fourth-placed Cronulla by eight.

Highest-scoring game: 72 points at Suncorp in the Dolphins’ 40-32 win over Brisbane.

How our tips fared: four from eight. North Queensland, the Roosters, the Dolphins and Souths landed; the Warriors, Melbourne, Newcastle and the Dragons beat us.

Bye: Wests Tigers.

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FAQ

What was the biggest upset of NRL Round 23?

St George Illawarra beating Cronulla 24-16. The Dragons sit 17th and last on the ladder, the Sharks were fourth and had won 11 of the previous 12 derbies between the clubs.

Who leads the NRL ladder after Round 23?

Penrith, on 36 points at 15 wins and five losses. The Sydney Roosters are level on 36 after beating Canterbury, so Penrith hold top spot on differential only, +292 against +157.

Did the top eight change in NRL Round 23?

Yes. North Queensland beat Gold Coast to move back into eighth on 28 points, and Canterbury lost to the Roosters by two and dropped to ninth on 26. That is the reverse of Round 22, when the Cowboys fell out and Canterbury came in.

Who had the bye in NRL Round 23?

Wests Tigers, who stay 14th on 20 points.

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