Round 23 of the 2025 NRL season has wrapped up, so we’re looking over the results and digging into three big takeaways from the weekend.
Around The NRL
The Brisbane Broncos faced the difficult task of playing the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park to kick off Round 23. It’s a task made only more difficult when Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam went down with hamstring injuries on the same play. As expected Craig Bellamy’s side went on to comfortably win 22-2.
On their last legs due to injury and form, the Newcastle Knights never looked like troubling the Penrith Panthers on Friday night. Early points set the tone for Penrith’s 48-12 win as the four-time defending premiers continued to make their claim as contenders in 2025. Later on Friday night, the Canberra Raiders bounced back from an early Manly Warringah Sea Eagles try to score three of their own in the second half to win 28-12 in the capital.
Shane Flanagan celebrated his extension to orchestrate St George Illawarra’s 22-14 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The result keeps the Red V in the hunt for finals should the win out from here.
The Panthers have made their way into the top 4! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/slSZcQvtcb
— NRL (@NRL) August 10, 2025
Francis Molo, Aublix Tawha, Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte all found themselves in the naughty chair inside 10 minutes on Saturday evening. A scuffle forced the referees hand, and the Sydney Roosters responded best to thrash the Dolphins 64-12. The Dolphins haven’t had much of an issue scoring points throughout the NRL season, but this heavy defeat on the back of a poor defensive effort has put their place in the Top 8 at risk.
An already injury-decimated New Zealand Warriors lost Te Maire Martin to head-knock early which made an already difficult task even harder. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs made the most of their opportunities in soggy conditions to claim the 32-14 win and embed themselves in the Top 4.
Four of the worst teams in the NRL put on a show on Sunday. The South Sydney Rabbitohs ended their lengthy losing streak to beat the Gold Coast Titans 20-18 at Cbus Super Stadium. Later, a Mitchell Moses field goal proved the difference as the Parramatta Eels snuck past the North Queensland Cowboys 19-18.
3 Takeaways From Round 23
What Now For The Busted Broncos?
The Brisbane Broncos didn’t offer a lot of detailed analysis in their press release announcing the severity of their injury crisis suffered on Friday night:
Adam Reynolds suffered a hamstring injury in last night’s game against the Storm and will not return to play for a period of four weeks.
Scans have confirmed Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo each suffered more significant hamstring injuries during the Storm game and are not likely to return to play for a period in excess of six weeks.
We can assume on the varying return to play times that the seriousness for all three is different, but the seriousness of Brisbane’s season being at risk couldn’t be higher.
Losing one half is bad enough, but two is diabolical. Even with Ben Hunt there to fill the void, it’s the most important time of the NRL season to develop cohesion and combinations. At best, the Broncos will head into September with key players underdone physically, and lacking the fitness and intensity only game day can provide.
We Have To Talk About The Panthers (Again)
Ask people which team they fear the most for the NRL premiership, and an alarming amount will reply with the Penrith Panthers.
Poor to start the season and at risk of missing the finals altogether, the Panthers are now genuine premiership contenders. They’ve always been there or thereabouts defensively. Now, they’re stringing it all together with the ball.
Penrith has never been regarded as a particularly high-scoring team throughout their premiership-winning dynasty, but have cleared 30 points in each of their last five games.
Penrith Panthers Attack
This season – 24.9 points per game
Last 5 – 35.2 points per game— Rugby League Writers (@rlwriters) August 10, 2025
Always strong defensively and progressing nicely in attack, the Panthers are once again on the path to glory.
The young players who struggled to execute on the style of play for the full 80 minutes have found their consistency. Meanwhile, Nathan Cleary has the ball on a string both as an organising half, and creatively for six try assists in his last three games.
It’s difficult to asses the top of the NRL ladder. The Canberra Raiders can only play what is in front of them, but have been blessed with a friendly draw. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are still embedding Lachlan Galvin into the mix while the Melbourne Storm have been stop-start all season.
As the pointy end and September footy approaches, the Panthers are only getting better.
Wooden Spoon Race
The North Queensland Cowboys had an opportunity to remove themselves from the wooden spoon conversation before Mitchell Moses knocked over his game-winning field goal. As a result, Todd Payten’s side are still amongst four looking to avoid the unwanted culinary tool.
Lucky for us a viewers, the log-jam of teams at the bottom of the NRL ladder are playing against each other throughout the last month of the season.
Cowboys (19 pts) – Knights, @ Tigers, Broncos, Bye
Knights (18 pts) – @ Cowboys, Broncos, @ Sharks, Eels
Rabbitohs (18 pts) – Eels, Dragons, Bye, @ Roosters
Titans (16 pts) – @ Sharks, Warriors, @ Dolphins, Tigers
We’re approaching coach-sacking season with front offices waiting for somebody to make the first move.
Payten has had his job come under question, Adam O’Brien is said to be leaving at the end of this season while most are simply waiting for Des Hasler’s departure to be announce. Meanwhile Wayne Bennett is always a chance of moving to his next job.
The Top 4 seems to be relatively locked in, but there is still a lot to play for – or to avoid – towards the bottom of the NRL ladder.