The numbers that matter
The big winners of Round 11
What a sweet victory this must have been for Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook to smash former employers Gold Coast Titans by 24 points on Sunday with yet another entertaining attacking performance.
The Knights possess what must be the most enjoyable back five to watch in the competition at the moment even without the injured Bradman Best, who is out for an estimated 3-4 weeks with a calf injury.
Fletcher Sharpe impressed as a makeshift centre against the Titans whilst 35-year-old Dane Gagai turned back the clock with a couple of bursts of youthful pace, and fullback Kalyn Ponga was able to redeem himself after half-time following an error-riddled first half.
Ponga is the only member of the Knights squad selected for Game 1 of Origin which should assist Holbrook with continuity, particularly as the team has already spent the most of 2026 without Ponga anyway due to his early season injury.
Fletcher Hunt filled the gap for the majority of that period, scoring tries against the Sea Eagles, Warriors and Tigers before a hat-trick against the Roosters in the centres.
He has shown himself to be a capable and adaptable utility back and is a frontrunner to fill the number one shirt this weekend.
The big losers of Round 11
Spirits are being quickly and comprehensively crushed at Leichhardt Oval after Wests Tigers went through three consecutive humiliating and heavy defeats.
Benji Marshall's side have gone for a heavy 142 points in just three weeks and from a record of 5-2 to 5-5 with a negative points difference that has them out of the top-eight.
They continue to be, in Marshall's own words, their own worst enemy.
Nearly a dozen errors and five penalties cost them badly, whilst Patrick Herbert copped a notable suspension on Monday and Taylan May was awaiting the result of a shoulder scan to see if his 2026 campaign is over.
They already had a lengthy injury list that is not set to get better until Round 13 at the earliest, so their upcoming Origin bye is well-timed.
"We are in a bit of a hole at the moment," Marshall said at the weekend.
"We are down on troops, not playing the footy we want to play and we are also lacking a bit of confidence ... We have the bye next week, so that's probably come at a really good time for us. We are a bit wounded.
"We had a bye in round one and we played ten games straight since, so we are stinging for it. The last three weeks just haven't been good enough."
Who scored braces this weekend?
Jason Saab (Wests Tigers) and Dominic Young (Knights) each picked up their fifth hat-tricks of their first grade career, with that the second of 2026 for Young.
That sees him move alongside AJ and teammate Greg Marzhew to equal-second, behind leading try scorer Tom Jenkins who added two to his previous total of 16.
There were also two each for Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla), Braidon Burns (North Queensland), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Adam Reynolds (Brisbane) and Fletcher Sharpe (Newcastle).
Team of the Week
Our team of the week comes courtesy from the official NRL.com fantasy game, with the highest scoring players of each position winning the honours.
Try of the Week
The naughty boys
Suspensions:
Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles) - Contrary conduct - 1 or 2 matches
Patrick Herbert (Tigers) - Dangerous contact - 2 or 3 matches
High grade fines:
Riki Preston (Broncos) - Dangerous contact - $3000 or 2 matches
Patrick Herbert (Tigers) - Dangerous contact - $1800 or $2500
Tom Chester (Cowboys) - Dangerous contact - $1800 or $2500
Dane Gagai (Knights) - Dangerous contact - $1800 or $2500
Luciano Leilua (Dragons) - Dangerous contact - $1800 or $2500
Loko Pasifiki Tonga (Dragons) - Shoulder charge - $1500 or $2000
Low grade fines:
Arama Hau (Titans) - Tripping - $1000 or $1500
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Warriors) - High tackle - $1000 or $1500
Connor Tracey (Bulldogs) - High tackle - $750 or $1000
Terrell May (Tigers) - High tackle - $750 or $1000
Jock Madden (Tigers) - High tackle - $750 or $1000
Matthew Lodge (Cowboys) - High tackle - $750 or $1000
Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs) - Tripping - $750 or $1000
Next weekend's fixtures
Now we're into that dreary mid-season period where there are only five or six games a week and some of them are missing the best players in the league...
