The business end of the NRL is here with the finals series underway, with the annual sorting of the wheat and chaff. To keep an eye on the score, and the stats that mattered is our 2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Results and Stats Summary.
There’s a game by game summary, player stats comparisons, and more to catch up for every game. And the Team of the Week will e here when the weekend has ended.
So if you missed the game, or simply want to go beyond the scores, it’s our 2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Results and Stats Summary.
2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Results
BRISBANE 26 MELBOURNE 0
PENRITH 32 WARRIORS 6
SHARKS 12 ROOSTERS 13
NEWCASTLE 30 CANBERRA 28
2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Game Stats
BRISBANE 26 MELBOURNE 0
- It was the 14th time a team has been kept to nil in a finals game since 1998. Interestingly Brisbane hold the record with four of those 14 occasions and Melbourne now have three.
- Coincidentally, the last time Broncos played in a final they scored zero. (2019 v Parramatta 58-0).
- It was Brisbane’s first win over Melbourne at home since 2009.
- It was also Brisbane’s first win over Melbourne on a Friday since 2016. Their record is still only W4 L21.
- It was only the second loss in 11 finals games for Melbourne on a Friday v any team.
- Melbourne have now lost three finals games in a row.
- Melbourne have also lost four of their past five games this season.
- Broncos are the only team of the top eight from 2023 that have not lost a game while leading at half time.
- Melbourne’s one line break is a new season low for a team in a specific round.
- Reece Walsh made the most mistakes on Friday night. He also tops the season tally too.
PENRITH 32 WARRIORS 6
- Penrith have now won 31 of their last 34 games on a Saturday since 2020. And all 11 games at Penrith Stadium on a Saturday since 2020.
- Seven finals wins in a row for Penrith.
- That’s three losses in a row in the finals for Warriors. Their last finals win was 2011. Good news for next weekend is the Warriors are four wins out of five at home in the finals.
- It’s eight straight wins for the Panthers over Warriors since 2019. And ten of their last 11 at home v Warriors.
SHARKS 12 ROOSTERS 13
- Cronulla have now lost six NRL Finals matches in a row. Their last win coming in 2018.
- It’s five wins in a row for finals games on a Saturday for the Roosters.
- Roosters have won their last two away finals games on a Saturday and kicked a field goal.
- Roosters were as low as 14th in Round 22 before going on their finals charge of six wins in a row.
- Roosters have won eight of their last nine v Sharks.
NEWCASTLE 30 CANBERRA 28
- Canberra bettered Newcastle in every one of our key stats below except final score. In fact, the Raiders were the only team to run for over 2,000 metres this weekend.
- Newcastle have now won ten games in row – averaging 35 points for and 14 against.
- The Knights continue their unbeaten record on a Sunday this season – 10 games. Eight of those wins have been at home.
- That’s four losses out of five games for Canberra away on a Sunday this season, including losing their last three. And four losses out of five games v Newcastle away on a Sunday.
- Going back to 2001, Newcastle have won five of their last six home finals.
- Canberra have won just two of seven finals games on a Sunday, and one from six away.
- Aside from a brief stint in the top eight in round 6, Newcastle only cracked the top eight as late as Round 23. They were 14th in Round 19.
2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Stats Summary
And here is a quick summary of all the team stats from the first week of the NRL finals.
