NRL Round 8 Wrap: Sin-Bins, Chaos and Major Upsets

Edward Lane

Round 8 of the NRL was one for the history books, and not just for the scorelines. A staggering 18 players were sin-binned, the most ever recorded in a single round, as officials cracked down hard on high shots and foul play. Amid the chaos, the ladder shifted dramatically, with shock results shaking up the pecking order.

Bulldogs Crash to Earth in Brisbane

It was the Bulldogs’ first taste of defeat in 2025, and it came in brutal fashion. After a perfect 6-0 start, Canterbury were hammered 42-18 by a red-hot Broncos outfit at Suncorp Stadium, who shook off the remnants of two straight defeats. Brisbane ran riot early, racking up six tries by halftime to lead 34-0. Three Bulldogs and one Bronco found themselves in the sin bin in a fiery clash that perfectly captured the weekend’s theme.

Smith the Star as Roosters Crush Dragons in ANZAC Day Classic

The Roosters produced one of their best performances of the season, dismantling the Dragons 46-18 at Allianz Stadium. Brandon Smith starred with 22 points of his own, while the Roosters’ relentless attack left the Dragons chasing shadows. Even a second-half sin bin for Smith couldn’t slow them down, as the Roosters sealed a vital win to keep their season alive.

Warriors Cruise Past Misfiring Knights

In Christchurch, the Warriors weren’t at their best but still comfortably accounted for the Knights 26-12. Newcastle’s clunky attack again cost them dearly, managing just two tries and committing 15 errors. Both sides copped sin bins for high shots in another scrappy contest, but the Warriors did enough to hold onto a spot in the top 4 with a strong 5-2 record.

Rabbitohs' Melbourne Curse Continues

The Storm’s domination over Souths in Melbourne continued, stretching their perfect home record against the Rabbitohs to 20 straight with a 24-16 win at AAMI Park. Tempers flared when Latrell Mitchell was sin-binned for a late hit on young gun Sua Faalogo. Despite a late scare and a sin bin for Ryan Papenhuyzen, the Storm held firm in front of a sold-out crowd.

Cowboys Run Rampant in QLD Derby

After falling behind 16-6 early, the Cowboys roared back to thump the Titans 50-16 in Townsville. Robert Derby crossed for his first career hat-trick, while Gold Coast’s discipline collapsed: three players were sin-binned as they leaked 44 unanswered points. It was another grim night for the Titans, who now enter the bottom 4.

Manly Heap More Misery on Slumping Premiers

The 4-time defending premiers are in crisis. Penrith slumped to their sixth loss in seven games, falling 26-10 to Manly at CommBank Stadium. Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans led the way for the Sea Eagles, who ended their own recent winless run. Referee Belinda Sharpe had her hands full, with three players sin-binned and eight placed on report in another bruising battle. After showing signs of life to overcome the Roosters last week, it seems thoughts of a Penrith resurgence may have been premature.

Raiders Pull Off Stunning Comeback to Down Dolphins

Canberra delivered the comeback of the year so far, overturning an 18-point halftime deficit to stun the Dolphins 40-28 in the capital. Five second-half tries secured the Raiders a vital win, pushing them into third spot on the ladder. The Dolphins, meanwhile, became the latest victims of the NRL’s sin-bin crackdown, with Kodi Nikorima sent for ten.

Tigers Stun Sharks in Golden Point Thriller

In a thrilling finish, the Tigers edged out the Sharks 20-18 after an Adam Doueihi penalty goal in golden point. Cronulla had fought back from 12 points down to force extra time but butchered several late chances. The sin-bin tally kept climbing, with Briton Nikora and Fonua Pole both taking 10-minute breaks in a drama-packed finish.

League Table Snapshot

The Bulldogs remain on top despite suffering their first defeat of the season, with the Storm, Raiders, and Warriors close behind in a tightly packed top four. The Broncos and Cowboys round out the top six, while the Sharks and Sea Eagles cling onto the final two spots in the eight. Meanwhile, the struggling Panthers sit last with just two wins from eight games. The table remains incredibly tight, with just 2 points seperating 7th and 16th, as we shape up for a gripping season.