With a large portion of the Australian population stuck at home due to the pandemic, the recent Tokyo Olympic Games were a saviour.
Seeing the likes of Emma McKeon, Ariarne Titmus, Jess Fox and Patty Mills dominate on the world stage while we got to watch from our loungerooms was a great escape from the hundreds of cases across the country each day.
But while it was a great distraction, many sports fans probably tuned out of the NRL for a couple of weeks.
I know I didn't, because I love me some rugba leeg and there were plenty of great matches during this time. Also, it's kind of my job to know what's going on in the 13-man code.
If you were among the group of people who tuned out from the NRL during rounds 19, 20 and 21, we've compiled a list of all the important stuff you missed below.
1. JOEY MANU IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD
Fullback, centre, wing, five-eighth - you could probably play this bloke at prop and he'd kill it.
With so many stars sidelined for the Sydney Roosters this year, Joey Manu has had to stand up and take on plenty of responsbility.
Regardless of what position he is meant to be playing, the 25-year-old pops up all over the field and is arguably the Tricolours' most potent attacking weapon.
In round 19 he was instrumental in the Roosters' 28-8 victory over Newcastle, scoring a try and running for over 170 metres.
In round 20, Manu was shuffled out to the wing but was easily the best player on the field during the 28-0 win over the Eels, running for 331 metres, making two linebreaks and scoring a try in the process.
And even though they lost in round 21 to Penrith, Manu looked the most likely for the Roosters. He again ran for over 200 metres (the most for his side), scored a try and made two linebreaks.
During the last few weeks, Manu has been linked with a move to the Warriors on a big-money deal - and after these performances, he'd be worth every cent.
2. BEN HUNT IS ONE TOUGH MAN
He's been maligned for years after he dropped one ball in a grand final for Brisbane - but if you still want to bag out the Dragons halfback, you need to start paying attention.
Earlier in the year, Hunt suffered a broken leg in a game against Manly but played on and steered his side to victory.
If once wasn't enough, the QLD Maroons star suffered a fractured arm in round 20 but again played out the remainder of the game in the loss to South Sydney.
Is he as good as Nathan Cleary or Jahrome Hughes right now? Of course not.
But this man has carried the Red V all season, was among the Maroons' best in this year's Origin series and continues to prove he is tough as he is skilful.
3. CANTERBURY SHOULD HIRE A COURTESY BUS TO THE NRL JUDICIARY
Luke Thompson, Dylan Napa and Jack Hetherington - what do they all have in common?
In the past three weeks, these players have all been charged with different offences by the match review committee and have subsequently been suspended.
Hetherington in particular has now been charged eight times in just 38 NRL games, which is a record that is going to continue to haunt him.
Napa has a chequered past with on-field indiscretions, while Thompson spent the first month of 2021 on the sidelines after being found guilty of an eye gouge at the end of last season.
Add in the fact they've got Tevita Pangai Junior coming to the club next year, who has plenty of history at the judiciary, and Canterbury are going to need a real good lawyer unless something drastically changes.
4. THE WHEELS COULD BE FALLING OFF OUT WEST
Parramatta have been the talk of the town recently, losing three straight games to the Raiders, Roosters and Rabbitohs.
In their defence, for two of those games they were without Mitchell Moses - but the loss to South Sydney is concerning because he was back on deck and they were outclassed in a 40-12 defeat.
Things aren't looking good for Brad Arthur either, with the Parramatta boss receiving the 'full support of the board' during this poor run of form. No coach ever wants the full support of the board, especially not at the Eels.
Further out west, Penrith have looked a little shaky recently as well, but they've also had their own injury struggles to deal with.
A narrow win over Brisbane, a heavy defeat at the hands of Melbourne and a six-point win over the Roosters won't exactly fill their fans with confidence heading into the business-end of the season.
But with Nathan Cleary expected to return in the next fortnight, maybe we should cool our jets and not write them off just yet.
5. KOTONI STAGGS IS BRISBANE'S VERSION OF TOM TRBOJEVIC
Well, at least according to Kevin Walters he is.
After missing a large chunk of the year while he recovered from an ACL tear and also served a short suspension for an off-field incident, Staggs returned back in round 16 and made an instant impact.
Staggs played just four games before getting injured again, and the Broncos won two of them, while one of their losses was a narrow one against the Penrith Panthers.
They managed to come within eight points of Newcastle without him - but Walters believes if he had played the whole season, they'd be playing finals footy.
“We’ve got some classy, experienced players coming in (next year) and let’s not forget that Kotoni Staggs who is probably one of our best players has played four games for us in the season," he said after round 21.
“So if he plays double that I’m pretty sure we’re playing finals footy.”
We're not so sure about that Kevvy, but they'd probably be better than 15th if Kotoni had played a few more games.
6. WILL CHAMBERS MIGHT BE A CRICKETER AT HEART
If sledging really is an art form as people say it is, Will Chambers is rugby league's version of Pablo Picasso.
The wily veteran has made the headlines recently after he got under the skin of Manly utility Dylan Walker in round 20, before riling up the entire Warriors outfit.
Chambers got Kane Evans so angry that the big fella threw two of the worst-looking punches ever seen on an NRL field, and got himself sent to the sin-bin in the process.
He also gave it to Matt Lodge and Sean O'Sullivan due to their family connection, as well as winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
While there needs to be a line between banter and abuse as Australian coach Justin Langer would say, cricket is where sledging has always been prominent and has been used to get batsmen off their game.
Chambers grew up in Brisbane and probably played cricket at some stage, so if he wants to come have a run with Randy Petes 4th grade this season and sledge a few opposition players, give me a call.
7. ARE THE WARRIORS BETTER OFF WITHOUT ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK?
Probably not, but they've won two games in a row since their captain left and went home to New Zealand.
Due to the travel bubble closing back home as COVID cases rise in Australia, RTS was left with the difficult decision to leave his club earlier than anticipated, with a deal waiting for him in rugby union next year.
Since then, Nathan Brown's men have pulled off two 18-16 victories over the Tigers and Sharks, showing plenty of heart in the process.
Not only have they been without RTS, but the likes of Tohu Harris, Wayde Egan and Addin Fonua-Blake have also been sidelined at different stages.
They might not be a premiership contender right now, but they are heading in the right direction.
8. WEAR A MOUTHGUARD, KIDS
Cody Ramsey seems like the type of bloke that doesn't get fazed by many things - but the sight of his own teeth snapped in half may have bothered him a little bit.
Less than a minute into the round 21 clash with the Raiders, the young winger had a head clash with teammate Andrew McCullough, and was forced from the field and didn't return.
It wasn't until after the game that photos emerged of Ramsey's teeth, with the injury set to rule him out for the season.
⚠️Warning graphic⚠️
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 10, 2021
Advertisement for the importance of mouthguards: Cody Ramsey.
Snapped 2 teeth in half + root fractures, has had them glued back together but requires surgery for a more permanent fix. Season likely over, has never worn a mouthguard. 📸 via @telegraph_sport pic.twitter.com/lXzzm9Bkwr
Ramsey revealed he has 'never worn' a mouthguard - they breed them tough in Molong.
9. MARK NICHOLLS IS THE NEW JEREMY LATIMORE
For the last few years of his NRL career, rugby league journeyman Jeremy Latimore was referred to as the GOAT.
Was he a world-beater? No, far from it - but he gained himself a cult following and people began to love him.
That appears to be happening with Rabbitohs front-rower Mark Nicholls this year, who has not only found a rich vein of form, but also plenty of admirers within the rugby league community.
He reached his 100-game milestone back in round 18, but has continued to cement his spot in the starting lineup and has been among the Bunnies' best during the past month.
Souths players have been calling him the GOAT on social media, so we're going to run with that as well.
10. PETER V'LANDYS IS THE COVID KING
You might not like some of the rule changes this year, but ARLC boss Peter V'landys must be a real sweet talker with the way he continues to push forward with the competion.
In round 20, an outbreak of COVID occurred in southeast Queensland, leading to a lockdown beginning on the Saturday afternoon.
QLD health officials clearly stated that no sport would be played during the lockdown, throwing the competition into chaos and V'landys scrambling for a solution.
But by Saturday night, he found a way and rugba leeg was back on our TV screens by Sunday afternoon.
V'landys has shown time and time again that he will push forward and find a way to make the NRL work through restrictions, and this was no different.
If only he could get rid of these bloody six-again set restarts.
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