The Queensland government threw a massive spanner in the works but round 20 of the NRL season eventually made it into the books.
At the business end, Melbourne and Rabbitohs flexed their muscle, while the Roosters exposed Parramatta.
Meanwhile, the logjam in the middle of the ladder shows no signs of easing.
Here's what we liked and disliked in round 20.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 28 - 0 PARRAMATTA EELS
What we liked: Joey Manu can do it all
Centre, fullback, five-eighth and now on the wing - is there a position this bloke can't play?
Joey Manu continues to prove why he is one of the elite players in the competition, running for 373 metres and scoring a late try.
Despite playing on the wing, Manu was everywhere and his performance was reminiscent of what we saw from Tom Trbojevic during the Origin series.
His rumoured offer-in-waiting from the Warriors will be worth every penny, if he was to move across the ditch in 2023.
What we disliked: Parramatta's legless attack
With so much promise earlier in the year, Parramatta looked more like a bottom-four side than a top-four side on Thursday night.
Early in the game, the Roosters continued to hand the ball over to the Eels, but they simply couldn't do anything with the possession they were being gifted.
Mitchell Moses being sidelined is obviously a major reason for their attack falling off in recent weeks, but to win or compete for a premiership, you need quality depth in key positions.
While the addition of Moses in the next week or two will help, Parramatta's run into the finals is horrible and their chances of finishing in the top four appear slim.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 18 - 16 WESTS TIGERS
What we liked: Rare good news for the Warriors
The Warriors haven't had any good news over the past year and a half. From injury and poor results, to relocation, more relocation, another relocation and - unbelievably - yet another relocation, it's been all doom and gloom for the Kiwi side.
So most neutrals would have enjoyed seeing the Warriors get a win on Friday night.
The club saw captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and forward Leeson Ah Mau granted eary releases to head back to New Zealand last week.
With injury and suspension threatening coach Nathan Brown's ability to field a full squad, the Warriors were always going to be up against it.
A two-point win against the odds was just rewards for their efforts.
What we disliked: Woeful Wests fade away
On the flipside...
The Tigers started well, going up 10-0 in the first half, but absolutely bottled it in the second 40.
From Luke Brooks' comically bad short goal line drop out attempt to not having anyone at marker, it was a shambles.
Coach Michael Maguire put it down to a "lack of concentration."
How is that even possible at this level?
BRISBANE BRONCOS 37 - 18 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
What we liked: Jordan Riki repays the faith
He came into the 2021 season with plenty of hype, but it's fair to say Jordan Riki struggled earlier in the year.
The young second-rower was dropped at one stage by Kevin Walters, despite signing a long-term contract extension, but eventually found his way back in and is now starting on the edge.
On Friday night, the 21-year-old was among the Broncos' best players in a quality 80-minute performance.
Riki finished the game with a try, two linebreaks, a try assist and 46 tackles without a miss in what was arguably his best game in the top grade.
More of this please, Pretty Riki.
What we disliked: Mass confusion over Kyle Feldt no try
What on earth was that?
With the game in the balance and the Cowboys mounting a comeback, Kyle Feldt was awarded a try by the on-field officials and it was subsequently confirmed by the Bunker.
But then moments later, the referees called time off and sent it upstairs for a look, and eventually came to the conclusion that Feldt had knocked it on while scoring.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he was 'dumbfounded' by the decision and the process.
“I think it hurt us,” he said.
“I was sitting in the box dumbfounded but the call was made and we’ve just got to deal with it and move on.
“Momentum was in our favour, it would have been a different context of the game."
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 34 - 24 CANBERRA RAIDERS
What we liked: Kalyn Ponga lighting it up
It's been a frustrating sort of a season for Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga.
Injury has restricted him to just nine games as Newcastle desperately battle for a top eight spot.
But he was on fire on attack on Sunday afternoon.
Ponga linked up well with the returning Bradman Best - a combination that was so damaging earlier in the season - and contributed two try assists, two linebreak assists and a linebreak of his own.
His solo second half try was the icing on the cake, proving Ponga is nearly back to his damaging best. Newcastle will desperately need him to be firing on all cylinders over the next five weeks as the race for the finals heats up.
What we disliked: Raiders stunk up the joint
Don't let the final scoreline fool you, the Raiders were a rabble on Sunday afternoon.
Two tries in the final 10 minutes gave them some semblance of respectability on the scoreboard, but the game was over much earlier.
Those two tries were scored when the Knights were already looking forward to next week and their short turnaround following this weekend's hastily re-scheduled round.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said it best: "We had a number of individuals who weren't as good as they have been, and they've gotta look at the reasons why."
The Raiders remain in the hunt for a finals spot, but they won't be spotted on an NRL pitch in September if they keep offering up performances like that.
MELBOURNE STORM 37 - 10 PENRITH PANTHERS
What we liked: Melbourne's brick-wall
Their attack has been amazing all season, and while that continued with another 37 points on Sunday afternoon, it was the defence from the Storm that won them the game.
The possession finished 51-49 in their favour, but Penrith had plenty of opportunities over the course of the 80 minutes to come up with points.
Jarome Luai, Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Storm on their own goal-line, but they were continually turned away.
This effort from Brandon Smith epitomises what Melbourne are all about and why they are the benchmark in this year's competition.
The 🧀 ... HOW!? #NRLStormPanthers #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/EYIcRD1rj3
— NRL (@NRL) August 1, 2021
What we disliked: Key absences take away from blockbuster
There wasn't much to dislike about the game itself, but you have to wonder how different it could have been.
Penrith were missing Nathan Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, Brian To'o, Api Koroisau, Isaah Yeo and new recruit Tevita Pangai Junior, but were still in the fight for a large part of the game.
Melbourne's defence was insanely good and their attack was as crisp as ever, so you certainly can't take anything away from them.
But come finals time, when all hands are on deck for the Panthers, this clash could be a completely different story.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 50 - 14 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
What we liked: Rabbitohs big men stand up
While the likes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell will receive plenty of credit for the win - and rightfully so - the performances of the Rabbitohs front-rowers played a vital part in their big win.
Tom Burgess and Mark Nicholls have formed a strong partnership in recent weeks, and their performances have helped soften the blow of Tevita Tatola's absence.
The pair were fantastic against the Dragons, both running for over 200 metres and making 22 tackles apiece.
Patrick Mago (97 metres) and Jacob Host (90 metres) also did their job well off the bench, and with the likes of Tatola, Cameron Murray and Hame Sele to return in the next fortnight, the South Sydney engine room is going to be hard to stop.
What we disliked: Anthony Griffin's handling of mass suspensions
The fallout from Paul Vaughan's BBQ continued on Sunday night, with four players serving their bans and leaving a huge whole in the Red V lineup.
Jack Bird, Jack de Belin, Josh McGuire and Blake Lawrie were all sidelined through suspension, while Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro were also missing as they complete quarantine following the COVID breach.
St George Illawarra competed with South Sydney during the opening 40 minutes, but were eventually outclassed by a far superior opposition who were far closer to full-strength.
It begs the question as to why Anthony Griffin decided to let this issue drag on for three weeks - would it have not been smarter to have all players serve their suspensions as soon as possible, and get everyone back on deck heading into finals?
Their season is now hanging on by a thread, and while the players have themselves to blame, Griffin has struggled to juggle the suspensions in their past three losses.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 6 - 34 GOLD COAST TITANS
What we liked: Ash Taylor steps up
With the team playing for a place in the top eight, there was plenty on the line when the Titans took on cellar dwellers Canterbury.
Personally for Ash Taylor, it's no stretch to say he's playing for his NRL future.
The big-money playmaker is off contract at the end of the season and, when the Titans needed it, he turned in a performance befitting his sizeable pay packet.
With Jamal Fogarty out injured, Taylor split the playmaking duties with second-gamer Toby Sexton, who was also impressive in the big win.
Taylor finished with one try, a try assist and a 40-20, potentially catching the eye of NRL recruiters, or even tempting the Titans into a contract extension offer.
What we disliked: Toothless Dogs struggle to create
If the halfback and five-eighth on the opposition were showcasing their talents on one side, the number seven on other was struggling big time.
Kyle Flanagan has found himself in a pretty tough spot at the Bulldogs.
He's been rotated in and out of the side all season and his spot in the team is on shaky ground next year with the arrival of Matt Burton and continued development of Jake Averillo.
All that being said, Flanagan struggled to have any tangible impact in the loss to the Gold Coast and coach Trent Barrett might again be tempted to swing a change for next week's clash with the Tigers.
In the halfback's defence, it's tough to pull string when your big men aren't getting you going forward.
With the exception of Jack Hetherington, the Dogs forwards were well and truly second best on Monday night.
CRONULLA SHARKS 22 - 40 MANLY SEA EAGLES
What we liked: Tommy Turbo turns it on
In a crowded field, this might have been Tom Trbojevic's best game of the season.
And in another crowded field, he's the most influential player in the comp and it's not particularly close.
You've probably seen all the stats by now, but just a reminder of his efforts against the Sharks:
- 3 tries
- 3 line breaks
- 4 line break assists
- 3 try assists
- 14 tackle breaks
- 5 offloads
and one absolute freak.
What we disliked: Toby's brain-fade
Toby Rudolf is the kind of player every fan would love to have on their team. He runs hard, makes his tackles and rarely messes up. Rarely.
That goodwill he's built up won't last long if he makes a habit of leaving his team in the lurch when they're already on the backfoot.
The Sharks weren't about to mount a comeback when 30 points down, but when Tommy Turbo is in the mood, you need all 13 players on the paddock and sometimes that's not even enough.
Rudolf got well and truly mugged off by Manly winger Reuben Garrick on Monday night.
Gone are the days when a big angry forward can put a mouthy back in their place and Rudolf should know better than to shove his head into the face of an opponent in front of the referee.
Gerard Sutton had no choice but to bin Rudolf and there may well be more to come once the match review committee is done with it.
Dishonourable mention to Taniela Paseka's trip shortly after. Just a lazy act which will come back to bite him with a suspension.
