Round 20 of the 2022 NRL season has been run and won and the premiership picture got a little murkier.
Penrith will be without star man Nathan Cleary until the finals, Cronulla halted the Rabbitohs' charge, while Brisbane were the victims of the Tigers' bounce back.
At the bottom of the ladder, it was more pain for some under-pressure sides.
Here's what we liked and disliked from every game in round 20.
Manly Sea Eagles 10 - 20 Sydney Roosters
What we liked: Joey Manu's versatility
It doesn't matter where Joey Manu plays. He's in such good form that the ball just automatically finds its way into his hands time and time again.
Each time he gains possession he is threatening opposition defensive lines whether it's from fullback, five-eighth or in the centres. There is simply no stopping the Kiwi international at the moment.
He finished with a try from close-range that's quickly becoming one of his pet plays and just shy of 200 running metres from 21 carries, while also registering 10 tackle busts.
What we disliked: Lindsay Collins' head knock
It was tough to watch the Queensland prop suffer yet another head knock when he copped a sickening blow while attempting to make a tackle.
The bustling forward had made great use of his limited time on the field, helping to grind his team out of yardage and making his tackles.
It is the second concussion Collins has had in the past few weeks and the severity of it may mean the Roosters star is set for an extended period on the sidelines.
New Zealand Warriors 12-24 Melbourne Storm
What we liked: Melbourne stop the rot with drought-breaking win
The Storm just had to win - after losing their last four matches against Manly, Cronulla, Canberra and South Sydney.
Bellamy's side were expected to get the points versus a Warriors side that has only won five matches all season.
However, they ground out the tough win with second-half tries to Nick Meaney and Jahrome Hughes breaking the contest open.
What we disliked: Storm injuries continue to grow
The injury-riddled Storm just can't take a trick with replacement fullback Nick Meaney suffering a shoulder injury.
Meaney, who become Melbourne's no.1 after the season-ending knee injury to Ryan Papenhuyzen, left the field mid-way through the second half after falling awkwardly on his shoulder.
Cameron Munster filled in at fullback for the remainder of the game but the solution for the position for the rest of the season is unclear.
Parramatta Eels 34-10 Penrith Panthers
What we liked: Eels have Panthers on the ropes before Cleary brain fade
It's unfair to say that the Eels only enjoyed a comfortable win against the Panthers because Cleary was sent off early in the match.
Parramatta were well on the top when Cleary dumped Brown on his head, leading 12-4, before almost instantly scoring as soon as the Panthers were reduced to 12.
The Eels piled on a further two tries to make it five for the half, giving Parramatta the honour of being the only team to beat Penrith this season - on both occasions they have met.
What we disliked: The fallout from Nathan Cleary's tackle
The horrible tackle from Nathan Cleary on Dylan Brown helped condemn Penrith to defeat against their arch-rival Parramatta.
But not only did it make it near-impossible for the Panthers to win, but it will also affect their run in to finals.
The five-week suspension handed to the number seven rules him out until the first week of finals.
Surely the Panthers can't give up their unassailable lead at the top of the NRL table?
Gold Coast Titans 24 - 36 Canberra Raiders
What we liked: Raiders turn it on when it counts most
The Titans threatened to make a comeback on multiple occasions on Saturday afternoon, but Ricky Stuart's side were able to extend their advantage at key moments.
They only conceded one try whilst a man down and snagged two tries early in the second half to give themselves a commanding lead.
Out of the teams threatening to squeeze into the top eight, the Raiders are arguably in the best form out of the bunch.
Momentum is crucial heading into the finals, so don't underestimate the side from the nation's capital.
What we disliked: Nine consecutive losses for the Titans
The Titans haven't won a game of NRL since May 14 - a four-point victory over the Dragons.
There's no beating around the bush with this team at the moment. Unfortunately, they are just not up to scratch.
Dynamic in attack but lacking consistency. Aggressive earlier but tapering late on. For fans, it's surely frustrating.
In recent weeks there have been some patches of promise, but nothing substantial enough to claim an elusive win.
Their next two fixtures - against the Storm and Sea Eagles - will be difficult, but games with the Dragons, Knights and Warriors could see the struggling side snag a victory before season's end.
Cronulla Sharks 21 - 20 South Sydney Rabbitohs
What we liked: Nicho Hynes keeps his cool
In a frantic golden point period, Nicho Hynes managed to remain calm and execute the field goal he needed to hand Cronulla a vital win over the Bunnies.
Having already seen Matt Moylan fail twice in the first half of added time with his field goal attempts, the halfback shouldered the responsibility and banged it over to win the game from his boot for the second time this season.
Earlier in the match, the No.7 also laid it on a plate for Ronaldo Mulitalo to show off his aerial skills in spectacular fashion.
FLYING RONALDO ✈️#NRLSharksSouths pic.twitter.com/YRZMbh4xJR
— NRL (@NRL) July 30, 2022
What we disliked: Tom Burgess’ high shot
When the big forward busted through the defensive line and rolled up the field deep into golden point, it looked like Tom Burgess would have his name up in lights. Yet Latrell Mitchell missed his third consecutive field goal attempt in the following play and just seconds later Burgess had been sent off.
From the restart Cronulla made a break of their own. Ronaldo Mulitalo raced down the touchline only to be illegally stopped when Burgess came over the top with a stiff arm.
The prop was sent from the field and the Sharks made perfect use of the field position to claim what could be a vital two competition points.
Brisbane Broncos 18 - 32 Wests Tigers
What we liked: The Wests Tigers' response to last week
It would have been easy to enter into their daunting clash against the Broncos feeling sorry for themselves after last week's controversial loss to the Cowboys. But that defeat appears to have galvanised the club, if this effort is anything to go by.
The Tigers flew out of the blocks and looked up for the fight from the first whistle, with Brent Naden touching down in the corner.
But when Brisbane gained the ascendancy and the lead, you could have been forgiven for muttering something along the lines of "here we go again."
Brett Kimmorley's men refused to give up though and kept plugging away until they eventually overpowered the Broncos on their way to claiming a massive upset victory.
What we disliked: Patrick Carrigan's tackle on Jackson Hastings
Deep into an entertaining contest that had endured plenty of momentum swings, Patrick Carrigan inflicted perhaps the vital blow on his own team when he was cited for a hip-drop tackle on Jackson Hastings.
The halfback/lock ran a settler up the middle of the pitch, when the Brisbane forward entered into the tackle as the third man and caught Hastings' leg in an awkward position.
Adam Doueihi kicked the resulting penalty to stretch the Tigers' lead out to eight points and this week they held on to their lead to record an upset victory over the Broncos.
It was an unnecessary move from Carrigan and one which has seen him referred directly to the NRL Judiciary. Hastings' season is over after he suffered a fractured ankle.
Newcastle Knights 10 - 24 Canterbury Bulldogs
What we liked: Dogs bring the razzle dazzle
The Bulldogs continue to look like a different team to the one that spluttered in attack and frustrated fans for much of the season.
Jacob Kiraz's try on ten minutes was a prime example of the Dogs' willingness to chance their hand with the footy.
A Matt Burton bomb ended up with Josh Jackson who offloaded to Josh Addo-Carr. The quick-thinking winger sent a perfectly placed kick across field for Kiraz to score.
"HE CAN DO IT ALL THE FOXX!"
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 31, 2022
Huge effort here from the Bulldogs 🔥
WATCH #NRLKnightsBulldogs on CH502 or stream on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/F2yDSkbNP8
Later in the half, Addo-Carr was the provider for Aaron Schoupp after an early kick from Burton put the speedster clear.
The new-look Dogs are proving to be one of the most watchable teams in the land.
What we disliked: Addo-Carr and Schoupp balls it up
They may have linked up well in the first half but Addo-Carr and Schoupp made a right meal of a chance in the second half.
Another Burton kick looked like getting the Dogs behind the Newcastle line with both winger and centre in prime position to catch the footy.
That was until Addo-Carr ran into the back of his teammate, bringing them both down and seeing the chance go begging.
Special mention: The Knights' attack. Seriously, it's almost surprising they managed to score 10 points.
St George Illawarra Dragons 8 - 34 North Queensland Cowboys
What we liked: Individual brilliance sparks Cowboys
Scott Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes are among the game's most exciting players on their day and they were feeling it on Sunday.
Add boom backrower Jeremiah Nanai into the mix and opposition defences will have their hands full.
Todd Payten has added steel to the Cowboys' defence and they've got more than their fair share of X-factor to carve teams up with the footy.
Special mention: Reuben Cotter. The returning forward brings a key element to North Queensland's defence - mongrel.
If he's not the best in the comp at working over his opponents in the tackle, he's not far off it.
What we disliked: Dragons carrying too many
Taking a look at the stats, it's not hard to see why St George Illawarra struggled - too many players simply aren't contributing enough.
Young five-eighth Talatau Amone is still growing into the role in first grade but he was particularly quiet on Sunday.
Three runs for 23 metres and two kicks isn't going to get you very far as a playmaker.
Neither will eight missed tackles, although his halves partner Ben Hunt went one better in missing nine tackles.
Amone is far from the only culprit but his performance in the loss to the Cowboys was emblematic of a consistent theme at the club.
