Only one week stands between the regular season and the time to step it up for eight NRL teams.
Melbourne lead the competition on 34 points, followed by a log-jam of fellow contenders, with just the one win separating the second-placed Roosters and eighth-placed Warriors.
Three of the top four teams suffered defeats in round 23 meaning nine players from outside the eight made our team of the week.
JT starred in his final game in Townsville, while the likes of youngsters Jake Clifford, Reimis Smith and David Fifita all showed off their talents.
MORE: NRL try-scorers: David Fusitu'a takes over at the top of the charts | 2018 NRL leading try-scorers: Round 24
Sporting News has selected its best performers for the weekend.
But did we get it right?
Read on below to see for yourself.
1. BILLY SLATER
Who says Billy needs to retire?
Billy the kid was a stand-out in his final game up north, showing that he's stil got it despite announcing his retirement at the end of the season.
Slater ran for over 300m and broke the Titans' line twice, looking menacing as ever at the back.
2. DAVID FUSITU'A
Bagged another three tries on the right-flank for the Kiwi side to make it five tries in his past two games.
Fusitu'a now leads the NRL try-scoring charts by a try over Valentine Holmes with one week remaining.
"What, the hands!" 🙌🏉
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) August 25, 2018
Raiders up next at home https://t.co/BVeIx5UXue pic.twitter.com/uu1PbgRLnD
3. JOSH MORRIS
The famous Morris name came back to haunt the Dragons at Kogarah on Sunday as Josh and his brother Brett returned to their old stomping ground.
Morris scored a try of his own and layed off another for his brother as the Bulldogs smashed St George Illawarra 38-0.
TRY!
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) August 26, 2018
Lachlan lewis sets up Josh Morris with a brilliant little kick. #NRLDragonsBulldogs
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/BTyNhRu5tH
Follow LIVE: https://t.co/LbMg0HWsqH pic.twitter.com/SBxUv1nAEK
4. CURTIS SCOTT
Scott has shown signs in recent weeks he is returning to the outstanding form of his debut season last year.
The Melbourne centre scored a crucial try and was solid both with and without the ball as the Storm got home by two points.
The @storm score their first points of the night through Curtis Scott! #NRLTitansStorm 8-4 after 47 minutes. #TelstraPremiership #NRL pic.twitter.com/CqQEsJ0wgb
— NRL (@NRL) August 25, 2018
5. REIMIS SMITH
Hasn't this kid been a sensation since coming back into first grade?
Smith scored three sensational tries in his side's demoliton over the Dragons including two length of the field efforts where he stood up Matt Dufty, not once but twice.
6. JAKE CLIFFORD
In just his sixth game of his career, Clifford showed he is ready to step into the halves once JT departs next season.
The 20-year-old had a breakout game for the men up north notching three try-assists and steering his team around the park beside Thurston.
7. JOHNATHAN THURSTON
In his final game in Townsville, JT showed his class leading the Cowboys to a 44-6 shellaking of the Eels.
Thurston had a couple of try-assists, while he also notched eight from eight with the boot.
8. ALEX TWAL
Twal continues to show why he is one of the best young props going around in the game today running over 200 metres in his side's victory over Manly.
The front-rower made a brilliant break early in the second half - showing some pace to run around Tommy turbo - before a great offload to teammate Moses Mbye - who finished off a great team try for the Tigers.
"Alex Twal has been with a sprint coach!" #TelstraPremiership moment of the match#NRLTigersManly pic.twitter.com/ifivF5GrHk
— NRL (@NRL) August 23, 2018
9. JOSH HODGSON
It's no coincedence that when Josh Hodgson lines up at hooker for the Raiders, they taste some success.
Hodgson was instrumental in Canberra's upset victory over Souths setting up two tries.
10. DAVID KLEMMER
Klemmer continued his strong run of form with another game where he ran over 200 metres.
The big forward ran for 264 metres as he and teammate Tolman dominated ex-Bulldog James Graham and the Dragons.
11. DAVID FIFITA
The name Fifita has been in the news for the wrong reasons in the last week, however David has been outstanding since making his debut earlier this season.
The 18-year-old just keeps impressing and he's getting more and more minutes from the supercoach as a result.
He finished with 17 runs for 192 metres and a line-break in 57 minutes of footy.
12. COEN HESS
Hess was just one of the Cowboys forwards who stood up in Thurston's final game to completely dominate Parra through the middle on Friday.
The big man ran for 176 metres from his 19 runs.
13. JASON TAUMALOLO
They don't call him a man mountain for no reason.
The other JT amassed 232 running metres including a whopping 110 post contact metres, making him a difficult presence to handle for the Eels.
