There was plenty on the line across the weekend with a number of sides all vying to keep their dreams of making finals alive with just two rounds remaining of the regular season.
The Battle of the West kicked off the action on Thursday and the Eels emerged victorious for the second time this year as the Panthers were left licking their wounds with Jarome Luai suffering a shoulder injury to compound the loss.
North Queensland kept their finals hopes alive with a quality win over the Dolphins, while the Warriors further entrenched themselves in the NRL's top-four with a gritty win over the Dragons.
MORE: NRL live ladder - Keep up to date with all the latest movements throughout Round 26
Melbourne edged closer to securing a top-four finish on Saturday afternoon, but will be sweating on the fitness of star halfback Jahrome Hughes, who left the field with a knee issue.
The Roosters will also be anxiously awaiting scans results after Joey Manu limped from the field during his side's win over the Tigers.
Brisbane jumped ahead of Penrith on the ladder with a gritty win over Canberra as Reece Walsh proved the difference in the nation's capital.
The Sea Eagles then kicked off Sunday's slate with a commanding win over the Bulldogs before the Knights locked in their finals spot against the Sharks.
The Sporting News has all the live updates, highlights, analysis and talking points from Round 26 below.
Knights secure finals berth with electric win over Sharks
Not many would have predicted the Knights to make the top-eight a few months ago, but Adam O'Brien's side have defied the odds.
Newcastle secured their eighth consecutive win on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Sharks 32-6 and locking in their finals spot.
It was a tightly-contested first half, with both sides struggling with fluency.
The second stanza was a different story though, with the home team running away with it in stunning fashion.
Bradman Best bagged a double, while winger Dominic Young equalled the club record for most tries in a season, scoring his 21st of the campaign.
Sea Eagles overcome slow start to beat Bulldogs in high-scoring clash
Finals may be out of the equation for both these teams, but the Bulldogs-Sea Eagles game got off to a quick start.
Canterbury-Bankstown crossed first via Corey Waddell after just four minutes, going on to control the opening stages of the match.
They couldn't translate this momentum into scoreboard points though, with Manly flipping the script and scoring three consecutive tries to head into the sheds with a 10-point advantage.
Jason Saab then secured his double in the second half as the Sea Eagles ran away with it, winning 42-24.
Young gun Tolutau Koula starred for the visitors as he filled in at fullback.
The 20-year-old finished the game with 297 run metres and three try assists in an exciting and promising performance.
Reece Walsh rips Raiders to shreds to put Broncos on top of the NRL ladder
Brisbane would have felt unexpected pressure on Saturday night after Penrith slipped to a surprise loss in the 'Battle of the West' earlier in the round. Suddenly, they had the minor premiership there for the taking.
The equation is simple, win their remaining two games and cap a remarkable rise from missing the top eight last year to vaulting to the top of the pile this season.
The Broncos were without their two leaders in Adam Reynolds and Patrick Carrigan for the clash against a desperate Raiders outfit. Yet Reece Walsh proved to be far too good for Ricky Stuart's men.
Walsh was front and centre of everything Brisbane did well, popping up and tormenting Canberra's left edge defence to finish with three try assists.
With the game still on the line in the closing stages, it was the fullback who stepped up to dance his way through three tackles* and score, while he also nailed a field goal to make sure of the two points.
He's electric! 🐴#NRLRaidersBroncos pic.twitter.com/OYAF0kbYVo
— NRL (@NRL) August 26, 2023
Walsh was ably supported by hat-trick hero Selwyn Cobbo and Tom Flegler through the middle as Brisbane now face a meeting with Melbourne next week to try and claim the minor premiership.
*Spare a thought for Walsh's ribs after he copped a Joe Tapine special in the final tackle of the game.
Tapine goes WHACK! 🤯#NRLRaidersBroncos pic.twitter.com/mHYax9sNqb
— NRL (@NRL) August 26, 2023
-Mark Molyneux
Joey Manu injury mars vital Sydney Roosters win over the Tigers
A brutal run of injuries sustained by key players across the NRL has continued after Joey Manu became the latest star to be struck down this weekend.
The New Zealand international started at fullback against the Tigers with captain James Tedesco ruled out due to concussion protocols. But he lasted just 20 minutes of the contest before limping off with a hamstring issue.
The No.1 winced as he scooped the ball out over the line with his side trailing 8-6 at the time before the Chooks turned around the deficit to eventually emerge as 32-8 winners.
Look away Roosters fans...
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 26, 2023
Joey Manu hobbled off the field with a hamstring injury 😮
CASUALTY WARD 👉 https://t.co/MrBrkhqP8F pic.twitter.com/DdRgxtufrn
The Roosters will now be sweating on the fitness of Manu with the 27-year-old in severe doubt to feature against the Rabbitohs next weekend.
"It’s mild but he still had to leave the field which is never a good sign," Trent Robinson said.
Manu’s injury continues a horror weekend with Luai suffering a dislocated shoulder in the opening match of the round while Clint Gutherson sustained a knee injury in the same game, before Hughes limped off for the Storm with a knee injury earlier on Saturday.
-Mark Molyneux
Melbourne sweat on fitness of Jahrome Hughes after Round 26 win
Melbourne will be sweating on the fitness of star halfback Jahrome Hughes, with the Kiwi international leaving the field late in Saturday's victory over the Titans.
With the side in control and all eyes on the returning Ryan Papenhuyzen, the coverage spotted Hughes limping up the tunnel with an injury, before images of the playmaker sitting on the bench with ice on his knee.
Initial reports indicate a potential medial ligament injury for the 28-year-old, with scans to reveal the extent of the injury in the coming days heading into the finals.
“It looks like he’s got a slight medial – they don’t think it’s too bad," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said post-game.
"I wouldn’t imagine he’d play next week, it’s a five-day turnaround… I think he’ll go for a scan tomorrow and they’ll have a look at that."
- Liam O'Loughlin
Ryan Papenhuyzen returns, Xavier Coates shines in Storm victory
AAMI Park erupted in the 62nd minute of Saturday's clash, with the NRL return of Ryan Papenhuyzen one of many highlights of the afternoon in the Storm's 37-16 victory over Gold Coast.
Papenhuyzen didn't make a difference on the score and stat sheet, but the aura and boost he gave his Melbourne teammates was obvious, with the side marching up the field to score in the same set the speedster entered the fray.
The moment. pic.twitter.com/eUUVrccwwm
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) August 26, 2023
The 25-year-old kept himself busy and looked as dangerous as ever in his cameo performance, finishing with seven runs for 53 metres, as well as a handful of tackles without a miss.
Despite a spirited effort from the Titans, it was the hosts who proved too strong in the final portion of the game.
Xavier Coates crossed for a double in an entertaining first-half - including capping off a piece of individual brilliance from Cameron Munster - before completing his hat-trick in the dying stages.
Munster with the ol' show and go.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 26, 2023
📺 Watch #NRLStormTitans on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/F9YaKbYWnE
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/0zM7VtNzOF
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/GTBTlCZDs0 pic.twitter.com/Sasoc87UI7
Christian Welch gave the Storm some breathing room with less than 20 minutes remaining, before Eliesa Katoa sealed the result after pouncing on a deft grubber kick from Harry Grant.
The win for Melbourne doesn't secure a top-four finish however, with their final game of the season against the Broncos an early glimpse into the finals period and allows them a potential to lock in a second chance in September.
- Liam O'Loughlin
Scott Drinkwater stars in Dolphins rout
The Cowboys have rallied to save their season after three poor displays in the weeks prior.
North Queensland shot out to a 24-0 lead at the break, but faltered in the second half as they tried to reduce the point differential deficit between them and the Bunnies.
Todd Payten was displeased with the Cowboys execution in the first half with Corey Parker reporting at half time that he sprayed his team.
The side once again relied heavily upon it's playmakers to provide some spark and it would be Drinkwater who would deliver.
Drinkwater shouldered much of the Cowboys attack with a try, try assist, five tackle breaks, four line break assists and 14 individual points.
Taulagi and Drinkwater are away 🏎️ #NRLDolphinsCowboys pic.twitter.com/heweyA8cf4
— NRL (@NRL) August 25, 2023
North Queensland now sit in ninth with one round remaining and will need to win their final game, plus hope results go their way elsewhere to make the postseason.
- Kye Kuncoro
Warriors secure top-four finals spot with scrappy win
The Warriors would just get home to secure their eight-straight win against a resolute Dragons side.
New Zealand never looked comfortably, as a Dragons side who was at one point down to just one interchange due to injury, pushed them to the final siren.
The game featured two calamitous errors with both Addin Fonua-Blake and Tyrell Sloan failing to simply ground the ball.
Sloan's mishap proved the costlier as it led to a Fonua-Blake try which secured the game for the Warriors.
Addin Fonua-Blake with the touch ☝️ #NRLWarriorsDragons pic.twitter.com/82JfRcXntf
— NRL (@NRL) August 25, 2023
A dejected Luke Metcalf would limp down the tunnel after succumbing to suspected hamstring injury, which may put him in doubt for the finals.
The Warriors will finish in the top four for the first time since 2007 and are a real dark horse for the premiership in 2023.
- Kye Kuncoro
Jarome Luai injured as Panthers battered by the Eels
The last time these two met earlier in the season, Penrith required a barely believable two-point field goal from Nathan Cleary in the dying seconds to force the Eels into Golden Point.
The Panthers could summon no such heroics on Thursday night in front of a historic sell-out crowd at the foot of the mountains with Parramatta riding roughshod over the back-to-back premiers in a shock 32-18 win.
In a horror night for Ivan Cleary’s men, not only did they go down to their local rivals in the ‘Battle of the West’ for the second time in 2023 but they also potentially lost Jarome Luai to a season-ending shoulder injury.
The five-eighth went off in the first half after having had his left arm accidently trapped under the weight of Bryce Cartwright’s body as the Penrith playmaker attempted to burrow over for a try.
Cartwright was able to hold Luai up over the line but in the process of doing so landed on top of his opponent which caused him to scream out in pain.
Confirmed shoulder dislocation for Jarome Luai, classic landing on outstretched arm mechanism. General recovery guide:
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 24, 2023
- minimal structural damage & joint stable: rehab for 3-6 weeks
- significant damage/joint unstable & immediate reconstruction surgery required: 3+ months pic.twitter.com/9PW5zcpkt5
Time was quickly called off by referee Ben Cummins as the club’s trainers raced on to attend to Luai who lay prone on the pitch.
The Samoan international was eventually helped to the sidelines with a grimace painted across his face as Fox League’s Jake Duke later confirmed his shoulder had popped out in the tackle.
At that stage, the home crowd had already been left stunned after the Eels raced out to an 18-4 lead with Maika Sivo eventually bagging four tries in the upset to leave the minor premiership race wide open.
"We're just going to have to wait until he gets scans tomorrow," the coach said post-match.
"It's obviously a decent injury but they [medical staff] were fairly positive about the potential of it. But really, we're not going to know until he gets scans.
"Unfortunately, that's the way it goes sometimes. There are often a lot of injuries at this time of the year in and around finals, but we're just going to have to wait for the results tomorrow.
"Whatever happens, we'll come up with a plan from there."
A bitterly disappointed Nathan Cleary also reflected upon the injury to Luai which could mean he will be without his halves partner for the remainder of the year as the club goes on the hunt for a three-peat.
"It sucks," he said.
"You never want to see someone get an injury, let alone when it's one of your best mates. He's such an important cog in our team, but that's the game we play."
- Mark Molyneux
'I don't know whether to cry or smile': Mixed emotions for Brad Arthur after Eels' stunning win
The Eels' shock victory over the Panthers means they are still a mathematical chance of sneaking into the top-eight.
They will need multiple results to go their way though, with the eighth-placed Rabbitohs holding a 61-point differential advantage and Cowboys and Roosters still with two matches the play.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur wasn't sure how to feel following the game.
"I don't know whether to cry or smile," Arthur said as he begun his post-match press conference.
Parramatta are set to train next week despite their slim finals chances, with Arthur sharing his frustration that his team have likely fallen one match short.
"We only had to find one more win and we have got to learn how important each game is and each moment in the games is," he said.
"The hurt will be there even more, knowing that we just had to find one more win somewhere.
"I know what the team can do if we get in the eight, and I'm sure there are a few teams that are glad we are not in the eight, but we are just going to have to wear it."
- Joshua Mayne
Panthers and Eels make NRL history with Thursday night sell out
Ahead of kick off, Penrith announced the game against the Eels at BlueBet Stadium was officially sold out.
"The ‘full house’ sign was raised after the final tickets were snapped up on Thursday afternoon," the club noted in a press release.
"Tonight’s clash is the first sold out Thursday night game in NRL history."
EXCLUSIVE: Penrith Panthers captain Nathan Cleary defends 'villain' Jarome Luai
Brad Arthur's men have had an impressive run against the back-to-back premiers, having won three of their last five meetings.
However, Penrith have a formidable track record on home soil after they have won eight matches in a row there since beginning the season with a loss to the Broncos.
During the Panthers' dominant last few years, they have lost just three of 38 games at home and will take some stopping as they go in search of yet another minor premiership.
-Mark Molyneux
NRL GAMES THIS WEEK (Round 26)
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs. 24th August | Penrith Panthers 18 def. by Parramatta Eels 32 | 7.50pm | BlueBet Stadium |
| Fri. 25th August | New Zealand Warriors 18 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 6 | 6pm | Go Media Stadium |
| Fri. 25th August | Dolphins 10 def. by North Queensland Cowboys 34 | 8pm | Suncorp Stadium |
| Sat. 26th August | Melbourne Storm 37 def. Gold Coast Titans 16 | 3pm | AAMI Park |
| Sat. 26th August | Sydney Roosters 32 def. Wests Tigers 8 | 5.30pm | Allianz Stadium |
| Sat. 26th August | Canberra Raiders 18 def. by Brisbane Broncos 29 | 7.35pm | GIO Stadium |
| Sun. 27th August | Canterbury Bulldogs vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 2pm | Accor Stadium |
| Sun. 27th August | Newcastle Knights vs. Cronulla Sharks | 4.05pm | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| BYE | Rabbitohs |
