There was plenty to enjoy over the Anzac Round with four games decided by two points or less.
The Rabbitohs kicked off the action with an incredible comeback in the closing stages to stun the reigning premiers, Penrith. Yet it was the Dolphins, who came back from 26 points down against the Titans, who got the chocolates in that regard with a comeback for the ages.
The Broncos had a statement victory over Parramatta up in Darwin, the Sharks got over a stubborn Canterbury outfit, while a Luke Keary field goal gifted the Roosters a win over the Dragons on Anzac Day.
In between there was yet more controversy with the hip drop tackle once again dominating headlines, some all-time brain fades and the 1,000th Victor Radley sin-binning.
MORE: Jack Wighton spurns Raiders and Dolphins to sign with Souths
Here's what we liked and disliked from every game of Round 8.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-18 Penrith Panthers
What we liked: Bunnies dream final few minutes complete epic comeback
The signs were there early that South Sydney meant business against the side which has been the architects of their downfall for years now.
Gifted an easy two points in front of the posts, Cameron Murray instead opted to play on and try to crack the defensive line.
It didn't work that time, but it symbolised his side's attitude all night - the Bunnies simply never gave up.
Latrell Mitchell got all the plaudits after notching two tries and imposing himself on the contest in a number of eye-catching ways.
Although there was plenty of other standouts in an epic win that saw the Rabbitohs reel in an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes against the back-to-back premiers.
"Break through the rabbit proof fence" 😱
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) April 20, 2023
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Hame Sele was drafted into the starting side an hour before kickoff and made more carries than any other player, while Jai Arrow fought the fight through the middle alongside him with 51 of his 109m being made post-contact.
Cody Walker was also a constant menace, threading together shifts in attack and testing Penrith's defence to finish with two try assists, one linebreak assist and one linebreak.
What we disliked: Panthers lose yet another close one
Penrith are still undoubtedly one of the best teams in the comp this season but there's no question that they have come back to the pack given the significant talent drain over the off-season.
The Panthers have lost three of their opening eight games, losing by two points against the Bunnies and a single point against both the Eels and Broncos.
MORE: Rabbitohs rise from off the canvas to finally beat the Panthers
Outside of the two hammerings they dished out to Canberra and Manly, Penrith's other two wins were also incredibly close affairs with a golden point win over the Knights and a six-point victory over Souths in Round 2.
Having an eight-point lead with just over five minutes on the clock - it would have been inconceivable of Ivan Cleary's men losing from that position in the past. Yet lose they did, as two tries in the dying stages handed Penrith possibly their most disappointing loss of the season to date.
Brisbane Broncos 26 - 16 Parramatta Eels
What we liked: Brisbane blow away the Eels with powerful first half
There was simply no stopping the Broncos during the first half in Darwin as the likes of Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan rolled through the middle of Parramatta before their star-studded backline did the rest.
Haas was particularly impressive, recording 136 running metres from his 11 carries which he totted up in just over half an hour.
In fact, it was the prop who provided a bustling carry back in behind the ruck that generated a quick play-the-ball which Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam sprung off the back of to dazzling effect.
Now that's some Mam magic! 🧙♂️#NRLEelsBroncos pic.twitter.com/qKllBoLrCL
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2023
When the Broncos are in full flow, like they were during the first half against the Eels, there aren't many better sides to watch in the NRL right now.
What we disliked: Hip drop controversy strikes again
It proved to be a messy night for the Bunker with both Mam and J'maine Hopgood sent to the sin bin for hip drop tackles, only for Haas to remain on the field for his tackle on Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
“That’s exactly what Ezra Mam did moments ago, given what we have seen tonight... this should be 13 vs 11,” Warren Smith said in commentary on Fox League.
Yet the Bunker allowed the prop to remain on the field much to the utter confusion of just about everyone.
"I'm not an expert on hip drops, but to me, all three of them looked pretty similar," Brad Arthur said post-match.
MORE: Hip drop tackles in the NRL - Controversial tackling technique remains an issue
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 33 - 20 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
What we liked: Dogs fight hard despite injuries
Canterbury were barely given a chance coming into this clash but they made a contest out of it, playing above expectations.
Even after a quick-fire William Kennedy double to open the game, the Bulldogs kept fighting and found their reward in the form of a Braidon Burns try.
The home side went into the sheds down 14-18 - a scoreline only possible through hard work and grit.
There were a number of defensive lapses and errors, but new coach Cameron Ciraldo should be pleased with the performance amid a hefty casualty ward.
What we disliked: Ronaldo Mulitalo's brain fade
Ronaldo Mulitalo blew a try in bizarre fashion on Saturday night, putting his hand down on the sideline first before grounding the ball despite being in open space.
Fortunately for the Cronulla winger, his mistake came near the end of the game with his side up by 12 points.
Regardless, it wasn't a good look, and will be a handy reminder for the 23-year-old to never switch off.
North Queensland Cowboys 18 - 16 Newcastle Knights
What we liked: Valentine Holmes brings important toughness
There weren't many standout performances in this clash, but Valentine Holmes proved yet again why he is one of the Cowboys' most important players.
The experienced centre was fairly quiet during the game but made himself known when it mattered most in the closing stages.
His physicality, toughness and reliability in both defence and attack helped his team escape with the win.
He wasn't flashy, but he contributed with some key intangibles that were ultimately the difference.
What we disliked: Errors define back-and-forth clash
From a neutral's perspective, this game was an exciting end-to-end affair ... except for all the errors.
Unfortunately, the match was characterised by a significant amount of carelessness, meaning it became a stop-start affair.
The two sides combined for 23 errors - 10 from the Cowboys, 13 from the Knights.
In such a close encounter, it is Newcastle who will be ruing their mistakes.
With some more patience and care, that match could have been a comfortable win for either team.
Dolphins 28 - 26 Gold Coast Titans
What we liked: The Dolphins make a remarkable comeback
Despite Robert Jennings’ two bombed tries and the 26-6 deficit at halftime, Wayne Bennett’s men showed resilience.
The Dolphins became the first club to come from 26 points down in what was a record-breaking comeback.
Jarrod Wallace was special against his old club with 154 run metres, a try, try assist and five offloads.
Isaiya Katoa was excellent with a commanding kicking game forcing multiple dropouts. He used his elusive footwork to set up a try as well, in what was an outstanding game for the 18-year-old.
Jennings gets his redemption 💪 #NRLDolphinsTitans pic.twitter.com/lvYQ8pcPXE
— NRL (@NRL) April 23, 2023
What we disliked: Gold Coast Titans' defensive woes continue
The Titans looked unstoppable prior to the break and very few expected the horror show that came in the 2nd half.
The Titans got absolutely monstered in the middle, the Dolphins made metres with ease with 10 men over 100 run metres.
They are now 2nd last in defence in the NRL with 161 points conceded, their defensive woes that plagued them last season seem to have followed them into 2023.
Wests Tigers 16 - 22 Manly Sea Eagles
What we liked: Manly just get home
Even though the Sea Eagles may have lost in every attacking stat, they still were able to find a way to win.
With a 69% completion rate, and only one tackle within the Tigers' 20 in the second half, DCE carried the side.
The wing duo of Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick were deciding factors for Manly combining for 14 points, and over 200 run metres.
The win would come at a cost, with Tom Trbojevic leaving the field with a groin injury and Brad Parker also out.
What we disliked: So close yet so far for the Tigers
The Tigers let yet another winnable game slip pushing their losing streak to seven.
Trailing 12-6 at half-time the Tigers came out a different side in the 2nd period and took the lead at one point.
Api Koroisau and the forwards were especially dominant, but their efforts were not capitalised on by the halves.
It was the same old story for Tigers fans with no end product when it mattered, they would have 11 more sets than Manly totalling eight minutes in possession more than their opponents.
The Tigers looked nervy when they took the lead late on, with a flurry of errors they crumbled as it looked like they had forgotten how to win.
Sydney Roosters 27 - 26 St. George Illawarra Dragons
What we liked: Sydney's halves help them to win the game, eventually
In the lead up, there was plenty of conjecture around Sam Walker's demotion to the reserves after Trent Robinson had decided to rip up his halves pairing and start afresh.
Joey Manu was given the No.6 jersey and Luke Keary moved into the halfback slot and both men were pivitol in the Roosters' nail-biting win over the Dragons on Anzac Day.
Manu muscles his way over! 💪#NRLRoostersDragons pic.twitter.com/p0pfxX2CmC
— NRL (@NRL) April 25, 2023
Manu finished with a try, just shy of 100 running metres and nine tackle busts in a typically all-action display from the Kiwi star, while Keary also got on the scoresheet to go with a try assist and the match-winning field goal.
The Roosters still have plenty of work to do both defensively and offensively after almost blowing a massive lead in the second half, but they showed enough to merit persisting with the duo.
What we disliked: Victor Radley cops third sin-binning of the season
With the Dragons on the charge and in the ascendency, the last thing the Roosters needed was to have a man sent to the sin bin. But then Victor Radley did exactly that when he collected Michael Molo high.
The lock argued is case that it was head-on-head contact, but the Bunker and referee were having none of it as they marched him for the ninth time in his career.
That made him the most binned player in NRL history, although post-match Radley was adamant that he did nothing wrong.
"S*** decision," he told Fox League reporter Matt Russell.
"My head is in bits, I don't know what to think."
Radley post-match on the sin-bin decision.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) April 25, 2023
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Melbourne Storm 30 - 22 New Zealand Warriors
What we liked: Big Nelson's introduction off the bench helps turn the game
Melbourne were in trouble early with the Warriors racing into a lead at AAMI Park and looking the goods against a shell-shocked Storm side.
Then Nelson Asofa-Solomona came on and the home side suddenly looked like a totally different proposition with his power through the middle helping the Storm to generate ruck speed.
Nick Meaney, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant were the main beneficiaries of this as they eventually rode over the top of a busted Warriors.
Nelson finished with 148m - 80m coming post-contact - along with one linebreak and four tackle busts in an imposing display.
What we disliked: Warriors run out of troops in disappointing loss
Andrew Webster's side finished the game with no players remaining on the bench and they were the walking wounded in a second half.
Captain Tohu Harris limped off with a worrying knee injury, while Jazz Tevaga looked worse for wear with a calf injury. The loss of two of their leaders in the pack was a hammer blow for the Warriors as the Storm began to plough through them in the second half.
It was the 14th consecutive loss for New Zealand against Melbourne and they will now have to pick themselves up without a number of key players - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will also be out after suffering a head knock - to face the Roosters on Sunday.
