Today we take a look at the debut of diminutive Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray, a magical pass from Api Koroisau, a completely unnecessary hamstring injury and the Bulldogs doing the little things poorly.
Read on as we take a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.
HIT
Gray fills enormous boots with vigour
You could not have more polar physical opposites than regular Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell and his Round 6 replacement, Jye Gray. Mitchell the International and Origin star, standing at 193cm and weighing 102kg, compared to the diminutive Gray making his first grade debut standing at 170cm and 78kg wringing wet. Only six years separate their ages, but Mitchell at 26 has achieved all there is to achieve in rugby league during his time at the top.
Still as the old adage reads, its not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that matters. And Gray showed everyone how much it meant to him to be wearing the famous Rabbitohs jersey against the Sharks at Accor Stadium. The result may not have gone Souths' way, but the changes coach Jason Demetriou made to his struggling team did not disappoint. The lift in effort and enthusiasm was both readily noticeable and much overdue.
MISS
Unheard whistle leads to unnecessary agony
It is a fairly common occurrence in rugby league, particularly with big crowds, having play continue on after the whistle is blown. These fierce competitors have been taught since they first strapped on a boot to play to the whistle, and sometimes they simply can't hear the whistle over the crowd noise.
On Friday night we had an example with Broncos winger Corey Oates haring off downfield with Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in hot pursuit, despite the referee blowing his whistle to stop play back where it all began. Sadly for the Dolphins, Tabuai-Fidow tore his hamstring in the endeavour and limped from the field to spend the rest of the night sitting on a bag of ice.
HIT
Api's slight of hand fools everyone
When is a decoy runner not a decoy runner? When Apisai Koroisau is picking the ball up at dummy-half a metre out from the opposition try line. Fourteen minutes into the first half, with the Tigers trailing 4-0, Koroisau moved to dummy-half one metre out from the Dragons' line. Charging through was Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu, but Koroisau's eyes and head were already looking beyond him to the first receiver, it was obvious to all that Utoikamanu was not going to receive the ball.
The Dragons defenders were definitely looking to where the pass was going, but in the blink of an eye Koroisau had somehow slipped it to Utoikamanu who crashed through to score the Tigers first try.
He's not all magic though, his conversion attempt from nearly in front was awful, slamming into the left post with such ferocity that the touch judges didn't know whether it went over or not. It did not.
MISS
Sloppy Bulldogs need to fix the little things
It was a frantic start to the Bulldogs clash with the Storm on Friday evening. Receiving the kick-off the Bulldogs worked it out from their own line before Jake Turpin, looking like his hands were tied together, dropped his first touch of the ball for the club. From the resulting possession the Storm peppered the Bulldogs' line before sending it left where the movement came to a halt in the arms of Reimis Smith, who played the ball four metres out. Stephen Crichton cleverly jumped out of marker to knock the arm of the dummy-half sending the ball bouncing along the turf and into the arms of Bulldogs backrower Joshua Curren. He ran five metres before hit in a ball and all tackle by Ryan Papenhuyzen who cleverly rolled away from him, to the ground, with the ball now in his possession.
In the ensuing set, the ball found its way back to Papenhuyzen on the left where he went himself weaving his way through some lazy defence to reach out through three tacklers to score the opening try of the game.
The Storm's second try was simply ridiculous, with Xavier Coates wresting with his opposite number Jacob Kiraz dangerously near the sideline, while no less than four other defenders stood by and watched. Coates somehow managed to drop the ball onto his right foot from where it dribbled into the in goal area for Smith to dive on. As brilliant as Coate's effort was, it would have only taken another Bulldog to involve himself in the tackle to snuff the play out.
Still the Bulldogs remained in the contest to near the very end thanks to a three-try effort from Josh Addo-Carr. Leading 14-10 with six minutes remaining, Storm forward Shawn Blore charged at the Bulldogs line. Bulldogs forward Kitione Kautoga watched him run past, seemingly unwilling to commit himself to the tackle when the game was on the line.
It is these little things that stand between a bottom four finish and advancement up the ladder for the Bulldogs.
HIT
Cowboys incredible try goes unrewarded against Eels
The Cowboys may have lost their game against the Eels on Saturday night, but their last try will go close to winning the try of the year.
With the Eels leading 26-14 and 10 minutes remaining, the Cowboys started to throw the ball around. A big charge from Jason Taumalolo had the Eels backpedalling near halfway. A quick play-the-ball and Reece Robson passed it to Tom Deardon, who threw a wayward pass behind Scott Drinkwater. He chased it back and dived on the ball.
Deardon went to dummy-half, threw a pass to Chad Townsend who dummied to kick, tried to break the line before flicking the ball out the back, where Jack Gosiewski picked it up and threw a 15-metre pass back to Drinkwater who bunted the ball inside to Deardon who took off through the line before finding winger Murray Taulagi.
He sprinted down the sideline before finding Drinkwater on the inside. He ran away towards the corner of the ground where his family had gathered to celebrate his 100th game, raising his arm to salute them as he ran around under the posts.
MISS
Not the effort Ricky Stuart was after
With the Titans trialling 12-6 into the second half, Raiders winger Xavier Savage made an error which wouldn't have pleased coach Ricky Stuart. Chasing back on a Kieran Foran grubber kick Savage was first to reach the ball on his own try line. Instead of diving on the loose ball, he opted instead to bend over at full pace and swipe it over the dead ball line. He barely got his hand on it as it bounced awkwardly, allowing Titans centre Harley Smith-Shields to dive at it and ground it for the try. It was a sloppy effort from Savage at a crucial time of the game.
HIT
Johnson still producing the unstoppable
He might be 33 years old, but it is very hard to say that Shaun Johnson's best football is behind him. Johnson has been integral to the Warriors' improved form over the last two years and he showed again on Saturday night against the Sea Eagles that he has not lost his ankle snapping step.
In the 53nd minute of the game with the Warriors trailing 22-10, Johnson received the ball about 30 metres out from the Manly line. He cut through a gap accelerated away from the cover and found himself face-to-face with one of the game's best defensive fullbacks in Tom Trbojevic. With his support lagging behind he backed himself and threw in a classic right foot step which left Trbojevic standing in concrete boots.
In his day Johnson was just about untouchable, and all these years later he is still out there making the best look very ordinary.