First tackle: Whistle almost destroys vital clash
The clash with the biggest consequences of the weekend happened on Friday night when the Panthers visited the Storm. A Storm victory would have wrapped up the minor premiership and a Penrith loss would have seen the Panthers tumble down the ladder and miss a home final.
Melbourne rested several key players with niggling injuries and so were always going to be doing it tough against a James Maloney-led Panthers outfit determined to fire up for their run to the finals. Gerard Sutton blew his whistle to start the first half, then blew it again and again and again.
Three minutes and 19 seconds into the game and the Panthers were penalised for the first time. After 32 minutes, the penalty count was 11-2 in Melbourne's favour and the Storm led 10-4 on the scoreboard. On top of that, Penrith played 18 minutes of the half with 12 players and two minutes with only 11 after two players were sent to the sin bin. Once again, under the adjudication of Sutton, the away team was being let down terribly by their own ill-discipline. A couple of late penalties against the Panthers saw the first half penalty count end 11-4 in the home team's favour.
Whether Panthers coach Cameron Ciraldo gave one of the greatest discipline-refining halftime speeches in the history of rugby league, or someone spoke to the referees, or Sutton had simply run out of wind, we'll never know. For some reason the whistles were strangely silent after the break. With only three more penalties awarded an exciting game of rugby league was allowed to flourish. The Panthers ended up losing the penalty count 12-6, but won the game 22-16.
Second tackle: JT signs off with a win
Despite trailing the Titans 18-6 at halftime on the Gold Coast, the Cowboys were able to rally to make sure champion halfback Johnathan Thurston finished his career with a win.
Of course, JT was instrumental in the fight-back by working his magic across the field, setting up tries with passes, kicks and deception that drives any defence mad.
It is disappointing that the finals will go ahead without one of the game's greatest ever players. He should not be heading off on Mad Monday celebrations so early. One day there will surely be a documentary that explores North Queensland Cowboys' 2018 season, but until then we'll be left to shake our heads and wonder what exactly went wrong.
Third tackle: Freddy magic
Brad 'Freddy' Fittler's move from player to media personality hasn't been completely smooth. It wasn't always easy for audiences to accept Freddy's genuinely quirky personality as he attempted to present serious rugby league analysis. Over time he has improved and his natural style and sense of humour adds a welcome circuit breaker to the intensity of other commentators.
But Freddy is still capable of making the odd slip up and, if anything, it probably adds to his appeal. Following the Storm vs. Panthers game he was interviewing Melbourne debutant Scott Drinkwater who he found in conversation with Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary.
"How do you know this bloke?" Freddy asked Drinkwater.
"We played Australian schoolboys together in the halves," he replied.
"So have you always played fullback?" Freddy continued.
"Errgh no, I played halfback." a bemused Drinkwater replied.
Completely unflustered, possibly unaware, Freddy nonchalantly threw to the next interview.
Fourth tackle: Wooden spooners decide minor premiership
Thanks to the Panthers upsetting an understrength Storm on Friday, the Roosters ran onto ANZ Stadium on Saturday night knowing they only had to beat the Eels by 27 points to claim the minor premiership.
The Eels offered little resistance in the second half, opening up during back-to-back trips to the sin bin by Mitchell Moses and Michael Jennings. Latrell Mitchell ran riot by crossing for three tries in 11 minutes, steamrolling defenders who looked like they'd much rather be someone else.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said after the game he was glad the season was over. For the Eels, collecting the wooden spoon would have been disappointing enough, but coming on the back of the success of last season it must have been shattering.
Fifth and last: Tale of two wingers
There may not have been a more contrasting pair of performances from two wingers on opposing sides as we saw at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Brisbane Broncos winger Corey Oates had a brilliant game in scoring four tries, two of them length-of-the-field efforts.
One came after he defused a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb on his own line before streaking away, the other as he backed up an Anthony Milford break from his own try line before running through to collect a long-range grubber kick.
Meanwhile, opposing Manly winger Brad Parker had an afternoon to forget after dropping the ball at least five times during the match. Whether it was attempting to take a high ball or simply running into defenders, Parker's hands continually let him down.
Oates moves on to the finals, while Parker heads on to the off-season.
Handover: First week of the finals
After losing to the Panthers, the Storm have finished in second place and will host the Rabbitohs in the first of the finals on Friday night (7:40pm AEST).
The Panthers will play their home elimination final at ANZ Stadium on Saturday evening (5:30pm AEST) against the unpredictable Warriors. That game will be followed by the Roosters taking on the Sharks in Sydney at Allianz Stadium (7:40pm AEST).
On Sunday afternoon (4pm AEST) the Broncos host the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium in the second of the elimination finals.
The loser of the Storm, Rabbitohs clash will meet the winner of the Broncos, Dragons clash in the second week of the finals. The loser of the Roosters, Sharks clash will play the winner of the Panthers, Warriors clash.
The beginning of the battle for a place in the grand final is only days away.