First tackle: Manly's season ruptured at Brookvale
Manly's hopes of challenging for the 2019 premiership came to a shattering end early in their clash with Melbourne Storm on Saturday, after superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic ruptured his pectoral muscle in making a tackle.
There have been some brave murmurs from the Sea Eagles camp of a miraculous return, should the team make it deep into the finals. There are two major problems with that piece of wishful thinking; firstly, the ruptured pec is a three-month minimum injury and, secondly, Manly's hopes of winning another game this season have all but disappeared with the loss of Tommy Turbo.
You only had to look at the way they capitulated to the Storm after he left the field, to see that they're not the same team without him. He is the difference between the Sea Eagles being a top eight team and them being a threat to the better teams in the finals.
Second tackle: Eels all over the place
The Eels might be safely in the top eight, but they have shown enough throughout the season to suggest that they'll only be making up the numbers. More than any other team in the competition, the Eels have struggled with consistency, not just week-to-week, but from minute-to-minute.
After a disappointing 2018 season they have done very well to make the finals this year, but they must be giving coach Brad Arthur nightmares. They have patches during games where they look like genuine premiership threats; then for whatever reason they'll switch off, make some terrible errors and completely open up in defence.
If they could play their best football for a full 80 minutes, they would be very hard to beat. Under the pressure of sudden death finals, any lapses will see their season come swiftly to an end.
Third tackle: Warm enough for you?
Cronullas Sharks and New Zealand star Shaun Johnson might consider skipping pre-game warm-ups. For the second time this season Johnson had to withdraw from a game after injuring himself during the increasingly ridiculous routines the players are put through before a game.
This time, before the vital clash with Canberra Raiders, he felt a pull in his right quadriceps muscle and was forced to withdraw from the team. It turned out that his absence almost certainly cost the Sharks victory, and has put their hopes of playing in the finals under serious threat.
Not only did the Sharks miss Johnson's attacking brilliance and astute kicking in general play, they also missed his goal-kicking. The Sharks scored three tries to the Raiders' two in the one-point defeat, while leaving six points in missed conversions off their score sheet.
The Sharks will need him back for what is effectively an elimination final next week against the Tigers. Maybe he could just do a few toe touches and a light jog before the game.
Fourth tackle: Worst. Finish. Ever
With their SCG humbling by the Tigers, St George Illawarra Dragons have secured their worst ever finish in 21 years as a joint-venture team. The Dragons will finish the season second last, with only the wooden-spoon-winning Titans below them.
It is simply unacceptable to fans of the club to see a roster of the quality that the Dragons have assembled perform so badly. Something will have to change ahead of the 2020 season, otherwise there'll be no one turning up with banners covered in uncomfortable statements about the coach ... there'll just be no one turning up at all.
Fifth and last: Final round sees dress rehearsals
The season opened with the Rabbitohs taking on the reigning premiers at the SCG. Souths caused an upset with some very impressive early season form against the Roosters; Wayne Bennett's first game in charge could not have been more impressive. Now 24 rounds later these two meet again in the final round before the finals.
The Rabbitohs have had an up-and-down season, but have started looking the goods again of late, while the Roosters are humming, displaying the kind of form that took them to the title last year. A big loss to the Roosters, coupled with a big win by the Sea Eagles could see the Bunnies slip out of the top four.
Which brings us to the other finals rehearsal game this weekend, with the unpredictable Eels taking on the Tommy Turbo-less Sea Eagles at Bankwest. If the Eels can win this by 12 points or more they will jump the Sea Eagles into fifth place. Manly coach Des Hasler is already set for Coach of the Year honours; win this one however, and he will lift the Sea Eagles as they head into the finals without their star fullback.
Handover: Brilliant season finish set for iconic ground
Leichhardt Oval, Sunday afternoon, full house: Anyone who has ever experienced it, knows the true meaning of atmosphere. If you've been there, you truly understand the importance of tribalism to the game of rugby league. The 18,000 or so people who jam into Leichhardt Oval add so much emotion to a game, the players can't help but lift.
This Sunday afternoon will be more significant than any other Leichhardt Oval clash in recent memory. Cronulla and Wests Tigers are level on 24 points and only one of them can play finals football. It is in effect an elimination final a week early.
This game will also mark the end of the career of one club stalwart. Paul Gallen is retiring at the end of the Sharks' season, while Robbie Farah will hang up his boots when the Tigers are done for the year. Farah is currently out with a leg fracture, but some believe he will miraculously take the field for this game at Leichhardt Oval. The fans packed into the hill will be hoping there will be at least one more week to support their beloved Tigers.