Today we take a look at Michael Maguire's Blues squad shocks, a poor decision against the Warriors, more inconsistency in sin bin calls, and a poor start for a Tigers rugby convert.
Read on as we take a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.
HIT / MISS
Maguire starts a new Blues era
We really won't know until the end of the 80 minutes next Wednesday night at Homebush whether coach Michael Maguire has pulled the right strings with the changes he has made to the Blues line-up. Whether through injury or selection decision, Maguire has chosen a new spine to take on Queensland. It's a real all-or-nothing move to dump captain and fullback James Tedesco, whose form for the Roosters has been near its best this season. Still the Blues weren't exactly stacking up shields under coach Brad Fittler with Tedesco leading, which is why Fittler's tenure came to an end and why the Roosters skipper has now followed.
Maguire faces a tough initiation into the harsh world of Origin coaching. The Maroons are missing Cameron Munster, but have the rest of their first-choice spine intact and in sparkling form. Maguire has the home ground advantage, but precious little time to bring this squad together as a cohesive unit. He'll have to work some magic, otherwise Queensland will take a 1-0 lead into the games in Melbourne and Brisbane and another year of finishing second will seem inevitable.
MISS
Warriors robbed of a try before the break
The Warriors have a long history of being on the wrong end of controversial decisions, just ask their fans. So it was a case of "not again" just before halftime when the packed house in Auckland thought the home team had levelled the scores with a try in the corner.
A bomb by halfback Te Maire Martin came down to a contest between Jamayne Isaako and Marcelo Montoya. Isaako gathered the ball, but appeared to lose it as he hit the ground on his back. The ball rolled around the in-goal area before Warriors centre Adam Pompey grounded it.
"He defuses the catch!" referee Liam Kennedy yelled repeatedly pointing towards the 20 metre line where the Dolphins would take the tap restart. He appeared to be saying that Isaako had taken the bomb cleanly in the in-goal area, something that replays didn't really support, with the bunker not asked to intervene.
Fortunately the Warriors won the game, otherwise we would have heard a lot more about the incident.
MISS
Walsh allays early injury fears with scything runs
Maroon hearts would have skipped a beat early in the Broncos' clash with the Titans as superstar fullback Reece Walsh joined his winger to take Titans flyer Tony Francis into touch just before the corner post. It was a perfect example of Walsh's commitment and improved contribution in defence, but as he regained his feet he clutched at his groin area, even taking a minute to squat in the in-goal area before play restarted. The last thing Queensland needed was to lose their most devastating attacking weapon on the eve of naming their squad for the series opener.
Not five minutes later a mass sigh of relief emanating from Queensland could be heard as far south as Wollongong, as Walsh stepped, jinked and accelerated his way through the Titans defence well inside Broncos territory, before firing a perfect bullet-like pass 15 metres infield to find the chest of Ezra Mam in support.
Walsh continued to cause headaches all afternoon in a losing cause, something the awaiting Blues will have to work overtime to contain when Origin kicks off in Sydney in a couple of weeks.
MISS
Sin bin inconsistencies continue to bewilder
Fans, players, coaches and commentators alike cannot understand the way foul play is currently being punished. Tackles which look very similar are being treated very differently.
During the Rabbitohs' clash with the Eels, Latrell Mitchell was sent to the sin bin for what was deemed a hip drop. He was not long back on the field when Eels forward Joe Ofahengaue was pulled up for a similar offence. Ofahengaue was penalised and placed on report, but not sin binned and Mitchell was rightly incensed. How are the officials determining the degree of severity?
The Match Review Committee obviously agreed with the match officials, charging Mitchell, but dismissing Ofahengaue's report.
HIT
Teddy shines for Roosters but misses selection
James Tedesco couldn't have done much more to secure his spot at fullback for New South Wales during the Roosters' big win over the Raiders in Canberra.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the Roosters fullback and incumbent Blues captain passed the ball to Joseph Suaali'i, supported him as he made a half break and received the inside pass. He then worked the Tedesco magic, stepping, weaving, dummying, before spinning out of a tackle and crashing over for the try. It was part of another vintage performance. Unfortunately for the veteran star, who has always played his heart out for the Blues, new coach Michael Maguire has decided to give Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards a well-deserved run.
MISS
Former Super Rugby player has mixed night for Tigers
It wasn't an enjoyable start to the night for former Super Rugby back Solomon Alaimalo, now playing on the wing for Wests Tigers. In the first half he dropped a high ball and was badly beaten by his opposite, Cowboys veteran Kyle Feldt, who crossed for two tries.
But Alaimalo was to have his moment of first-half redemption. The Tigers spun the ball to their left, inside Cowboys territory and Lachlan Galvin threw a cut out pass which miraculously missed centre Josh Feledy before finding the chest of a flying Alaimalo. He managed to avoid a feeble attempted tackle by Scott Drinkwater to score the Tigers' first try.
The Cowboys were back to their hot-and-cold worst, letting the Tigers right back into the game, before skipping away in the second half, and then clocking off again to allow late Tigers tries. Even Alex Twal was able to cross for his second ever try. The Cowboys switched on again to score the last two tries to claim a 42-28.