Today we take a look at a ridiculous set of sin binnings, a brilliant display from the Bulldogs, the unearthing of another future star at the Knights, and one of the strangest captain's challenges ever made.
Read on as we take a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.
MISS
Inconsistency abounds as ball drop results in ridiculous binnings
There were a couple of incidents with the ball over the weekend that were treated very differently. On Friday night Ben Hunt objected to something that happened to him as he crashed over for a try. He rose to his feet and threw the ball at the offending Tigers defender, there was a bit of push and shove between several players and the game moved on. Nothing was done, there was no talking to, no warning, nothing.
Skip forward to the Warriors' comprehensive victory over the Cowboys and Chanel Harris-Tavita dropped the ball with minimal force on the head of Chad Townsend, while some push and shove started up nearby. When the smoke cleared, referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski decided that both Harris-Tavita and Townsend needed to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. Both players jogged off with incredulous looks spread across their faces.
Przeklasa-Adamski has spent a large part of the season running a flag on the sidelines after he disallowed a try to Bulldogs second-rower Viliame Kikau in Round 2, ruling that he himself had impeded Sharks defender Braydon Trindall on the try line. It was one of those errors that Graham Annesley had to confess to on a Monday morning and Przeklasa-Adamski paid the price. He might find a flag back in his hand again next week after the sin binning of Townsend and Harris-Tavita.
HIT
Bulldogs display their newfound resilience
The Bulldogs showed signs of their old selves early in the clash with the Eels on Monday. Having blown a good chance of scoring the first try, they then allowed Parramatta to march downfield through strong runs up the middle and silly penalties. The Eels then played a simple backline catch and pass with Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz numbering up well but inexplicably showing his opposite winger, young Blaize Talagi, 10 metres to the sideline. Talagi didn't need a written invitation, he slammed on the accelerator and left Kiraz grasping at his legs as he dived into the corner.
They didn't allow that defensive lapse to put them off unleashing some attacking brilliance through Blues star Stephen Crichton. First he scored a try on the end of simple backline passing movement, but it was his assist on the next try that had defenders baffled and fans on their feet. Running at his opposite centre Daejarn Asi, with his winger Blake Wilson well marked, he stepped off his left foot, put on a big fend and did just enough to make Eels winger Sean Russell feel like he needed to help. The split second Russell turned in, Crichton slipped a perfect flick pass to Wilson, who went over untouched. It was so slick that it took several replays to truly appreciate the skill involved.
Still the Bulldogs were in for a torrid afternoon. After receiving the first penalty of the game, it would be another 56 minutes before they received their second, by which time the penalty count was 9-1 in the Eels' favour, with the ninth being the sin binning of Kurt Mann. Down to 12 men, after already doing more than their share of tackling, the Bulldogs managed to keep the Eels scoreless for those 10 minutes.
The Bulldogs then set about scoring two tries behind the mere threat of a Crichton run. Twice he was used as a decoy with fullback Connor Tracey sweeping around the back to fly through the confusion. The move led to tries to Crichton and the match-winner to Wilson. The blue and white sections of the crowd of 45,496 people, a record for a regular round game between the two clubs, roared their approval.
HIT
Sharpe shines at fullback for Knights
Sporting a mullet haircut which screamed "Cessnock", young Knights fullback Fletcher Sharpe had a bright debut against the Storm in Melbourne. Called into the side as a late replacement for David Armstrong, Sharpe was heavily involved in the action in the first half, but his enthusiasm may have contributed to a couple of handling errors.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half Sharpe joined into a Knights backline movement, putting in a shuffle step to wrong-foot the defence before receiving a pass and cutting through for a try from 10 metres out. It enabled the Knights to take a 12-6 lead, which they were unable to hang onto thanks to two incredible Storm tries in the final minutes before the break.
Sharpe crossed for another try early in the second half as the Knights looked to make a game of it. They pushed the home team all the way, without ever really looking like they would come out on top.
When Kalyn Ponga injured his foot it was noted that Armstrong was not the next in line for the fullback position. Armstrong has done an incredible job, but only jumped the queue because Sharpe was also injured at the time. It is easy to see why the Knights have had big wraps on Sharpe, the Cessnock junior looking very much like a first grade prospect after one game.
HIT
DMZ never gives a play away
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is one of the best finishers in the game. You could easily put together a very long highlight reel of him flying through the air, defying gravity and the sideline to score some stunning tries.
With 10 minutes remaining in the Warriors' convincing victory, a grubber kick was put through to the Cowboys' in-goal area. The kick was way too strong and the Cowboys defenders stood by and watched it bounce over the dead-ball line. But Watene-Zelezniak never gives up on a play, he chased hard and dived full length over the chalk, batting the ball back as he careened towards the cameras and fence.
The ball actually spit the two Cowboys defenders who helplessly watched as it found Warriors fullback Chanze Nichol-Klockstad, who grabbed it and dotted it down to extend the Warriors' lead. It was a perfect example of giving every thing you have, in every moment, and it is the kind of attitude that will carry the Warriors a long way this season, if they all follow the example of Watene-Zelezniak.
HIT
Origin stars tear the Tigers apart
Ben Hunt carried his State of Origin form into the Dragons' victory over the Tigers on Friday night, setting up four tries, scoring one of his own and generally controlling the game from halfback.
Thirteen minutes into the second half he received the ball ten metres out from the Tigers' line. He skipped across and double pumped the ball before sending Luciano Leilua through a gap with a precision pass.
Ten minutes later in a similar position on the right side of the field, he dummied to his outside men, stepped off his right foot a couple of times and crashed over for a try of his own.
While Hunt was shining, his winger Zac Lomax also brought his Origin form back to club football, scoring three tries, kicking 10/10 goals and posing a constant threat to the woeful Tigers.
HIT
Clever use of the captain's challenge by the Eels
We might have seen a first when it comes to a captain's challenges, with the Eels calling for a review of a passage of play in order to find a knock-on against themselves.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses received the ball out wide and inside the Bulldogs 20-metre line before getting a sloppy kick away. It was picked up by Eels centre Will Penisini who also grubbered ahead. Reed Mahoney and Clint Gutherson chased through and the ball rolled over the dead-ball line.
The referee signalled a 20-metre tap for the Bulldogs and the accompanying set of seven tackles. Gutherson quickly indicated that he wanted the decision reviewed and replays showed that Moses had indeed dropped the ball before kicking it.
As it was on the last tackle, the result was a handover fifteen metres out, with only six tackles, and the Eels retaining their challenge.