QUOTE OF THE ROUND:Â "It was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. That's a penalty every day of the week ... it's our season on the line so I am pissed off about it." Manly coach Anthony Seibold fumed after the match officials opted not to penalise Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for a mid-air collision on Reuben Garrick. The Sea Eagles were down 23-22 in the final 10 minutes and in position to take a potentially game-winning penalty shot. Instead, the Warriors worked the ball upfield to seal a 29-22 win with a try from Marata Niukore and thrust the final dagger into Manly's top-eight hopes.
TALKING POINT: With Penrith, Brisbane and the Warriors all appearing to have sealed top-four berths, who will lock up what looks to be the last spot remaining? With two rounds left, fourth-placed Melbourne are two points ahead of fifth-placed Cronulla but must play second-placed Brisbane on the run home. The Sharks face red-hot Newcastle in the harder of their two games. Even the Knights and Canberra are themselves not yet out of the race for the top four, though they will need other results to fall their way.
MAGIC MOMENT: His side down 23-22 in the final three minutes against the Dolphins, Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau lined up for a penalty goal from 30-metres out on the left touch-line. Just as the ball looked to be losing its momentum, it careered into the cross-bar and over the goal-line, confirming a one-point win that broke Wests' 10-match losing streak to seal a memorable start to the Benji Marshall era.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Penrith's 40-14 defeat of Gold Coast was their eighth-consecutive win - the longest streak of any team this season. Since round nine, the Panthers' only loss came when they were understrength during the State of Origin period.
CASUALTY WARD: Knights - Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder); Raiders - Jack Wighton (hamstring); Broncos - Adam Reynolds (calf); Titans - Jayden Campbell (knee), Phil Sami (toe); Roosters - James Tedesco (head knock); Sea Eagles - Reuben Garrick (back); Warriors - Jazz Tevaga (hamstring); Dolphins - Ray Stone (toe); Raiders - Albert Hopoate (ribs)
JUDICIARY WATCH: Rabbitohs - Latrell Mitchell (dangerous contact); Bulldogs - Reed Mahoney (dangerous tackle)
UNDER PRESSURE: North Queensland and Parramatta's finals hopes hang by a thread after losses to Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters, respectively. The Eels are now unable to finish the regular season with better than a 50 per cent winning record, so rely on a string of other results going their way in order to qualify. The Cowboys can still finish with a 13-11 record but that will require beating reigning premiers Penrith on their home deck in round 27.
