Round 9 delivered quite the mixed experiences.
The Sunday matches featured two nail-biters alongside a significant blowout, while Saturday showcased one of the season's standout games. Friday, on the other hand, offered two rather disappointing encounters.
The Cowboys maintained their impressive form, in stark contrast to the Melbourne Storm's continued struggles.
Off the field, we witnessed a historic moment as the PNG Chiefs revealed their first-ever signing, and what a signing it turned out to be.
Let's dive into the highlights and lowlights from the weekend.
Here are 20 reflections from NRL Round Nine:
1. I must confess that I was completely mistaken regarding the PNG Chiefs. I never imagined they would attract a marquee talent like Jarome Luai. I expected them to sign a solid player and claim it as a major signing, but Luai truly fits the bill. A huge name with Origins and Premierships under his belt-what a fantastic acquisition. Alex Johnston will continue to lead the charts in try-scoring for PNG as well. A stellar start.
2. Those concerned about the Chiefs amassing multiple high-value contracts can rest easy. They adhere to the same salary cap as the rest of the league, likely limiting them to one more true marquee signing. While there's potential for another million-dollar player, that will likely be the extent of it. The concern lies in how much $500,000 means in that market.
3. I'm extremely anxious about the current state of officiating in the game. As Todd Smith asserted that "it was across the shoulder," a replay was simultaneously showing Sharks' Toby Rudolf receiving a closed fist to the jaw. If the incident was judged as incidental or insufficient for a penalty, that's one thing. However, Smith's comments were fundamentally incorrect and suggest a lack of understanding, either from not watching the replay or misinterpreting it altogether.