Round 25 appeared to be quite straightforward.
It seemed certain the Roosters would dispatch the Tigers and edge closer to the minor premiership. It also seemed Canberra would take down the Broncos and remain in the finals hunt. Meanwhile, Newcastle appeared poised to defeat Manly and bring an end to the Sea Eagles' season.
However, each prediction turned out to be completely wrong!
Each match sparked discussions, but here are just 20 highlights from a longer list.
1. Breaking news emerged this week, announcing that Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will depart his role after the World Cup to join St Helens in the English Super League. I'm anticipating Cameron Smith as the new head coach, with Billy Slater as his assistant; that would be an incredible duo!
2. With Slater stepping down as QLD coach and Smith opting out, Darius Boyd emerges as a leading candidate for the role. Having found success coaching the Under 19s at Origin level, he's undoubtedly a QLD legend, making this a logical choice.
3. The Titans have rightly decided to let AJ Brimson explore his options. I maintain he's a top-tier fullback deserving of elite-level pay. Using him in the centres feels like a waste of talent. The Dogs and Sharks could become formidable with a playmaking fullback. I hope he considers both opportunities seriously.
4. Hudson Young is an exceptional player and a regular in representative teams. However, a million-dollar price tag for a second-rower is hard to support. It seems he may be angling for a lucrative deal with the Chiefs, pricing himself out of Canberra.