NRL: NRL Round 24 redux

Brodie Croft of the Storm celebrates a try with team mates. Photo / Getty Images

The Panthers kept their winning streak going with a vital win in Canberra while the Warriors losing streak looks no closer to ending after a loss to the Rabbitohs. The Sharks got their finals push back on track while the Storm closed out the minor premiership against Newcastle.

Kiwi Watch
Alex Glenn had his best game of the season for the Broncos as they beat the Dragons while the rough form of the Warriors will have Kiwis coach David Kidwell worrying. Corey Harawira-Naera put in another strong showing against the Raiders and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was at his aggressive best for the Roosters.

Best Performance
There were a few candidates - the Sharks winning in Townsville, the Bulldogs finally getting a win or even the Rabbitohs second half thrashing of the Warriors but it would be impossible to ignore the Storm continuing to roll against Newcastle and claiming another minor premiership in the process.

Brodie Croft had another big game. Photo / Getty Images

Standout Player
Brodie Croft can't even crack the Melbourne Storm top side but filling in for Cooper Cronk he once again played the house down. The succession planning at Melbourne continues to amaze and it appears they have a real star in the making in Croft. The halfback was involved in everything the Storm did in their win over the Knights.

Key Moment
When rookie Tyrone May reached out to score for the Panthers in Canberra he went a long way to cementing the top eight as it currently stands. That moment proved the difference between the Panthers and Raiders, consigning the Green Machine to missing out on the finals.

Tyrone May killed off the Raiders' season. Photo / Getty Images

Controversy
The spitting incident in Canberra. A Raiders fan allegedly spat at referee Ashley Klein as he walked up the tunnel at halftime. Raiders fans had been unhappy with the refereeing in the first half (thought it must be said that it turned around in the second spell) and gave officials a gob-full as they left the field. One idiot spat at Klein and was removed from the ground. He will face sanctions this week in an ugly look for the game.

Alex Johnston was too hot to handle for the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Team of the Week
1.Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)
2.Suliasi Vunivalu (Storm)
3.Curtis Scott (Storm)
4.Tautau Moga (Broncos)
5.Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)
6.Anthony Milford (Broncos)
7.Brodie Croft (Storm)
8.Thomas Burgess (Rabbitohs)
9.Cameron Smith (Storm)
10.Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
11.Coen Hess (Cowboys)
12.Angus Crichton (Rabbitohs)
13.Nathan Brown (Eels)
14.Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
15.Blake Ferguson (Roosters)
16.Paul Gallen (Sharks)
17.Josh McGuire (Broncos)

Anthony Milford had a strong game against the Dragons. Photo / Getty Images

Power Rankings
1.Storm (0)
2.Broncos (0)
3.Roosters (0)
4.Sharks (0)
5.Eels (0)
6.Panthers (0)
7.Sea Eagles (0)
8.Cowboys (0)
9.Dragons (+1)
10.Raiders (-1)
11.Rabbitohs (0)
12.Bulldogs (0)
13.Warriors (0)
14.Titans (0)
15.Tigers (0)
16.Knights (0)