Nelson Asofa-Solomona of the Storm runs with the ball against the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
Nelson Asofa-Solomona of the Storm runs with the ball against the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
The focus leading into the weekend was all about player movement and speculation around where the off-contract stars will land for 2018.
But the on-field action reminded everyone that there is plenty to play out in this year's competition.
The ANZAC weekend started with a golden point thriller in Canberra and ended with two cracking games on ANZAC Day itself with the Roosters and Storm triumphing.
Kalyn Ponga was impressive in the Cowboys' win over the Knights. Photo / Getty Images
Kiwi Watch Winger Jordan Rapana continues to set the competition on fire, scoring a freakish try in his Canberra Raiders' loss to the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night. Rapana is a certainty for the upcoming test. Manly's Martin Taupau was strong up front and will surely feature in the Kiwi test 17 as well.
Promising fullback Kalyn Ponga was a stand-out for the North Queensland Cowboys in their win over the Newcastle Knights. Ponga will actually leave the Cowboys for the Knights at the end of the season.
Props Russell Packer and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves went at it in the ANZAC Day game in Sydney. Both had big games and will be in-line for Kiwis spots.
Warriors prop Ben Matulino made his first appearance of the season and chalked up over 40 minutes in the loss to Melbourne.
The Tigers shrugged off rumours to beat the Bulldogs on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images
Best Performance The Wests Tigers have been impacted more than anyone with the speculation around their off-contract stars but they pushed that to one side in beating the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco were front and centre in the rumour mill but all three had impressive games as they upset Des Hasler's side. The challenge for the Tigers will be to continue that once it is announced where the trio are off to in the coming weeks.
Corey Norman inspired the Eels over the Panthers. Photo / Getty Images
Standout Player There were a few contenders this week but Parrmatta's Corey Norman inspired his side to a vital NRL win over western Sydney rivals Penrith.
The halfback has endured an up-and-down season so far but was at his scheming best against the Panthers.
Key Moment Mitchell Pearce has failed time and time again in golden point extra time. His success rate is almost non-existent and more often than not he has come up with a shocker with the game on the line. But he cast aside all those struggles to nail a perfect deadlock-breaking field goal in golden point extra time to hand the Roosters a win in their traditional ANZAC Day clash against the Dragons.
Mitchell Pearce kicked the winning field goal on ANZAC Day. Photo / Getty Images
Controversy The Broncos beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night in extremely controversial circumstances that has left Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire blowing up at the officiating.
The Broncos scored a vital try after the bunker rubber-stamped a try that shouldn't have been given before Anthony Milford sealed the win with a field goal that appeared to come off the back of a knock-on that went unchecked.
