Big hits, three sets of brothers and the Redfern production line in South Sydney's 20-8 win over the Sea Eagles.
A game remembered for its huge shots
Dave Tyrrell didn't shy away from how much Manly centre Steve Matai's huge shot hurt him.
"At the time I was that winded. Somebody asked if I was okay and I couldn't talk. I didn't even see him coming," Tyrrell said.
In what was a game full of memorable shots – mainly Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua burying opposite man Dylan Walker and Rabbitohs back-rower Glenn Stewart getting one back on former teammates Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran – it was Matai's hit on Tyrrell which left even the toughest of men left to grimace.
Even New South Wales and Sharks captain Paul Gallen felt his own damaged ribs hurt a little bit more. "Probably best [hit] I've seen omg," Gal wrote on Twitter.
Sea Eagles out-enthused
The Sea Eagles dominated for much of the first half but only scored one try. By half-time, they were down by two and never recovered.
Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey lamented his troops poor mistakes and South Sydney's superiority as the reasons behind their eventual 12-point loss.
"I thought we dominated large portions of the first half but I thought Souths came out a bit more enthusiastic than us and when you do that things tend to go that way," Toovey said. "It was just one of those things, South Sydney are a quality side and obviously when a team like that gets momentum they're hard to stop."
There's no Gray area about Redfern's production line
Scoring his seventh try in eight NRL games, Aaron Gray continued South Sydney's good fortune with their own local juniors.
With the area already producing the likes of Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston in recent seasons, Gray's emergence is another demonstration of the strength of the local South Sydney competition.
"Off the back of a really hard working forward pack and the halves Aaron has learned how to finish really well there so I'm really pleased with his progress," Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire said. "To see Aaron run around with some of his best mates in Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston, it's good to be a part of watching these kids grow."
Kieran Foran appeared unperturbed by week of dramas
With his 2016 future in the air, Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran put a tumultuous week behind him by putting forth a solid performance despite his team going down.
Bar the one mistake - a knock on playing the ball- Foran impressed his coach Toovey, who is no doubt trying his hardest to keep his star half at the club for 2016 and beyond.
"He's always a quality player and he puts his best foot forward on the field every time he runs out there so I'm very pleased to see him get through the game," Toovey said. "All the pressure he was under this week, he did play well."
Triple brother trouble
For the first time since Round 20, 2004 there were three sets of brothers, with two facing off against one another. Back then it was the Minichiello, Walker and Adamson brothers facing off in the Roosters eventual win over South Sydney.
11 years later and it would be the Burgess's of the Tom and George variety who put the wood over older brother Luke, while Glenn was the victor in his first ever battle up against Manly fullback Brett.
Throw in the fact the Trbojevics ran out for the Sea Eagles too, and it was a memorable night for at least three families.
"[Glenn's] been out for a couple weeks so as a brother it was good to see him get through the game," Manly captain Brett Stewart said post-game. "But obviously I'm not too happy with the loss."
