WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 11 OF THE NRL:
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: ” I’m embarrassed for the people that sat out in that rain for 80 minutes. It’s not good enough.” – Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien was scathing of his team’s effort after their shock 18-12 loss to Canterbury
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Top-placed Penrith’s nine wins and a draw is their best start to a season through the first 11 rounds
* MAGIC MOMENT: Canberra winger Semi Valemei made his maiden NRL try a match winner against South Sydney. While there was plenty of fortune in it, as a kick rebounded off Campbell Graham, it capped off a tremendous rise for the Fijian 21-year-old
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Reagan Campbell-Gillard keeps showing how the move to Parramatta has awoken him. His 237 metres against the Wests Tigers on Thursday night included a 50m dash for a rare try and five tackle busts
* TALKING POINT: Is the $1.25 million a season which Gold Coast are rumoured to have agreed on to lure David Fifita down the M1 from Brisbane with too much? The signing might change Gold Coast’s fortunes but it is a sizeable amount of faith in a 20-year-old
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Cowboys – Josh McGuire (dangerous contact), Kyle Feldt (contrary conduct), Mitchell Dun (tripping); Storm – Dale Finucane (dangerous contact); Tigers – Russell Packer (dangerous contact)
* CASUALTY WARD: Tigers – Michael Chee Kam, Adam Doueihi (concussion); Sea Eagles – Joel Thompson (ankle); Sharks – Jesse Ramien (hamstring), Chad Townsend (calf); Roosters – Boyd Cordner (concussion); Dragons – Adam Clune, Trent Merrin (concussion), Knights – Andrew McCullough (hamstring), Connor Watson (achilles), Sione Matu’tia (knee)
* UNDER PRESSURE: The NRL’s bunker officials. Steve Clark and Ben Galea were dropped from a game on Sunday after a clear wrong call to award Cronulla a try in their four-point win over St George Illawarra. It’s prompted suggestions the video officials are too quick to make calls.