WHAT HAPPENED IN WEEK ONE OF THE NRL FINALS
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: “He was our best player by a mile and if he hadn’t been in the team we wouldn’t have won, you know?” Storm coach Craig Bellamy with some high praise for fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Every team that scored first lost in a whirlwind weekend while for the first time every team scored at least 20 points in week one of a finals series. South Sydney’s 46 points were their most in a post-season game.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Play had broken down when Cameron Munster retreated to pick up the ball in back-play, pinned his ears back and broke the line before offloading to Ryan Papenhuyzen, who tore a line to the corner post and planted the ball for the match-sealing try.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: While Nathan Cleary earned the headlines for his first-half hattrick and crucial field goal, halves partner Jarome Luai’s match-winning hand was equally as impressive. The finals debutant had a hand in four of the side’s five tries, passing, kicking and batting back opportunities as his teammates lined up.
* TALKING POINT: Melbourne have qualified for a sixth-straight preliminary final – a feat captain Cameron Smith deserves more recognition – while the Roosters’ bid for three-straight titles hangs in the balance with Trent Robinson’s side to face the Raiders in a do-or-die grand-final replay this weekend.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Storm – Cameron Smith (dangerous throw); Panthers – Villame Kikau (dangerous throw); Roosters – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (high tackle); Eels – Marata Niukore (crusher tackle)
* CASUALTY WARD: Eels – Maika Sivo (knee), Blake Ferguson (knee); Storm – Cameron Munster (knee); Sharks – Blayke Brailey (ankle), Scott Sorensen (groin).
* WHAT’S NEXT: Parramatta play South Sydney while Canberra face the Sydney Roosters next week in do-or-die semi-finals. A banged-up Melbourne will enjoy a week off before playing in a preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium, while the Panthers too will benefit from a week’s rest.