For all the head clashes and corks and more serious injuries, you had to feel for Penrith Panthers big man Sam McKendry.
McKendry, the former Kiwi prop, has had a third straight NRL season at Penrith ruined by a knee injury, after scans revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
He played in the Panthers 18-14 win over South Sydney but is now likely to sit out the rest of the 2018 season.
"It's unbelievably sad news for Sam and his family. He has worked so hard on overcoming this injury before," Panthers supremo Phil Gould said.
While McKendry is out for a long while, Mitchell Pearce is counting the days until he plays his old team, the sydney Roosters.
The ace halfback's hyped return to Allianz Stadium comes on Sunday night as the Knights travel to Sydney undefeated following memorable victories over Manly and Canberra.
Pearce is approaching the game with humour, joking about the Roosters' home attendance figures and hoping his new Knights supporters turn out in force.
"It will be an exciting game and hopefully there's a big crowd down there," Pearce said.
