Strap yourself in as NRL.com takes a look back at the season that's been, including our most viewed content on a week- to-week basis.
Not even 24 hours after their hard-fought victory over the Roosters, it was confirmed by the NRL that the Parramatta Eels would be stripped of 12 competition points for salary cap cheating in previous seasons. Falling to 14th on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder, the Eels were left with the almost impossible task of winning every one of their remaining games to qualify for the finals. It was better news for the Sharks however who were able to beat the Panthers at Pepper Stadium without New South Wales star quintet Paul Gallen, Jack Bird, Wade Graham, Andrew Fifita and James Maloney.
Round 18 Results:
Eels 22 defeated Roosters 18
Bulldogs 32 defeated Wests Tigers 22
Sharks 26 defeated Panthers 10
Raiders 26 defeated Cowboys 12
Byes: Broncos, Dragons, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Titans, Warriors.
Top five stories:
1. Moylan replaces Reynolds for Blues by Jack Brady
2. Parramatta final determination by NRL
3. NSW got it really wrong: Voss by Andrew Voss
4. Eels steal thrilling win but lose Radradra by Chris Kennedy
5. The play that made Thurston an Origin star by Tony Webeck
Top three videos:
1. Bulldogs v Wests Tigers highlights
3. Panthers v Sharks highlights
NRL Telstra Premiership ladder after Round 18:
Club | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | +/- | Points |
1. Sharks | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | +163 | 32 |
2. Storm | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | +216 | 30 |
3. Cowboys | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | +173 | 24 |
4. Bulldogs | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | +109 | 24 |
5. Raiders | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | +82 | 23 |
6. Broncos | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | +79 | 22 |
7. Warriors | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -16 | 20 |
8. Dragons | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -125 | 20 |
9. Titans | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | -23 | 18 |
10. Panthers | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | -36 | 18 |
11. Tigers | 17 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -87 | 16 |
12. Rabbitohs | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | -62 | 14 |
13. Manly | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | -69 | 14 |
14. Eels | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | +10 | 12* |
15. Roosters | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | -114 | 10 |
16. Knights | 16 | 1 | 1 | 14 | -345 | 7 |
* Parramatta stripped of 12 competition points following salary cap investigation
