AND then there were six. What an absolutely thrilling first weekend of finals football.

Here’s my verdict on the first four games at the business end of the season.

Storm v Rabbitohs: Welcome to finals football in the closest season on record, so how about a one-point thriller? This was better than State of Origin for intensity. I attempted to narrow the game down to five best moments and ended up with a list of 23!

Panthers v Warriors: What a tremendous return to form by the Panthers particularly after such an impressive start by their opponents that saw the Warriors lead 12-2. This was the Panthers form from earlier in the year. They just never gave the Warriors a chance in the second half. Based on what I saw, they could easily make week three of the playoffs.

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Roosters v Sharks: Great tension here again between two of the heavyweights. I thought four tries to two ended up being a fair reflection of the match, but the Sharks weren’t without their chances. Some big game players for the Roosters really aimed up. Do the same in two weeks and they are a massive chance of playing the grand final.

Broncos v Dragons: What an afternoon at the footy at Suncorp. The fire-breathing Dragons make a timely reappearance and the up and down season of Wayne Bennett’s Broncos comes to an end. Did anyone … I mean ANYONE … predict there would be a scoreline at one stage of the Dragons leading 34-10? Their injury toll will make it very tough to carry the form into next week against Souths, but after a tough couple of months, savour the moment Dragons fans.

LIKES

Storm v Rabbitohs: One of the best finals matches I think I have ever seen. So many lead changes. You just couldn’t predict what was going to happen next.

Tariq Sims: A sensational first-half hat-trick on a big stage in front of an ever bigger crowd. Extraordinary stuff.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: This bloke has proven himself many times over this year he is an outstanding fullback. I don’t know how he could be switched back to the wing.

Cameron Munster’s field goal: I called it “a wobbler” in commentary, but what a clutch play from one of the new superstars in the NRL.

The Roosters/Sharks fullback duel: It was a classic ‘battle’ between James Tedesco and Valentine Holmes … and both delivered for their sides. The pair are in superb form.

DISLIKES

Wade Graham’s injury: Poor Wade has had little luck this year in regards injury. Now the dreadful news he requires a knee reconstruction. Wish him well with the rehab.

Suliasi Vunivalu: We all love Suliasi’s try scoring ability, but what on earth was he doing on Greg Inglis’s opening try on Friday night? His brain snap as he remonstrated with a sideline official gifted G.I the try.

Souths interchange strategy: Can’t say I agree with this one. Are you not disadvantaging your side in the modern game by not getting more out of your bench? Friday night Coach Anthony Seibold chose not to use two of his interchange players. A third Jason Clark played only 20 minutes.

The Warriors second half: Not the way they wanted to finish their season. Barely produced a set of any real quality after half time against a committed Panthers side. Hope they learn from it and come back even better in 2019.

Crowd behaviour at Allianz: Well just the one incident. Come on … we don’t need the crap of rubbish being thrown at Latrell Mitchell as he was lining up a shot at goal. Lets just have the football to talk about eh?

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We have another big episode of THE FAN coming up at 7.30 on Tuesday night on Fox League that includes catching up with Sharks legend Andrew Ettingshausen.

As a matter of fact we could call it Legends night as Kiwi test great Ruben Wiki grabs a spot on the fold out chair, and the Cowboys players kick off our “In their own words segment” taking us back through the 2015 grand final.

Twitter: @AndrewVossy