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A snapshot of action from round 23 of the NRL.
NRL ROUND 23 SNAPSHOT:
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "I was at lunch having a nice strawberry thickshake, so I wasn't too sad." - Kalyn Ponga reveals his baffling reaction to news that Nathan Brown had stood down as Knights coach.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: St George Illawarra are on track for their equal-worst season as a joint venture after Saturday's 34-12 thumping by the Sydney Roosters. They have just seven wins for the year. They had their worst season under Steve Price in 2013 with the same number of victories.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Manly winger Reuben Garrick gave his side the lead for the first time with a length-of-the-field try, thanks to a Jack Gosiewski intercept. The Sea Eagles were awarded an eight-point try after Canberra's Joey Leilua suffered a brainsnap and kneed Garrick in the back after he'd scored.
* TALKING POINT: Who was responsible for try-saver of year? Damien Cook looked like he had the gong wrapped up when he cut down a rampaging Corey Oates with a textbook legs tackle in South Sydney's crucial 22-20 win over Brisbane. Then Phillip Sami threw his hat in the ring as he did what was thought to be impossible - running down Josh Addo-Carr.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Cooper Cronk. As well as setting up three tries in the Roosters' six-tries-to-two blitz of the Dragons, the No.7 took on kicking duties despite never practising at training.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Rabbitohs - James Roberts (dangerous contact head/neck); Eels - Nathan Brown (shoulder charge); Bulldogs - Reimis Smith (striking), Raiders - Joey Leilua (dangerous contact).
* CASUALTY WARD: Cowboys - Scott Bolton (shoulder); Sharks - Sosaia Feki (groin), Jack Williams (ankle); Bulldogs - Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (shoulder); Storm - Will Chambers (ankle); Roosters - Latrell Mitchell (calf); Sea Eagles - Joel Thompson (broken arm), Moses Suli (ankle).
* UNDER PRESSURE: Knights CEO Philip Gardner has had the spotlight turned on him as details of how Nathan Brown's exit from the club unfolded, with Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler taking aim at the club's leadership.
