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All the highlights and lowlights from round 25 of the NRL.
SNAPSHOT OF NRL'S ROUND 24
* Quote of the round: "I'll be dirty if Penrith win by 144 tonight." - Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had little to worry about as his team wrapped up the minor premiership on Friday night. Penrith's 40-6 win over Parramatta was nowhere near enough to overcome the premiers' superior points differential.
* Stat that matters: A winning margin of over 11 points was the equation for Gold Coast to leapfrog Cronulla and secure their first finals berth since 2016. The Titans thumped a hapless Warriors 44-0 at a rainy CBUS Super Stadium to easily keep their season alive and end the Sharks' year.
* Magic moment: Tom Trbojevic eluded nine North Queensland defenders to secure a remarkable individual try in the 72nd minute of Manly's 46-18 win over the Cowboys. The Sea Eagles fullback would go on to complete another hat-trick in his remarkable campaign to warm up for finals in sensational fashion.
* Talking point: The first round of the NRL finals will be a regional Queensland affair with games to be played in Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Rockhampton. The NRL is also expected to keep the games in the regions for the second week of finals, giving Suncorp Stadium and CBUS Super Stadium a rest after their heavy workloads in recent weeks. Brisbane is almost certain to host the grand final with an official decision imminent.
* Man of the round: Brian To'o's second game back from ankle surgery was one to remember for the Panthers winger, who scored the first hat-trick of his NRL career as Penrith thumped an undermanned Parramatta 40-6 on Friday night at CBUS Super Stadium. To'o finished with 219 running metres, four linebreaks and a try assist in his all-action display.
* Judiciary watch: Parramatta - Keegan Hipgrave (careless high tackle); Dragons - Josh McGuire (careless high tackle x 2); Warriors - Matt Lodge (dangerous tackle), Kane Evans (dangerous tackle): Titans - Jamal Fogarty (dangerous contact), Mitch Rein (dangerous contact).
* Under pressure: Wests Tigers' embarrassing 38-0 capitulation to wooden spooners Canterbury at Redcliffe on Sunday is only going to raise more questions about the future of embattled head coach Michael Maguire. Having missed out on finals for a third-straight season under his reign, a decision on whether Maguire will be at the helm next year is expected by the end of the month.
