FLYERS RACING TOWARDS TRY RECORD
One of the oldest try-scoring records in the modern game is under siege as we head towards the climax of the season.
Wonder-kid Phil Blake bagged 27 tries for Manly back in 1983, the most tries in a single season since the 1950s.
Many thought that Blake's stunning tally may never be bettered in the defence-based modern era, but times have changed under the NRL's new rules.
Souths flyer Alex Johnston , currently out injured, is within touching distance of Blake with 24 tries on the Rabbitohs' deadly left edge.
And Storm superstar Josh Addo-Carr (21) and Manly duo Jason Saab (19) and Tom Trbojevic (18) are also hot on Blake's trail.
PEARCE IS NEWCASTLE'S SHINING KNIGHT
He may not have the flair of Tommy Turbo or Nathan Cleary, but there is no doubt that Mitchell Pearce is Newcastle's make-or-break man.
Pearce played just his seventh game of an injury-plagued season against the Broncos on Thursday night, but showed his class to steer the Knights home in a scrappy affair.
Pearce scored a try, set up another and made four tackle breaks and 20 tackles in a fine all-round display.
With Pearce in the team, the Knights are batting at a 71 per cent win rate, as compared to just 44 per cent without him.
Sadly, the match proved a tale of two halves – Brodie Croft, who I wrote last week was set to be cut loose by the Broncos, was hooked with 20 minutes to play in what may have been his final game for Brisbane.
PNG STAR MAY SNAP-UP DALLY M GONG
Not many Papua New Guinea players have won Dally M Awards down the years, but I'm tipping one this season.
Justin Olam, born in Chimbu Province, has been outstanding week-in, week-out for the Storm.
A powerhouse runner in attack and pocket dynamo in defence, Olam has become one of the most feared centres in the NRL and may well win Centre of the Year.
He bagged a try double in the hard-fought win over Manly on Saturday night and will be a key man in Craig Bellamy's battle plan for the finals.
BULLDOG SHAPES AS STORM'S NEXT REBOOTED STAR
How good will Nick Meaney be at the Storm next season?
The tall fullback has had a fine season in a struggling Bulldogs side this season, scoring seven tries, mostly playing fullback.
His four-pointer against the Tigers on Sunday, which he started and finished, was a ripper.
On the end of the Storm backline next season, replacing Josh Addo-Carr, I'll be surprised if he doesn't triple that tally.
DUFTY'S X-FACTOR MISSING FOR DISMAL DRAGONS
With Ben Hunt gone for the season, the Dragons needed to roll the dice and select the unpredictable Matt Dufty in Friday night's shocker against the Raiders.
We all know Dufty has some flaws in his game but he also has pace, flair and creativity – and all three were sadly lacking in the loss to the Raiders with Hunt missing.
It will be interesting to see if coach Anthony Griffin goes to Dufty this week after four straight losses – but then the Dragons are up against the Storm, in a game that could put the final nail in their finals coffin.
RABBITOHS ICON WAS BAFFLED BY MODERN KICKERS
Around 30 years ago, I visited former Souths great Eric Simms in his modest Redfern apartment to do a story about life since his retirement.
We spoke about many things but the one line that stuck with me forever was his views on the new – at that time – around-the-corner soccer-style kicking technique that had come into fashion.
Simms – and just about every other Aussie goalkicker since 1908 at that time – was an old-fashioned "toe poker"; yet still managed to score more than 1800 points in a distinguished career.
"I just don't know how they do it," Simms told me with a wry smile several times. "I tried it once … the ball just dribbled along the ground."
So it's ironic that Simms' point-scoring record at Souths finally fell last weekend to Adam Reynolds, an around-the-corner style kicker.
Sadly, Simms, who now lives in a nursing home, was totally unaware of the record.
He has severe dementia and according to his loved ones, barely remembers even playing football.
NEW HEADGEARED HERO FOR WARRIORS
The Warriors have exceeded expectations in recent weeks and one of the big reasons for that is the form of unheralded forward Josh Curran.
Headgeared Curran was superb as the Warriors put a huge dent in Cronulla's finals hopes with an upset 18-16 win on Saturday afternoon.
Curran ran for more than 100 metres, set up a vital try for Reece Walsh and made 35 tackles, including a couple of try-savers.
The 22-year-old, who played one game for the Roosters before joining the Warriors, has come on in leaps and bounds this season and is now a key man in the Warriors' line-up.
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