The big winners of Round 8 are...
Brisbane Broncos, who needed to make a statement after losing as very warm favourites to both Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors.
They did just that by blowing the previously undefeated Canterbury Bulldogs out of the water with a 34-0 first half that head coach Michael Maguire "felt has been brewing" over previous weeks.
Maguire told ABC Radio the following day that the team is "still sorting things out and finding a bit out about each other" across the first half of the season and isn't willing to get carried away following what was their first win of the year over a top-eight opposition.
The club is facing an enormous salary cap squeeze which could force out the departure of Selwyn Cobbo, who was one of their stars on Friday along with 34-year-old halfback Adam Reynolds (five Dally M votes), who has reportedly told the club to their surprise that he wants to play on in 2026.
Their next three opponents - the Rabbitohs, Dragons and Panthers - should all be seen as winnable games now, not least because their "away" game against Penrith will take place at Suncorp Stadium as part of the sixth instance of the NRL's Magic Round.
Honourable mention: the North Queensland Cowboys for covering the pre-match line for a fifth consecutive week, collecting four straight wins along the way.
The big losers of Round 8 are...
The South Sydney Rabbitohs after they copped a third consecutive reality check.
Their 20th consecutive away loss to Melbourne Storm was further soured by star player Latrell Mitchell being reported for high contact with Sualauvi Faalogo, though he could receive just a one-week ban if he takes the early guilty plea.
Nonetheless, their four wins this season have all come against teams ending Round 8 outside the top eight of the ladder alongside them, but against the top-eight trio of Melbourne, North Queensland and Canterbury, there was to be no such joy.
Assistant coach Ben Hornby told reporters the team is lacking "cohesion" with so many regular changes, the most recent of which was Mitchell's return, whilst he conceded their on-field execution "hasn’t been (up to standard) for the last couple of weeks".
Dishonourable mention: Things could get very ugly for Penrith Panthers if they can't sort themselves out before Origin I, when they're likely to lose Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin to the NSW team.
Dally M Medal Leaderboard
There were six point hauls for Warriors' halfback Luke Metcalf, Storm second rower Eli Katoa and Manly second rower Haumole Olakau'atu. Broncos pair Payne Haas and Adam Reynolds picked up five votes each, as did Roosters duo Sandon Smith and James Tedesco and Cowboys pair Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai. Wests Tigers forward Terrell May also earned five votes to move to second on the leaderboard.
Try of the Week: Round 8
The Dolphins didn't get the last laugh in Canberra but they provided the highlight of the fixture courtesy of some fancy footwork from both Jamayne Isaako and Kodi Nikorima to set up Jake Averillo.