The biggest winners of Round 3 were...
After the heartbreak of failing to get across the line in Vegas and a booming victory in Townsville, Cronulla returned to Shark Park for the first time in 2025 expected to get the job done in convincing fashion against South Sydney Rabbitohs.
That's precisely what they did.
There already looks to be a blossoming chemistry between halves Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes, who were singled out by head coach Craig Fitzgibbon for their chemistry in what can so often be an on-field combination hampered by ego clashes and power struggles.
"I’m really enjoying watching them grow," said Fitzgibbon after the game.
"It was always our plan that they’d grow together ... One week one will shine and the other might be a support act, but if that happens, that means they’re playing for the team."
The biggest losers of Round 3 were...
Granted, the Dolphins were amongst the favourites for the wooden spoon before a ball had been kicked in Vegas this year, but the club has questions to answer after an error-strewn and scoreless second half saw them lose at home to 2024 wooden spooners Wests Tigers.
Most concerningly, all three losses were suffered not only in games that they could (or perhaps should) have won, but losing to both the Tigers and the lowly Rabbitohs might leave new coach Kristian Woolf, who took on the job with the infamous 'Wayne Bennett curse' hanging over his head, scratching that head about where their first victory of 2025 is coming from.
That's because they've got to face a Brisbane Broncos side that welcomes back Kotoni Staggs next week, as well as fellow Premiership contenders Penrith and Melbourne in the weeks to follow.
South Sydney mascot Reggie the Rabbit, or more accurately the man underneath, also gets a shout out in this section after the club and NRL launched an investigation into footage circling social media on Sunday night of what appears to be mascot Charlie Gallico striking a child in the crowd at Shark Park at the weekend.
The Dally M Race
A total of 214 metres gained across 23 runs earned prop Payne Haas the best on ground votes in the Broncos' 26-16 win over North Queensland. Just look how easy he makes a line break look!
The other two players to have collected the full six votes at the weekend were New Zealand Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for his 281 metres, two linebreak assists and two try assists, and Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall for his two try contributions and field goal.
Try of the week
It's a shame that the clip below has the most impressive feat of the play cut off from the start, where Cronulla Sharks number five Ronaldo Mulitalo scooped up a last tackle chip kick into his own in-goal area with one hand, burned past three Rabbitohs opponents even before crossing the goal-line, and then sparked a coast-to-coast try with a cheeky offload that was finished off by the speedy Kayal Iro.