NRL: NRL Round 25 redux

Semi Radradra of the Eels is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

The race for the top eight is down to nine teams with the Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Dragons collecting vital wins to remain in the hunt. The Storm, Eels and Roosters made a statement ahead of the playoffs with commanding wins while the Warriors slumped to their eighth straight loss.

Kiwi Watch
Raiders winger Jordan Rapana hit best form against as the Green Machine thrashed the Knights while Jason Taumalolo turned in a typically powerful game against the Wests Tigers. The Warriors did a pretty good job limiting Martin Taupau, though the Sea Eagles prop managed to clock up plenty of metres. David Fusitua had his best game of the season for the Warriors.

Best Performance
The Eels racked up a score against the Broncos on Thursday night to really send a message to the other contenders. Their attack is as dangerous as any side in the competition and, if they can do enough in the middle of the park, should be right in the mix come the big games in a few weeks' time.

Nathan Brown has had a huge season. Photo / Getty Images

Standout Player
Nathan Brown has been hands-down the buy of the season. The little-known forward left South Sydney for the Eels this season and has become one of the key players in their charge to the playoffs. He racks up big metres on the back of playing long minutes and does it all with plenty of aggression.

Key Moment
Daly Cherry-Evans' extra time left-foot field goal went a long way to putting the Sea Eagles into the finals while eliminating the Canberra Raiders from calculations. Had the Warriors stolen the win, the Sea Eagles could well have missed the top eight altogether so his speculator was not only a key moment this weekend but in the overall season.

Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a crucial field goal. Photo / Getty Images

Controversy
The Dragons were playing for their season against the Panthers so it was a ballsy call to drop Josh Dugan from their team for missing the team bus to the ground. It worked out ok though as the Dragons beat the Panthers to stay alive.

Team of the Week
1.Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
2.Semi Radradra (Eels)
3.Michael Jennings (Eels)
4.Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
5.Sulisai Vunivalu (Storm)
6.Cameron Munster (Storm)
7.Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
8.Junior Paulo (Raiders)
9.Api Koroisau (Sea Eagles)
10.Aaron Woods (Tigers)
11.Tariq Sims (Dragons)
12.Boyd Cordner (Roosters)
13.Nathan Brown (Eels)
14.Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
15.Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
16.David Klemmer (Bulldogs)
17.David Fusitua (Warriors)

Power Rankings
1.Storm (0)
2.Roosters (+1)
3.Eels (+2)
4.Broncos (-2)
5.Sharks (-1)
6.Panthers (0)
7.Sea Eagles (0)
8.Cowboys (0)
9.Dragons (0)
10.Raiders (0)
11.Rabbitohs (0)
12.Bulldogs (0)
13.Warriors (0)
14.Titans (0)
15.Tigers (0)
16.Knights (0)