Standout performer

Mystery Doctor - Greg Inglis is the man. His physical play was immense and his influence on not only his lads but also the opposition is huge. Jason Taumalolo comes close for his barnstorming game against the Raiders.

Senor Spectre - Warriors bias aside, you have got to love the way Jarryd Hayne played against the Warriors. He had a hand in everything – scoring, assisting, saving tries and just being damn superhuman. If he can keep it up the Eels might be putting their hand up for the top 8.

Chief Biggums - Manu Ma'u. I'm a sucker for those fairytale stories but even if that wasn't the case for Ma'u he played outstanding in the Eels demolition of the Warriors. He troubled them with his strength and speed every time he ran the ball and was a rock on defense.

The Bain - The big man himself; Greg Inglis. A man mountain who can do anything and everything. Scoring a hat trick and generally being solid all over the park. Scary thing is that he wasn't even at his best.

Battler making his mark

Mystery Doctor - Joe Picker has to be a contender. After getting the flick from the Raiders, his boyhood club, he has moved to the Bunnies and wrapped Jared Waerea-Hargreaves just short of the line... no easy thing.

Senor Spectre - Boyd Cordner is still a young man but after a taste of rep footy last year he is looking the goods to go great guns this year. He has a massive presence and an uncanny knack of finding the try line so watch out for him making waves this year.

Chief Biggums - Beau Scott. He got the knights on the board first through a slick line run into a hole off a brilliant ball from the Knights new half Michael Dobson. It was their first and only try for the game but a good effort nonetheless.

The Bain - Peter Wallace. Showed some of his class in the panthers victory over the knights

Biggest thing you learnt

Mystery Doctor - This season is going to be bloody tight! There were a lot of close games and of the more one sided contests, you'd expect the Tigers and Warriors to not put back to back performances like that on the park.

Senor Spectre - Gareth Widdop can actually play good footy. After being starved of the limelight at the Storm, I truly thought Widdop was overrated. I take that back. He was brilliant against the Tigers and the best part about it was that he seemed to be the leader on the field, which can only bode well for the Dragons.

Chief Biggums - The speed of the game, it's picking up. A few of the teams look like they were still getting used to the new rules, while some teams flourished in them seeing some pretty high scoring affairs over the weekend.

The Bain - Souths are the real deal once again. Impressive performance overall. Huge effort on D and some sharp work on attack. Great win over a rather disappointing roosters outfit.

Young gun watch

Mystery Doctor - There were a few, Dylan Walker was very good while Ben Hampton, and the two Eels wingers - Semi Radradra and Vai Toutai also did their jobs well.

Senor Spectre - Manu Ma’u had a heck of a game against the Warriors, proving a real handful on the fringes. Expect to see him get more game time if he can keep up the busting runs and hard tackles.

Chief Biggums - I'd have to go with Ben Hampton. He did a great job stepping up into the halves at the Storm without Cooper Cronk as well as having to play alongside the inconsistent Ben Roberts.

The Bain - Shark's half Daniel Holdsworth. I think he's a solid player with some potential and has plenty of opportunity with robson and carney injured.

Most impressive team performance

Mystery Doctor - The Rabbitohs looked complete. Everyone was on the same page, they were strong enough up front and full of energy especially in the halves with Adam Reynolds and Dylan Walker running the ball a lot. While the Roosters looked gassed, the Bunnies went up a gear.

Senor Spectre - The Rabbits looked pretty fit to start the year, but I love the way the Eels played. A bit of aggression shown by their ‘no-name’ forwards and some added quality in the backs means they should be finishing higher than last year!

Chief Biggums - The Eels surprisingly. Last years wooden spooners definitely look the goods to pass that title onto another club. They ran rings around the Warriors at the end of it, but it was also their defense that was really impressive. They didn't let many players break their line throughout the 80 minutes. Everyone put in on offense and defense - that winning attitude.

The Bain - Either the Storm comeback with a severely weakened side or the impressive demolition of the Roosters by the Bunnies. Both different but showed huge amounts of class

Team/player that needs a hug

Mystery Doctor - Either the Warriors or Todd Lowrie. The Warriors probably need a bit of a smack really while Todd Lowrie needs an ice pack or two after getting the bump from Frank the Tank.

Senor Spectre - Kurt Gidley. The guy is made of glass but you have got to feel sorry for him. Went off injured once again and it didn’t look good unfortunately. Once an 80 minute man, he is nowhere near that anymore.

Chief Biggums - The Tigers and Luke Brooks. From opening the scoring in such a frantic pace to getting a hiding by the end of it. Brooks defense needs a bit of work, got targeted for this but it'll come with time and practice.

The Bain - Wests Tigers... Can it get any worse. In particular the self inflicted concussion of Liam Fulton. Poor bloke always in the wars