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Kalyn Ponga, Mark Nawaqanitawase and out-of-form Canterbury all grabbed headlines across the final round of the NRL's regular season.

HOW ROUND 27 OF THE NRL PLAYED OUT:

* PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Superstar Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga was the difference between the Knights and Dolphins in the shootout for eighth spot, throwing the last pass for both his side's tries in the 14-6 win. The victory ensures the Knights will travel to Townsville next week to face fifth-placed North Queensland in an elimination final.

* STAT THAT MATTERS: Wests Tigers' 60-26 loss to Parramatta consigned them to their third consecutive wooden spoon and made them only the third team in 45 years to pick up the "prize" three years running. Newcastle (2015-17) and the Gold Coast Seagulls (1991-93) were the last sides to collect a trio of consecutive spoons.

* MAGIC MOMENT: Mark Nawaqanitwase's try in his fast-tracked NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters. Only 40 days after playing Olympic rugby sevens for Australia, the former Wallaby soared above Tyrone Munro to catch Luke Keary's kick and open the scoring in the 36-28 defeat of South Sydney.

* TALKING POINT: Is the premiership Melbourne's to lose? History says teams can't win it all from the bottom half of the eight, and the Storm's top-four rivals appear to be hitting a snag at exactly the wrong time. Triple reigning premiers Penrith and the Sydney Roosters have been knocked off-balance by injuries in recent weeks, while Cronulla have only had their first-choice spine back on deck for the past two games, and have a poor recent record in finals.

* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "We get rid of it. The refs used to get it wrong in the past but we got on with life. It's crazy." Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett renewed calls to overhaul the NRL's bunker system after his side was denied a try on the basis of obstruction in the loss to Newcastle.

* CASUALTY WARD: Sharks - Tom Hazelton (knee), Jesse Ramien (ankle); Eels - Dylan Brown (knee), Will Penisini (knee); Storm - Sua Fa'alogo (hamstring)

* JUDICIARY WATCH: Tigers - Api Koroisau (dangerous throw); Dolphins - Jesse Bromwich (high tackle); Sharks - Teig Wilton (dangerous contact)

* UNDER PRESSURE: Canterbury enter the finals after decisive losses to top-eight rivals Manly and North Queensland. Their mobile middle forward rotation couldn't match it with the opposition's big boys in either game and their previously league-best defence has leaked 78 points across the two weeks. It'll be a very short finals series for the Bulldogs, the season's biggest feel-good story, if they can't flip the script against the Sea Eagles next week.