The Rugby League World Cup is nearing the climax of its group stage and the tournament has already provided many memorable moments both on and off the field.
England have underlined their credentials as genuine contenders with big wins over highly-fancied Samoa and France, while Australia's demolition of Scotland was enough to make you want to watch from behind the sofa.
Fans from Lebanon, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and beyond have added to the spectacle with colour and culture in the stands as we prepare for the knockout stages.
Our man Nigel Wiskar is on a road trip taking in 10 World Cup games in 12 days and here he looks back on some of the highlights of the tournament so far.
England’s star quality
It's interesting to see the two players that non rugby league fans would never have heard of before the World Cup kicked off are making the biggest impression for England.
Victor Radley has consistently spoken winningly from the heart about his Sheffield heritage.
More importantly he plays like a man possessed.
And the sight of Dom Young in full flow could stir the soul of any young sports fan new to this game.
For years the marketing department of the RFL and the sport’s bigwigs have wanted a new face to showcase this beautiful and beastly sport.
They’ve got them. Now all we need is an international calendar to keep the momentum and promote them further.
Don’t hold your breath.
Nick’s love island
There are many small yet heartwarming details fizzing around during this tournament that fly under the radar.
The Greek side’s first tries and celebrations in that Athens bar ping out.
But who is their shirt sponsor Kythera? Tech start-up, souvlaki seller, plate repair business?
Those of you with better geography than myself may recognise it is the name of a Greek island lying between the mainland and Crete. Other spellings are available.
The goddess of love, Aphrodite, is said to have been born in the sea foam off its shores.
It is also the birthplace of 80-year-old Nick Politis, Sydney Roosters chairman and a man known as Uncle Nick and the Godfather in Australian RL circles.
He gave the Roosters the first shirt sponsorship in the Australian game back in 1976.
And now he’s sponsoring the Greek shirt with the name of his home island... the Godfather of love.
Voss the boss
Andrew Voss has been increasing his army of fans with that winning commentary combination of knowledge and enthusiasm.
Sitting alongside him on a Forty20 Live World Cup podcast panel, it’s hard to get a word in edgeways. No bad thing.
He engagingly tells us how losing his father when he was just eight years of age strengthened his childhood desire to be a game caller.
And he also reveals his next potential business venture.
Given we are chatting at Ashton-in-Makerfield library in the borough of Wigan, the talk of pies has to be on the agenda.
Mrs Voss runs a scent business and hubby has toyed with the idea of a pie-scented candle.
Chocs away for Father Xmas
The Tonga fans were there early for their win over Wales.
Father Christmas had set up stall outside the main stand at St Helens with music booming out a good three hours before the action started.
He was dishing out sweets to fans every time the Tongans scored... very quiet in that first half then when Wales were brutally brave in their efforts.
And I suspect he was responsible for the garland around Felise Kaufusi’s neck when the new Dolphins recruit took time to meet supporters and pose for snaps after victory.
His necklace was made up from a Cadbury’s Celebrations box, festooned with mini Mars Bars, Twixes and Bounties.
I’d have swiped one were it not for the fact the double NRL Grand Final winner would have snapped my arm.*
*I really don’t mean this. Felise, like all his teammates after the game, was polite, beaming and couldn’t do enough to engage with the lingering tragics like myself.
Drumming up support
The Cook Islands tribal drummers provided an intoxicating background beat during their game with PNG.
Even more exotic was the Arabic chanting from the coach load of fans bussed up by the Lebanese embassy in London for their game against Ireland.
Muslim and Christian supporters, with a smattering of knowledgable players’ wives and girlfriends, conjured a chattering, joyful cacophony to accompany their team’s very smart performance.
Maybe Michael Chieka’s team were inspired by my favourite slogan of the first two weeks spotted on Instagram by my wife and fellow Forty20 panellist Nada - who was raised in Beirut.
‘Maximum flamboyance - fuelled by hummus’.
Takes some beating.
No hedging my bets
There's been a lot of moaning about ticket prices and lack of replica shirts for sale at the various grounds.
And when a bobble hat alone costs £26, this World Cup can be an expensive business... however fetching those hats are.
But if you can tear your backside off the sofa and stump up for even the cheapest ticket, I guarantee the experience will match anything in any sports ground on the planet.
Watching the likes of David Fifita (terrifying), Mitchell Moses (freaky acceleration), Edwin Ipape (terrifying with freaky acceleration) up close really is something else.
And if you’re not having that, the two semi-naked Papua New Guinea tribesmen with half a hedge adorning their backsides that were standing in front of me in Warrington may just be the deal breaker.
