The final make-up of the NRL top four remains something of a mystery, but Melbourne and North Queensland did everything in their power to shore up their spots on Friday night.
The Cowboys put themselves into provisional outright second with a 44-point win over the Warriors in Townsville, before the Storm put the Broncos to the sword to leave them teetering in the back half of the finals spots
The Storm joined Cronulla on 32 competition points and did their already favourable points differential no harm with their biggest win over Brisbane, cracking 60 points for the second time this season in a 60-12 demolition.
Justin Olam and late-season acquisition David Nofoaluma nabbed doubles as Melbourne ran in 10 tries at Lang Park.
Harry Grant also dotted down in one of the best games of his career, while the returning Jahrome Hughes and resurgent Cameron Munster were also instrumental, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona picked up a late try after doing damage all night in his new role on the fringes.
This game, coming after a stingy 16-0 win over (admittedly understrength) minor premiers Penrith suggests the 2020 premiers are finding their feet at the right time.
After worrying fans and baffling coach Craig Bellamy during four straight losses, the Storm are now on a run of four successive wins heading into the final two weeks of the season.
The bad news for the Storm is they face top-eight teams in the next two rounds — the Roosters and Eels — while nearest competitor Cronulla have an easy run home.
The Sharks face 10th-placed Manly on Saturday night at Brookvale Oval, before playing lowly Canterbury and Newcastle to finish their season.
Classy Cowboys power over Warriors
The North Queensland Cowboys have demolished the Warriors, putting on a remarkable display of attacking football in a 48-4 win in Townsville.
Eight Cowboys crossed on the night, with a series of slick attacking moves constantly breaking through the Warriors' defence for North Queensland's highest score since the 2015 premiership year.
It was a fitting night to do it as well, in their first home game since the death of premiership-winning coach Paul Green, for whom they held a minute's silence before kick-off.
One night after Penrith dashed the Cowboys' hopes of contesting for the minor premiership, the second-placed Cowboys registered their 16th win of the season.
The win moves Todd Payten's side to 34 competition points, two clear of Cronulla and with a superior points differential of 115 over the Sharks after their big victory.
Should Cronulla dispose of the Sea Eagles, the two sides will be at each other's necks to secure second spot on the ladder and two guaranteed home finals in the post-season.
In comparison to the Sharks' cushy run home, North Queensland play South Sydney away and minor premiers Penrith at home in round 25.
But their first home fixture after three consecutive away games was a welcome one for their fans, hammering the Warriors by eight tries to one.
It could have been even more, but the Cowboys blew a number of chances in the final 15 minutes with Coen Hess opting to kick deep while on the burst rather than drawing and passing to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who ultimately tracked down the ball but was tackled dead in goal.
Peta Hiku also dropped the ball over the line and Scott Drinkwater's wide ball was too wide for Hess who found himself in a rare spot on the wing after a break.
Kicking eight of his nine attempts at goal, Valentine Holmes became just the third Cowboys player in history to score 200 points in a season alongside club legend Johnathan Thurston and Josh Hannay.
