The Rabbitohs have upset the arch rival Roosters on the back of superb showings from Cam Murray and Latrell Mitchell while the Tigers have fallen again after going down to the Warriors.
Here's all the stats and news you need to know from a bumper Friday night of NRL action.
Rabbitohs 28 vs Roosters 16
Latrell Mitchell had the last laugh as South Sydney retained bragging rights with a stirring 28-16 win over the Sydney Roosters in a pulsating NRL derby that lived up to the hype.
In Mitchell's first outing against the Roosters since copping a season-ending ban last year for shattering Joey Manu's cheekbone, the pair were fittingly in the thick of everything on Friday night.
Manu was awesome at times, but it was Mitchell who had Rabbitohs fans rejoicing after racing 50 metres to seal Souths' first win of the season with his side's fifth try.
Restored to the starting side after being bizarrely benched in last week's golden-point loss to Melbourne, skipper Cam Murray was mighty for the Rabbitohs.
He either scored or set up his side's first three four-pointers in a powerhouse display at Accor Stadium.
The skipper's heroics aside, the Mitchell-Manu clash dominated proceedings.
Incredibly, Manu — who needed three metal plates inserted after last year's ugly incident — was left clutching his face again following a head clash with Mitchell on the Souths fullback's very first kick return of the match.
Roosters fans' worst fears were quickly allayed, though, when Manu carried on playing, seemingly unscathed.
Setting the tone of what was to come, Murray surged past Roosters opposite Victor Radley to score the opening try just nine minutes in.
Shortly after the dynamic lock pounced after Roosters winger Billy Smith couldn't handle an iffy short ball from James Tedesco and fired the ball out to Alex Johnstone for the prolific winger to cross for Souths' second.
With Mitchell converting both, the Rabbitohs had shot to a 12-0 lead.
The Roosters badly needed inspiration and found it through Manu, whose beautiful step and inside ball put Tedesco away in the 25th minute.
After dragging the Roosters back into the contest, Manu was the man once more a minute into the second half when he beat three Rabbitohs and carried Mitchell over the line for an explosive solo effort.
The centre celebrated by slamming the ball down in jubilation next to Mitchell and letting his ex-teammate know in the flashpoint of the night.
Alas, Keary's errant conversion proved extra costly when Murray put Cody Walker over three minutes later to extend Souths' lead to eight points.
Mitchell's own joyous celebrations were short-lived when he was disallowed a try after a video review picked up a knock-on from Johnstone in the lead-up.
The bunker also overturned a try to Keaon Koloamatangi but couldn't deny the rampaging back-rower a second time when he all but sealed victory for the Rabbitohs in the 65th minute.
Manu was unfortunate to spill a Keary speculator that led to Mitchell's runaway effort but it certainly added to the drama.
Daniel Tupou's late try was merely a consolation for the Roosters, who now find themselves alongside the Rabbitohs with a one-from-three start to 2022 following their fourth straight defeat in the spicy derby.
Team stats
Warriors 16 def Tigers 12
A seething Michael Maguire has labelled it ridiculous that a crucial Luciano Leilua appeal for a try was not checked by the bunker in the Wests Tigers' 16-12 loss to the Warriors.
Already under pressure to keep his job before the season, Maguire watched his Tigers slump to 0-3 and their worst start to a year since 2007 on Friday night.
A week after being accused of lacking effort against Newcastle, the Tigers rebounded at Campbelltown but ultimately blew their best chances.
They also had a vital one denied at 6-6 in the first half, when Leilua chased through on a Luke Brooks grubber kick and claimed he had grounded the ball.
On-field referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski did not refer it to the bunker, instead immediately awarding for a 20-metre tap as play moved on.
Quick replays were also unclear on if it had been grounded or bounced, further frustrating the Tigers.
"I just don't understand that. I really don't understand," Maguire said.
"When you've got that much technology in our game that you can't go back and see it. It's ridiculous really.
"They're big moments for teams that are going through a period like we are.
"Yeah, we had an opportunity at the back end. But it changes the mentality within a game."
Tigers captain James Tamou claimed he did not receive an explanation from Przeklasa-Adamski, questioning the point of the $3.2 million bunker if it is not used.
"I think he's just tried to continue to play the game, which at some points of the game later on in the night, was not there," Tamou said.
Maguire also drew comparisons between the bunker's ability to stop play to remove players after head knocks were spotted, but this play was allowed to be moved on.
Making matters worse, it came back to haunt the Tigers as they trailed 16-12 for the majority of the second half but couldn't take their chances.
It included a 10-minute period late with the Warriors down to 12 through a professional foul, only for the Tigers to unsuccessfully complete four straight sets chasing the match.
Playing with more freedom, Brooks gifted the team their other best chance of the second half when he kicked back inside for Daine Laurie only for him to drop it cold over the line.
It summed up a horror night for the fullback, who misjudged a leap in the lead-up to a Warriors try and threw a basic intercept when attacking the opposition line.
"Those sorts of pressures aren't there if those things go your way," Maguire said, referencing the Leilua call.
"They've got to get them right."
Making matters worse for the joint-venture club, Stefano Utoikamanu suffered a serious ankle injury ahead of a hard month that includes games against Cronulla, Parramatta and South Sydney.
Englishman Oliver Gildart was also big for the Tigers at the centre, going close to laying on a try just before halftime before a try-saver from Reece Walsh.
Matt Lodge and Addin Fonua-Blake were also big in the middle for the visitors, who avoided their own first 0-3 record since 2016.
"Last week we played far better and didn't get anything," coach Nathan Brown said.
"This week we played far worse and got something."
