With the regular season concluded and the Giltinan Shield gifted, the seeds are in and the eight is set.
It's finals time!
As the routes home for each of the premiership contenders have been set, we've dusted off our crystal ball with the aim of directing you through the next month of football.
From the first round to the big one, here's how we see October playing out.
4. Grand Final
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters
So here we are. The big dance.
Your milongueros for this season? Those same upstarts and old hands from the first qualifying final.
The Panthers enter the decider having dropped only one game all season. The Chooks come in having navigated the uncharted waters of missing a week off.
This week off is always much vaunted each season and for good reason. The game is a demanding one at the best of times and the gears only go up for a Grand Final. Just ask Sam Burgess and John Satler.
Each team will have plenty to play for. The Chooks prize is obvious โ become the first team to win a three peat since the '83 Eels. Penrith will be hoping to add the Provan-Summons trophy to their minor premiership and bring the party back west for the first time since Avril Lavigne was churning out hits.
You can flip a coin on this one if you'd like, but we've chosen the sentimental favourites.
Some may suggest that it is still a touch early for the Panthers to salute, but that only suggests they haven't been watching this season at all.
Some may say that like the early nineties Panthers, they need to lose one to win one. However, we say there's no time like the present.
Back the Panthers' legs to be primed to run out a full eighty and wager that the coach's son will take home the Clive Churchill medal.
A new era is upon us.
Prediction: Penrith
