The three-peat was achieved by the Penrith Panthers in 2023, in one of the most tightly-contested competitions of the modern era.
The opening third of the season saw some incredibly close margins, with the dominant teams starting to open the gaps on their opponents towards the back end of the year.
The Dolphins won plenty of fans in their inaugural NRL year in a season that many would not have predicted to be as successful.
The Warriors were adopted as many fans' 'second-favourite' team, with many riding the 'Wahs Wave', feeling affection for the Shaun Johnson-led side that arguably endured the hardest journey in and out of the COVID-affected period.
The NRL set new records for viewership and attendance in 2023, and it was a year where so many teams were still mathematically in finals contention until the final few rounds.
There was a plethora of encounters that we had to consider when finalising our top ten games of the year. Did we get them right? Were there any matches that you would have included?
1. Round 4 - Eels vs Panthers: "That's why you get the big bucks"
In a thrilling Round 4 clash between the Eels and Panthers, both teams showcased exceptional discipline with a high completion rate and minimal errors.
Debutant Brendan Hands faced his former team, with the first half ending in deadlock at 8-8.
As the clock wound down, a high tackle on Zac Hosking with 15 seconds left handed the Panthers a crucial penalty. Oozing with tactical finesse and precision, Nathan Cleary found touch on the 40m mark and followed it up with an over-the-black-dot 2-point field goal.
The drama didn't end there though, as Mitchell Moses emerged the hero in Golden Point extra time for the Eels, securing a 17-16 victory with a perfectly executed field goal.
