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?
4. Round 5 - Sharks vs Warriors: 'The Footy Gods'
The Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand Warriors delivered a rugby league spectacle that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout the entire contest.
The Warriors had conceded an impressive 12 points per game leading up to this one, but the Sharks exploded out of the gates, taking an early 20-0 lead within the opening 21 minutes.
Nicho Hynes orchestrated a masterclass in the first half, combining with Talakai and Kennedy leaving the Warriors scrambling to contain the onslaught against the backdrop of neighbouring high-rise construction.
The Warriors showcased their resilience, and former Shark Shaun Johnson emerged as the hero in the second half, breaking Cronulla hearts with a clutch penalty goal from 36 metres out with a mere 30 seconds left on the clock.
The drama continued until the final seconds, with a late penalty awarded to Cronulla off a short restart attempt. In a nail-biting twist, Hynes narrowly missed the conversion opportunity after the siren, leaving the Warriors with the 2 points.
