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?
7. Round 8 - Dolphins vs Titans: One of the greatest comebacks in the NRL era
Another Queensland rivalry was born in Round 8, with the Dolphins and Titans, with the latter falling to one of the NRL era's greatest ever comebacks. Dominant early, the Titans secured a commanding 26-0 lead in the first 33 minutes.
Much had been made of Wayne Bennett's off-season recruitment strategy of focusing on experienced, hard-nosed forwards.
Tries from Mark Nicholls and Jarrod Wallace sparked the comeback. The comeback could have came to fruition earlier, if not for one of the all-time brain explosions from Robert Jennings. Unopposed and just a metre from the try-line, he lay down and surrendered to a tackle, despite no defenders being anywhere near him.
Undeterred, the Dolphins orchestrated a stunning revival, overcoming the 26-0 deficit to secure a sensational 28-26 victory. This historic comeback showcased the Dolphin's resilience and left the Titans to contemplate a game that slipped away.
