The NRL's Round 8 was a rollercoaster of emotions, with some teams soaring to new heights and others hitting rock bottom. The Tigers' spine shone brightly as they came from behind to beat the Raiders, while the Bulldogs' inconsistent spine changes have left them struggling for cohesion. The Broncos' depleted squad ran riot over the undermanned Bulldogs, and the Panthers' Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary masterclass pulled them apart. The Storm's sixth consecutive loss has left coach Craig Bellamy facing the toughest challenge of his career, while the Dragons' poor performance against the Roosters has left them in a difficult position. The hip drop tackle debate continues to rage on, with coaches and players confused about the rules and their enforcement. As for the Blues, Kotoni Staggs has put his name firmly in selection calculations, but the fitness concerns around Stephen Crichton could be a deciding factor. Finally, the Knights' poor error rate and lack of energy left them on the wrong end of a 44-12 defeat to the Panthers.
