It's been a drama-filled day in the NRL, so let's have a look back before we sign off:

The drama started before the first NRL game even kicked off with Lachlan Ilias suffering a suspected broken leg on the last play of the Rabbitohs' NSW Cup game, which the halfback was playing to try to work his way back into first grade. And once the top-flight stuff started, it only got worse for Souths, with Latrell Mitchell put on report twice in the first half of a 34-4 loss to the Warriors, sparked by a Shaun Johnson masterclass.

Then our attention turned to milestone man Daly Cherry-Evans, who became the most capped Manly player, with his 310th game for the club taking him past Cliff Lyons's record (Steve Menzies played 69 of his 349 games for the Northern Eagles). DCE was as influential as ever as the Sea Eagles took down premiers Penrith 32-18, albeit with some help from a very dubious try shortly before half-time.

And then we saw the Dolphins pay a heavy price for their 26-16 victory over the Tigers, who missed a chance to win three straight games for the first time since 2018.

And that's about it. I've been Jon Healy, it's been one hell of a day and I'll be back again tomorrow.

Don't forget to check your clocks as daylight saving ends overnight. See ya!

Tonight the Dolphins lost Herbie Farnworth to what looks like a very nasty shoulder injury. He definitely won't line up against his former team at Lang Park on Friday night.

The Dolphins are trying to tell us Felise Kaufusi is a chance, but he left the game very early and was icing a hamstring, so it's safe to assume the 31-year-old is unlikely to bounce back from a soft tissue injury in six days.

They're still hopeful Origin prop Tom Flegler's shoulder injury is a nerve issue rather than something structural, while back rower Euan Aitken is nursing a hamstring as well.

For the Broncos, we know all about their casualty ward: Reece Walsh (face), Payne Haas (knee), Adam Reynolds (hamstring), Deine Mariner (back) and Brendan Piakura (ankle).

The Dolphins are back on top of the NRL ladder with a 26-16 win over Wests Tigers, but it's come at the cost of some of their biggest representative stars.

Herbie Farnworth looks set for a long stint on the sideline with a nasty shoulder injury, Tom Flegler did a shoulder, and Felise Kaufusi left early with a hamstring strain.

The Tigers also lost John Bateman and Samuela Fainu to head knocks, but they'll be more disappointed with the performance on the field.

Coming off two straight wins and aiming for a third in a row for the first time since 2018, they were very poor in the first half.

It was certainly an improved performance after the break, but a loss is a loss.

The hulking Tigers prop made a brilliant break through the middle and had the Tigers rolling.

They threatened the line but on the last, with the entire team lined up out to the left, they went crash ball on the short side.

Alex Seyfarth, two plays after trying to headbutt Kodi Nikorima, crashes over off a short ball from Api Koroisau.

Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth was clinging to him as he went over, and his right arm got trapped under the Tigers back rower.

And he rolled away immediately clutching at his pec or shoulder, writhing on the ground in agony.

"F*** that hurts," he tells the trainer as he walks off the field slowly.

His night is over, adding to a casualty list from tonight that includes Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) and Tom Flegler (shoulder) for the Dolphins, and Samuela Fainu and John Bateman (both HIA) for the Tigers.

What a play by the veteran halfback, whose last kick up the Dolphins' end was one of his worst, but he just loads up on the third and belts it within 5 metres of the tryline.

The Tigers regather the short kick-off, get a set restart and a penalty.

Isaiah Papali'i powers over the line on the right, but he's held up, and Aidan Sezer forces a FOURTH straight set with a grubber into the in-goal.

It's a booming dropout though — 60 metres on the fly.

Isaiya Katoa finds the smallest sliver between the legs of Tigers defenders and his grubber pops up perfectly for a diving Kodi Nikorima.

This Dolphins side is uber talented and look as good as any team when their attack is humming.

It was a lovely curling grubber into the corner from Kodi Nikorima and Jamayne Isaako got around Jahream Bula to reach the ball, but he couldn't rein it in. The bat-back might have been the play.

Instead he's knocked on in the in-goal and the Tigers have seven tackles from the 20m line.

Aidan Sezer forces the line dropout with a perfectly place high ball, and then grubbers through for Solomona Faataape to touch down for his first NRL double.

Daly Cherry-Evans would be happy with that kick. Perfectly placed.

Sezer can't convert, so the Tigers still trail 14-10, but they're within one try.

The Dolphins workhorse has passed his HIA.

The Tigers have lost Samuela Fainu for the rest of the night to that HIA, but Origin hooker Api Koroisau has ditched the strapping on his thigh, spent some time on the exercise bike and he's back out there.

Confirmation, meanwhile, that the Dolphins' Felise Kaufusi is done with a hamstring injury.

A brilliant cut-out ball from Isaiah Papali'i sends Charlie Staines away down the right flank and he gets it inside to Solomona Faataape to crash over after a juggle.

This time it's Samuela Fainu, who's off for a high shot from Kurt Donoghoe.

He looks very shaky on his feet as he wanders off, and he's gotten into it with someone in the stands it looks like.

The Tigers also lost John Bateman to an HIA at half-time, and he copped a knee late in the first half and the independent doctor spied it.

The powerful Dolphins forward has a head clash with Isaiah Papali'i and he's off. Papali'i seems OK to continue.

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou was asked about Latrell Mitchell's performance against the Warriors, in which he was put on report twice in the first half.

The first was for an elbow on Shaun Johnson, who was coming in to tackle him, and the second was a blatant lifting tackle on Tohu Harris.

"They're both just stupid things," Demetriou said in his post-match press conference.

"He's just got to be better. Simple as that.

"We'll have conversations through the week. As a group we'll be honest as we do every week."

It comes after he avoided a ban for dangerous contact on Josh Addo-Carr last week, and following a sin-binning for knees to James Tedesco in round three.

It's not been a great half of football, but that's mostly down to a really poor performance from the Tigers.

Coming off two wins and trying for a third straight for the first time since 2018, the Tigers have put together a shocking first half and look every bit the two-time defending wooden spooners.

Api Koroisau's exit, if it is the quad injury forcing him out, won't help, but maybe Latu Fainu can bring some spark.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, don't have to do much more than hold on to the ball a tiny bit more and finish sets a tiny bit better.

All told, "a disappointing first half" according to ABC Sport expert and former Origin player Billy Moore.

Hooker Api Koroisau came into this game with a lot of strapping on his right thigh, battling a quad injury. Now, as the Dolphins go over for a 'try' that's ultimately denied for an aerial knock-on from Jamayne Isaako, walking down the sideline and to the bench is Api Koroisau.

Maybe it's just Benji Marshall trying to change things up by introducing Latu Fainu early with his team in dire straits, but it's not a great look for a battling team.

Jayden Sullivan is moving to the dummy-half role and Fainu is in the halves with Aidan Sezer.

When was the last time you saw that?

Solomona Faataape made a great run and got up to play the ball, but Jahream Bula walked away and Jayden Sullivan was the next closest player, so Jake Averillo just skipped past out of first marker and scooped up the ball.

Crikey. This is looking like the bad old days of Tigers right now.