NRL Finals Series

Both were taken to wire in tense sudden-death clashes in week one before digging deep to keep their seasons alive.

The positive vibes will be coursing through the Roosters camp after their young superstar Sam Walker nailed a late field goal before they survived a desperate Titans raid to win 25-24.

After a season that could so easily have been derailed by injury, suspension and retirements, Trent Robinson's men keep finding a way. Belief will be sky-high.

As well as ending any chance of a repeat of the 2020 Storm-Panthers grand final, it made the job of the defending premiers a little bit tougher as well.

Now, if Penrith are able to beat Western Sydney rivals Parramatta this weekend, they have a great chance to exorcise some of the demons of last year.

On the other side of the draw we find three Sydney teams - Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles and Roosters - who will all be feeling pretty good about their chances.

One thing that's certain is to expect the unexpected over the next two weekends.

The Sea Eagles are under no illusions about the difficulty of beating the Storm – having won just two of their past 10 clashes – but they perhaps uncovered the blueprint in their round 21 match.

While Melbourne ultimately claimed a 28-18 victory, Manly had success attacking on the left with winger Reuben Garrick bagging a double – and narrowly denied a third – off Tom Trbojevic's passes.