Central Newcastle have now booked a ticket to the NEWRL semi-finals in 2026, but will mid-season signing Jordan Blundell take part?
That's the question out of Saturday's victory in the penultimate round after the Butcher Boys forward was sent off.
With the game in the dying stages and only two points separating the sides, Blundell appears to lead with his head on Lakes opponent Nick Glohe.
Both front-rowers were standing on their feet around the halfway mark, Blundell in possession having taken the hit up and Glohe the tackler.
It occurred prior to what would have been a normal play the ball.
Immediately after the late incident BarTV Sports commentators say: "Hang on a minute".
How much contact was made and what level of intent will need to be determined by the NEWRL match-review committee this week.
Whatever the case may be, it was enough for the referee and touch judges to give Blundell his marching orders.
Blundell landed at the Charlestown-based club just prior to the June 30 deadline, the former Western Suburbs player having most recently been at Norths Devils (Queensland Cup) and Melbourne Storm (Jersey Flegg).
Central, despite being down a man, held on to defeat Lakes 6-4 at St John Oval on August 1.
There were no points scored in the second half of what was a low-scoring affair.
Lakes marquee Izaac Thompson earlier spent 10 minutes in the sin bin around the hour mark.
The round-15 result sees the Butcher Boys (18 points) move into outright third on the competition ladder while the seventh-placed Seagulls (13) are now out of finals running.
On the same afternoon, Wests (14) kept their season alive while an improved Northern Hawks (12) can no longer reach semis.
Wests scored 18 straight points in the space of 11 second-half minutes to defeat the Bulldogs 24-14 at Kurri Kurri Sportsground.
The Rosellas were down 8-6 shortly after the break, but rallied to cross for three tries in a row between the 47th and 58th minutes.
Wests stay on the edge of the top five while Kurri Kurri (16) slip to fourth on the overall table.
Northern Hawks led early but South Newcastle ultimately proved too strong at Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace.
Needing an upset to keep any dream alive, the Hawks lost 26-14 with second-ranked Souths (20) now all-but assured of hosting a qualifying semi in week one of the finals series (August 15-16).
Saturday's other fixture saw minor premiers Maitland (28) easily account for Cessnock (9) 36-18.
The Entrance (16) thrashed wooden spooners Macquarie (4) on Sunday, Corey Fenning himself bagging 34 points (four tries, nine goals) in a 58-6 victory.
Next weekend now shapes as a last-round shootout for fifth position between Wests and The Entrance at Harker Oval while Kurri's outcome against Maitland could also play a part.
Also in round 16: Central travel to Cessnock, Souths meet Macquarie and Lakes tackle Northern at Cahill Oval.
LADDER: Maitland 28; South Newcastle 20; Central Newcastle 18; The Entrance, Kurri Kurri 16; Western Suburbs 14; Lakes 13; Northern Hawks 12; Cessnock 9; Macquarie 4.
The Entrance teenager made his latest one count, helping to save his team's season in the process.
Ekepati, an SG Ball and NSW City representative in the under-18 age group this year, produced a 90-metre intercept with the game on the line last weekend to ensure the Tigers remain in finals contention over the closing two rounds of 2026.
Down by 14 points with around 30 minutes left, and a loss essentially ending any hopes of making the top five, a long, looping cut-out pass look destined for Cessnock's wide men before Ekepati pounced.
Charging up from the defensive line and using one hand to reach high, virtually plucking the footy from the hands of his awaiting opponent, the winger quickly put his foot on the gas.
Ekepati, an Entrance junior following in his father's footsteps, made light work of one cover tackle and was never going to be headed as he raced away down the near touchline.
"He debuted earlier this year but that was only his second game of Denton Cup," Tigers coach Ben O'Connell told the Newcastle Herald.
"He's a great young kid with a great attitude, which is what you want. That catch he took certainly put us on the front foot."
It was a big moment against the run of play, sparking 18 unanswered points and The Entrance eventually walked away from the catch-up match in the Coalfields as 28-24 winners.
"My heart nearly stopped there," O'Connell said.
"For a game we knew we had to win, we didn't start the way I expected us to ... we kicked into gear a bit later."
More importantly it meant The Entrance jumped to fifth place and officially killed off last year's grand finalists Cessnock rather than staying outside the cut mark.
There are six teams within two wins of one another on a congested NEWRL ladder.
Kurri Kurri, Central Newcastle (16), The Entrance (14), Lakes (13), Western Suburbs and Northern Hawks (12) sit between third and eighth position.
Four of them face off in live battles during this weekend's penultimate round.
Kurri host Wests and Central welcome Lakes to St John Oval, both on Saturday.
The same afternoon sees Northern Hawks tackle second-ranked South Newcastle (18), who now can't miss the semis, at Raymond Terrace while minor premiers Maitland (26) meet Cessnock (9).
Sunday's sole showdown has Entrance up against wooden spooners Macquarie (4) at EDSACC Oval.
Connor Kirkwood's back for the Tigers following a one-week ban while mid-season signing Floyd Tighe is a chance to return from injury against his old team.
"We need to win this weekend and Macquarie's a side that beat us so we're certainly not going to take them lightly," O'Connell said.
"The big difference for us, four of the other sides [also mid-table] are playing each other so you can't have all of them win, whereas we're playing some out of contention.
"Couldn't expect the comp to come down to any different way, the way it's been the last six weeks or two months. Just been so tight."
Nick Ritter will be available for Wests after escaping suspension this week, hit with warnings for two careless high tackle charges from Sunday's crucial 20-16 loss against his former club Central.
Meanwhile, four-time defending champions announced this week the re-signing of seven players, including captain Sam Anderson.
"After openly considering retirement, Sam has committed to what will be his ninth season in the black and white," the Pickers released in a club statement.
"Currently enjoying arguably the best form of his career, his experience and leadership will be invaluable as the Pickers continue to build for the future."
Anderson has agreed to one more season along with winger Will Nieuwenhuise while Matt Soper-Lawler, Callan Burgess, Isaiah Olsen and Isaac Blackhall will continue in 2028 beyond the coaching tenure of Matt Lantry.
