With week one of the NRL now completed, after two weeks of action making up that time, it is time to introduce our new weekly series for the league.
It is going to be relatively straightforward as we comb through all the action and provide our Team of the Week.
With round one producing some seriously good action, there are so many potential names to go with, but after some debate I have ironed out my first Team of the Week for the season.
Prop | James Fisher-Harris
To start off his second season at the Warriors, their captain James Fisher-Harris was superb in his side’s 42–18 thrashing of the Sydney Roosters. He made 153 carry metres while seemingly getting an offload away every other run, while also making the majority of his tackles.
Prop | Keaon Koloamatangi
Souths put on a clinic on Sunday afternoon against the Dolphins, with their backline making the most of the opportunities provided by their forwards. One of the key players who laid the foundation was their prop Keaon Koloamatangi, who had 200 metres in the first half and 93 in total after contact.
Hooker | Damian Cook
The hooker position was a toss-up this round, with Harry Grant playing superbly, but for me the best hooker has to go to the Dragons’ Damian Cook. In Vegas, he was an absolute superstar, and the amount of work he put in was incredible. That sentiment is amplified by his freakish 70-tackle count against the Bulldogs.
Second Row | Viliame Kikau
Another star from NRL Vegas was the Bulldogs’ second-rower Viliame Kikau. In his season opener under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium, Kikau was at his best, with 195 metres, eight tackle breaks, and two line breaks, proving to be one of the hardest players to bring down across the two weekends.
Second Row | Noah Martin
The other second-rower from this weekend comes from the Raiders in Noah Martin. The Raiders managed to squeak past Manly this weekend, and without Martin’s effort, it’s fair to say they likely could have been on the wrong end of this one. Martin made 48 tackles on the day and was also one of the Raiders’ best attacking weapons, scoring two tries to open his season and propel his team to a much needed Week 1 win.
Lock | Cameron Murray
Another member of the Souths forward pack who was crucial to their win was their lock, Cameron Murray. At the heart of their prolific attack, Murray was dominant, running the ball strongly and, most of all, being a superb distributor, allowing the ball to get to their halves cleanly.
Half | Lachlan Galvin
Lachlan Galvin had a breakout performance for the Bulldogs after a season to forget last year for the young half. He showed exactly why he is such a highly touted talent, leading his team around the park by taking on the line at will to gain metres and put his teammates in holes.
Half | Braydon Trindall
The Sharks were outright dominant against the Titans in their season opener, and plenty of that had to do with their half pairing. I could have chosen either of them for this team, but I have opted for Braydon Trindall, whose end product was outstanding. He had four try assists and two tries on the day, meaning he played a part in 36 points for his team.
Centre | Latrell Mitchell
He’s back! Latrell Mitchell opened his 2026 NRL season with a bang, scoring two tries and being a part of just about everything that turned to gold for the Bunnies on Sunday afternoon. Not only did he score tries, but he also kicked well in general play and off the tee for the majority of the afternoon.
Centre | Tolutau Koula
As we know, Manly just came up short in their season opener, but one player who did not disappoint was their centre, Tolutau Koula. He is a try-scoring machine who once again crossed the line in this game, accompanied by a mammoth 201 metres carried, showing just how powerful he is with the ball in hand.
Winger | Tom Jenkins
The Broncos were seemingly coming off a championship hangover in Week One, and the Panthers made the most of that opportunity. One player who was a key cog in that Panthers performance was their winger Tom Jenkins, who in 80 minutes scored two tries, made eight tackle breaks, and gained 202 metres on the night.
Winger | Sione Katoa
On the other wing, we have Sharks star Sione Katoa, who was another huge part of their dismantling of the Titans. He created a few line breaks, scored a try, and also carried the ball for 184 hard-earned metres to ensure his side was consistently on the front foot.
Fullback | Kalyn Ponga
To round out this team, we have the star of the round, Kalyn Ponga. The Knights’ star man lived up to the hype in Vegas, ensuring he got on the ball as much as possible to guide his team to an upset win in Sin City. He kicked his goals, kicked well in general play, and was dangerous with the ball in hand, creating two tries for his teammates in what was a classy opening performance from Ponga.
