Round 14 produced some of the most dominant and record breaking performances, highlighted by the Panthers claiming their biggest victory in club history this weekend with their 68-0 win over the Tigers. The Roosters also held the Raiders to a big fat doughnut, and the Storm endured a nail-biter with the Knights. Here is our NRL Round 14 Team of the Week.
Prop | Addin Fonua-Blake
Sharks shut down any dreams of a Dragons double, but it took them until the second half to really get going. Fonua-Blake proved solid in the middle with 69 post-contact metres, 165 run metres, 20 receipts, five tackle breaks, and two offloads. and was big defensively against the Dragons with 32 tackles.
Prop | Jack Williams
It was a movable force vs a stoppable object in a game where the score was 0-0 at half-time between the Dogs and the Eels. Jack Williams made 49 tackles in his 76-minute shift, his second-highest tackle count of the season, also contributing with a turnover, two tackle breaks and a line break.
Hooker | Freddy Lussick
Must be one of the best at sneaking in tries, always looking to snipe himself over the line under the nose of the defensive line. It was no different this week against the Tigers with two tries, three tackle breaks, two line breaks, an offload and 23 tackles in his 53 minutes on the pitch.
Second Row | Haumole Olakau’atu
A ridiculous 140 post-contact run metres recorded from Olakau’atu against the Bunnies, more than any Souths forward ran for normal metres. Incredible. Haumole also recorded a season-high 266 run metres, along with five tackle breaks, 23 tackles, a try assist, and a turnover in the Sea Eagles’ 28-14 victory.
Second Row | Xavier Willison
97 post-contact metres, Willison was big for the Broncos again with 224 run metres, 41 tackles, and three tackle breaks
Lock | Kurt Donoghoe
Was only on the field for 49 minutes off the bench, and what an impact he made in that time. Strong solo try bouncing off three defenders with some fancy footwork to shove his way over the line. Contributed 27 tackles defensively, had six tackle breaks, 71 run metres, and a try assist in the final minutes, setting up Thomas Flegler.
Half | Jahrome Hughes
Three try assists, a try, a season-high of 602 kick metres, and two line break assists, defensively sound with 20 tackles.
Half | Jayden Campbell
Two tries for Jaden Campbell as the Titans secured their third win of the season over a struggling Broncos side, who have now lost five in a row. He had two big line breaks, ran circles around the defence for his second try, put in big hits defensively with 18 tackles, had three tackle breaks and recorded 108 run metres.
Centre | Robert Toia
Insane try assist with a flick pass over the dead-ball line for Nawaqanitawase to go over, Incredible effort and finished the game with not one, not two, but three try assists for Nawaqanitawase. He had two line break assists, 22 tackles, 133 run metres and 46 post-contact metres against the Raiders.
Centre | Paul Alamoti
Tigers’ defence wanted nothing to do with Alamoti for his try; he was ruthless on the right edge alongside To’o. Bounced off two defenders at the same time, had an assist, five tackle breaks, two line breaks and recorded 218 run metres.
Winger | Mark Nawaqanitawase
A hat-trick for Mark in his first game back since Round 9 with seven tackle breaks, two line breaks and 183 run metres against the Raiders.
Winger | Selwyn Cobbo
A career best 321 run metres against the Cowboys for Cobbo, scoring twice, with an elusive eight tackle breaks in the match. Had a fantastic 90m run – fiending off Chester multiple times before scoring the first try of the match.
Fullback | Kayln Ponga
Season high of 248 run metres for Ponga against the Melbourne Storm. Ponga was prolific for the Knights in a scintillating match where they pushed Storm to the final minutes. Ponga recorded six tackle breaks, three offloads, a try assist, two line break assists, and five defuses. Had a bad error which led to Hughes bouncing off his shoulder and going over the line to retake the lead, but his attacking prowess throughout the game nullifies that moment for me.