Round 19 delivered it all: the Dolphins were held scoreless for the first time in club history, the Sharks recorded their biggest-ever winning margin, we witnessed a Golden Point classic, and a two-point try fest. Here’s our Team of the Week from Round 19.
Prop | Jack Williams
A full 80’ for Jack against the Roosters, where he put on a season-high performance with 51 tackles in the match, six tackle breaks, two turnovers,106 run metres and 38 post-contact metres. Broke straight through the middle to assist the Eels’ first try of the match and take the lead.
Prop | Trey Mooney
Recorded 170 run metres, his season-best so far, with his second-highest tally of 38 tackles and four tackle breaks in his 57 minutes on the field, with two offloads in the two-point loss to the Bunnies.
Hooker | Owen Pattie
Incredible work from the 22-year-old with a double 40/20 in the match against the Bulldogs, after a 40/20 in his last match against the Dragons in Round 17. Made 33 tackles in his 60 minutes on the park, had two turnovers and a try assist as well.
Second Row | Jacob Laban
Laban was lethal on the edge with a season-best of 160 run metres in the Warriors’ dominant victory over the Tigers. Laban also had a career-best six tackle breaks in the match with 35 tackles, two line breaks, a try assist and two defusals.
Second Row | Dylan Lucas
49 tackles, five tackle breaks, 159 run metres and a try assist for Lucas, very unlucky not to have scored as the Knights’ disallowed tries began to mount up against the Bunnies in their two-point loss.
Lock | Zac Hosking
A Hat-trick for Hosking in the Raiders’ thumping over the Bulldogs. Good in the air and a menace in the middle with 124 run metres, 28 tackles, two offloads, two tackle breaks, and a turnover.
Half | Nicho Hynes
Contributed a massive 30 points in the Sharks 66-0 thrashing over the Dolphins, the most scored by a Sharks Player in a single match. He went 11/11 on conversions, trotting over with two tries of his own, a huge try saving effort on Tevita Naufahu, three try assists, three Line break assists, three tackle breaks and two offloads in the game.
Half | Dylan Brown
Six tackle breaks, 156 run metres, 20 tackles, a try assist and three offloads, did well between himself and Ponga to try to fight back from a 20-point deficit.
Centre | Jesse Ramien
Two tries, 174 run metres, six tackle breaks, two line breaks and two turnovers in the 66-point victory over the scoreless Dolphins.
Centre | Tallis Duncan
Back to centre and back to dominating the defence. Duncan made a season-best of nine tackle breaks against the Knights, with a try, an assist, and 152 run metres, two line breaks and a line break assist.
Winger | Daniel Tupou
A dream second half for Tupou with three tries for his 300th NRL game. Tupou becomes the 57th player in NRL history to reach 300 games, as a true one-clubber. What better way to mark the special day than a hat-trick and a win, with 203 run metres in the match.
Winger | Braidon Burns
An incredible ten tackle breaks for Braidon Burns against Manly. Showed a balance of brain and brawn for his double try in the second half, very close to having a hat-trick as well. Recorded 209 run metres, two line breaks, and an offload in the Cowboys’ Golden Point victory.
Fullback | Keano Kini
Put up 276 run metres against the Storm, his second-highest of the season. Had three line breaks and two tackle breaks, a try-saving effort (arguably two but whatever) in the match with a beautifully timed run hitting the gap, scoring a try and tying up the game to 18-a-piece. Had four offloads and 3 kicks defused.
