It was a fantastic weekend of rugby league in Round 21, with some unmissable performances across all seven games.
The outside backs had a field day – there were four players who scored hat-tricks for example – while others made metres for fun. The hooking depth in the Intrust Super Cup is also something to be envied, and a number of the starting rakes across the teams more than shouldered their load.
In all however, the form of Izaia Perese – fresh off his NRL debut – could not be denied, making him this week’s captain.
Each round, QRL recognises the 17 best performers and name the Intrust Super cup Team of the Week. These team selections are based not only on statistical data, but also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games, with the standout performer of the week to be named captain.
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1. Lindon McGrady - Tweed Seagulls
Given his versatility, he’s been shuffled around through a few positions this season - but Tweed back Lindon McGrady showed what he can do in the custodian role in Round 21. While he didn’t make the most metres in that position for the round, he did help set up three tries, and also produced four line break assists and seven tackle breaks.
2. Talor Walters - Tweed Seagulls
In an outstanding field to chose from this past weekend, Gulls winger Walters was one of four players to cross for hat-tricks. However, as well as scoring three tries for his side, he also injected himself into the game with 206m from 14 runs (40 of them being post-contact), as well as six tackle breaks and two line breaks.
3. Izaia Perese - Redcliffe Dolphins (c)
What a weekend for the Dolphins star. NRL debut on Friday night with the Broncos and a starring turn for Redcliffe in their big win on Saturday. He made a round-high 272 metres on his way to scoring three tries in a game where he also made three line breaks and 12 tackle breaks.
4. Enari Tuala – Northern Pride
The young centre put in another customary strong performance for the Pride. With 185 metres made from 16 runs as well as 17 tackles (although admittedly five missed tackles as well), his key contributions included one tackle break, one line break, one line break assist and one try assist.
5. Anthony Don – Burleigh Bears
Another eye-catching performance from the veteran winger who got the weekend off to a try-scoring start with the first of the round’s four hat-tricks. He ran for 192 metres as well and made two tackle breaks in the game.
6. Sean O’Sullivan – Norths Devils
His form for the Devils since his return from injury will see he earn a call-up to the Brisbane Broncos this weekend; and halfback O’Sullivan was in the thick of it for Norths in their Round 21 win over the Cutters. He made three tackle breaks, two line break assists and two try assists. He also didn’t shirk in his defence with 18 tackles made.
7. Sam Scarlett – Wynnum Manly Seagulls
The experienced half guided the ship well for his side in their imposing win over the Hunters. With 109 kick metres to go with his three try assists, four line break assists, three tackle breaks – it was a busy game for the XXXX Queensland Residents half.
8. George Fai - Souths Logan Magpies
Souths Logan fans would be viewing their side’s current form with a mix of pride and disappointment, wondering why they were not able to produce that kind of form when in mattered. Similarly, big prop George Fai started the season slowly, but has started to produce some strong performances in the past few weeks, including in Round 21 where he scored a good front rower’s try and ran for 114 metres and made 20 tackles in his 48 minutes.
9. Mitch Cronin - Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Across the competition, the hookers reigned supreme with some great performances, with Cronin earning his starting place with 133 metres from 13 runs, 32 tackles, one try assist, two line breaks, two line break assists and four tackle breaks in his side’s dominant win over the Hunters.
10. Jordan Grant - Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe forwards were simply outstanding in their win over the Capras, none more so than the big man Jordan Grant. The powerful prop charged for 179 metres, with 68 post-contact metres. The former Mackay Cutter also made two tackle breaks and one line break.
11. Alex Barr - Wynnum Manly Seagulls
It was a full team effort from the Seagulls to overpower the Hunters, with the forwards doing much of the damage. Barr was a standout for his side, with his 151 metres (most for a forward in the game), coupled with 16 tackles, two offloads and seven tackle breaks.
12. Chris Lewis - Sunshine Coast Falcons
With three tackle breaks, one line break and three try assists to add to his 87 metres and 32 tackles, it was another strong all-round performance from the Falcons second row forward who earned the Hastings Deering man of the match honours in Round 21. While he blotted his copy book a little with a dangerous contact charge; his run and kick through into the in goal for Jono Reuben to score was one of the plays of the round.
13. Pride Petterson Robati - Norths Devils
The mobile backrower who has strength and good footwork to boot was in fine form for the Devils in their win over Cutters. The Cook Islands representative lost 30kg before the start of this year’s preseason with the Devils and has been a great acquisition for the club. In Round 21, he played 51 minutes and made four tackle breaks in his 153m. He also produced a strong effort in defence with 25 tackles.
14. Harry Grant - Sunshine Coast Falcons
The star Falcon almost topped the tackle count again in Round 21 (his 41 was pipped by Burleigh’s Pat Politoni) and was as always, amongst his team’s best performers as they recorded another win. He also made 105 metres, three tackle breaks, three line break assists, two try assists and two line breaks.
15. Pat Politoni – Burleigh Bears
While the spotlight this year has been on the social media / fan generated hooking duel between Harry Grant and Mitch Cronin, former Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year winner in that position Politoni has been putting in consistently good performances week-in, week-out. With a round-high 45 tackles as well as one try assist and one line break assist, it was another good game from the Bear.
16. Emry Pere – Mackay Cutters
While his team was soundly defeated by the Devils, the Mackay Cutters prop stood tall in his 61 minutes on the field. With 116 metres run and seven tackle breaks to go with his 24 tackles, it was another solid outing from the Cowboys-contracted forward.
17. Edene Gebbie - Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Just a lazy 247m for the Team of the Week regular who showed no mercy to his former side the Hunters. An entertainer in the truest sense of the word, the Rabbitohs-bound fullback also scored two tries, produced one try assist and made a whopping 15 tackle breaks.
