Round 2 Team of the Week: Ahearn simply superb

Intrust Super Cup Round 2 saw a myriad of exciting, entertaining and edge-of-your-seat games. 

Fans turned out to all seven games - and tuned in to the two broadcast games - to cheer on the talented players who feature in Queensland's premier statewide competition. 

Norths Devils captain Jack Ahearn was at his consistent best and helped his side narrowly defeat Redcliffe Dolphins, earning him the Hastings Deering player of the match and captain in this week's Team of the Week. 

Each round, Queensland Rugby League 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 named captain. 

1. Luke Polselli - Sunshine Coast Falcons

The Falcons fullback was on fire in Round 2, scoring two tries, clocking the most run metres with his side with 178, including 43 post-contact; he had the most line breaks with two, one line break assist and 10 tackle breaks during his 80 minutes on the field. Wynnum Manly Seagulls young gun Selwyn Cobbo was also excellent, scoring one try, clocking the most run metres for his team with 173 and the most line breaks with two. Townsville Blackhawks fullback Josh Hoffman was also extremely impressive. 

2. Kalifa Faifai Loa - Townsville Blackhawks 

Faifai Loa, who was named in the Round 1 Team of the Week, goes back-to-back after an impressive outing against Brisbane Tigers. The showy winger scored two tries, clocked 162 run metres including 73 post-contact, and made six tackle breaks. Wynnum Manly's Mathew Lyons was also impressive, scoring two tries; as was Mackay Cutters' Josh Smith, who also scored two tries. 

3. Carlin Anderson - Townsville Blackhawks

The Blackhawks centre was instrumental for the side; he scored two tries, kicked a conversion, made the most run metres for his team with 213 and had the most line breaks with two.

4. Connor Broadhurst - Norths Devils

The Norths weapon was excellent. Broadhurst made the most run metres for his team with 253, including 57 post-contact, and made one line break. Karmichael Hunt, during his second Cup game for Souths Logan, was also very good, as he was in Round 1; he scored one try for his losing side.  

5. Brendon Gotuno - PNG Hunters 

The Hunters winger was simply electric during his side's win over Ipswich Jets at Bycroft Oval. He scored three tries, had the most line breaks for his side with three and clocked 117 run metres with 35 post-contact. 

6. Josh Rogers - Burleigh Bears 

The Bears five-eighth was superb during the Bears' 28-14 win over Mackay Cutters, with one line break, one try and he kicked four from five conversion attempts, adding 12 points to the Bears' overall score. Sunshine Coast dynamo Jack Wright was also very impressive in Round 2, scoring two tries. 

7. Jack Ahearn - Norths Devils (C)

The Norths skipper was the Hastings Deering player of the match for his performance against Redcliffe Dolphins. During his 80 minutes on the field, he clocked 227 run metres, including 40 post-contact, had one line break assist, and three tackle breaks. Wynnum Manly's Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu was phenomenal, scoring two tries, and Sunshine Coast's always-consistent Todd Murphy was on fire. 

8. Epel Kapinias - PNG Hunters

The Hunters prop scored two tries during his 72 minutes on the field against Ipswich Jets, clocked 136 run metres including 46 post-contact, had two line breaks, three tackle breaks and 12 hit-ups. 

9. Jayden Berrell - Wynnum Manly Seagulls

The Wynnum Manly hooker was a stand-out during his side's 36-24 win over Tweed Seagulls. Berrell made the most tackles for his team with 34 – with a 97.1 per cent tackle efficiency, scored one try, made 99 run metres and was amongst most of the action all game. Norths' Danny Levi sparked much of his side's attack and was a cut above the rest, with one try and one try assist during his 41 minutes on the field. 

10. Nat Neale - Ipswich Jets

The Jets skipper makes his second appearance in Team of the Week for 2021 after an impressive performance in a losing side in Round 2. 'Mr Consistency' made the most tackles for his team with 33 at 94.3 per cent tackle efficiency, made the most run metres with 176, had one line break, eight tackle breaks and 17 hit-ups during his 69 minutes on the field. 

11. Shane Wright - Mackay Cutters

The Cutters second rower was strong for his side during their loss against Burleigh Bears. Wright scored one try, clocked 156 run metres including 53 post contact, had one tackle break, made 12 hit-ups and 26 tackles. 

12. Brendan Frei - Norths Devils

The Norths talent also goes back-to-back with Team of the Week selections after his performance against Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 2. Frei scored one try, clocked 162 run metres including 50 post-contact, made one line break, one line break assist, one try assist and made 31 tackles.

13. Lachlan Hubner - Central Queensland Capras

The Capras lock was solid for the Central Queensland side during their Round 2 draw with Northern Pride. He made the most tackles for his side with 46 with a tackle efficiency of 90.2 per cent, had 10 hit-ups and one tackle break during his 60 minutes on the field. 

14. Jacob Hind - Burleigh Bears 

Hind, who came off the bench for the Bears during their win over Mackay Cutters, scored one try, clocked 124 run metres including 45 post-contact, made one line break, eight tackle breaks and made 24 tackles during his 39 minutes on the field. 

15. Liam Hampson - Tweed Seagulls

Hampson came off the bench for Tweed against Wynnum Manly and was dangerous whenever he had the ball. The young talent scored two tries, had the most line breaks for his team with two, made seven tackle breaks and made 24 tackles during his 53 minutes on the field. 

16. Ryan Turner - Redcliffe Dolphins

The Dolphins prop, during his 45 minutes on the field, was a stand-out for the Dolphins during their narrow loss against Norths Devils in Round 2. Turner made 135 run metres, 14 hit-ups and 20 tackles. 

17. Tom McGrath - Northern Pride   

McGrath, during his 57 minutes on the field, scored one try, had the most run metres for his side with 171 and the most line breaks with two; he also made 28 tackles.