Young talent Toby Sexton flew high for the Tweed Seagulls in their Finals Week 2 victory against Redcliffe Dolphins, playing a key hand in their winning plays to keep their finals run alive.
Sexton was awarded the Hastings Deering Player of the Match award for his efforts on Saturday and captaincy of this week's team, while Burleigh Bears skipper Luke Page did what he does best to lead from the front for his side as he earned player of the match honours in Sunday's knock-out win against Souths Logan Magpies.
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.
Finals Week 2 Team of the Week
1. Kurtis Rowe - Burleigh Bears
Rowe loves playing finals with the Bears and was in fine form for his side in their close win against Souths Logan Magpies. The reliable fullback made six tacklebreaks while making 152 metres during the game and topped off the afternoon with a try.
2. Curtis Dansey-Smaller- Burleigh Bears
Playing his part in an impressive backline for the Burleigh Bears, Dansey-Smaller proved a handful for the Magpies throughout the game where he crossed for an important first-half try after latching onto a fabulous Andre Niko flickpass. The winger made 152 run metres as well as a linebreak and four tacklebreaks.
Top five: Intrust Super Cup Finals Week 2
3. Sami Sauiluma - Burleigh Bears
Fresh off being named in the Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year, the Bears centre showed why he is so highly regarded with some strong runs that resulted in 217 run metres. Sauiluma also made five tacklebreaks during the game.
4. Ethan Quai-Ward - Souths Logan Magpies
It was a whole-hearted performance from skilled Magpies centre Quai-Ward whose effort could not be faulted in his side's heartbreaking loss to the Bears. The young centre tried to get his side out of trouble with 19 runs for 137 metres, with 60 being post contact. He also made four tacklebreaks.
5. Benaiah Bowie - Souths Logan Magpies
Bowie had a large crew out at Pizzey Park to support him and it helped lift him to a Team of the Week performance. On top of scoring Souths Logan's only points of the afternoon with a try in the corner following some nice lead-up work from Jamayne Isaako in the lead-up, Bowie also made 90 metres, a linebreak and a tacklebreak.
6. Christian Hazard - Souths Logan Magpies
An A+ for effort for Hazard who came into the halves late following the pre-game withdrawal of Ezra Mam. Hazard also had to shoulder even more responsibility when his halves partner Joshua James, who had been playing well, was ruled out of the game late in the first half. He also shouldered a heavy burden in defence, making 30 tackles.
7. Toby Sexton (c) - Tweed Seagulls
The silky skills of young Seagulls half Toby Sexton were on full display as Tweed dominated against Redcliffe Dolphins in a Hastings Deering Player of the Match performance. Most impressive were his kicks which helped build pressure and points. In the match, the young Gold Coast Titans half produced two try assists, a linebreak, a tacklebreaks, 160 kick metres and a try to cap it all off.
8. Luke Page - Burleigh Bears
Fan favourite Luke Page has announced this year will be his last in Cup and he intends to go out with a bang. In a player of the match performance, the Bears skipper charged hard for 151 metres, 69 of them post contact. 'The White Kumul' also made two tacklebreaks and defended well with 31 tackles.
9. Brent Woolf - Tweed Seagulls
Woolf would have no doubt been in the mix for Hastings Deering Player of the Match honours for the Seagulls, but for the standout showing of his halfback Sexton. Woolf was in everything for the Gulls during his 64 minutes on the field, producing a try assist, two linebreak assists, three tacklebreaks and a linebreak of his own, on top of completing 17 tackles and scoring a try. Cory Paix was also strong for the Magpies, making 44 tackles.
10. JJ Collins - Tweed Seagulls
A huge performance up front from the Seagulls prop 127 run metres and 22 tackles helped his side lay a strong platform against a strong Redcliffe Dolphins outfit. His side will need him to aim up again this weekend against an impressive Wynnum Manly Seagulls pack.
11. Lamar Manuel-Liolavave - Tweed Seagulls
A captain's knock from Manuel-Liolavave who set the tone for his side with a try in only the third minute of the match. From that great start, he didn't rest and went on to make 74 run metres, a try assist and a linebreak assist.
Lamar Manuel-Liolevave Try - 3rd minute
12. Kobe Tararo - Souths Logan Magpies
Although his aggression did get him into a bit of trouble with the on-field referee, Tararo brought the type of passion you love to see in finals and tried to lift his side with his runs and his defence. In the match, Tararo made 23 tackles and ran for 136 metres, making four tacklebreaks along the way.
13. Sam Coster - Burleigh Bears
Some huge numbers for Coster who has been one Burleigh's best this season. Running for a huge 205 run metres which was only bettered by his centre Sauiluma, Coster took 23 runs, had a tacklebreak and an offload and made a weekend-high 45 tackles in a fantastic defensive effort.
14. Cameron Cullen - Redcliffe Dolphins
It comes as no surprise that Cullen was one of the best of the Dolphins and you could not fault his effort as he did all he could to try and bring his side back into the game against Tweed. From an impressive individual effort to score a try to producing three try assists, two linebreak assists, a linebreak, four tacklebreaks and a whopping 235 kick metres, Cullen left it all out on the field for his side.
15. Jacob Elmore - Souths Logan Magpies
What an impressive outing from the young Magpies forward. With his team missing the experience and defensive reliability of their skipper Rory Ferguson, Elmore stepped up to the plate, playing 60 minutes where he made 30 tackles and 152 run metres, the most for his side.
16. Jeff Lynch - Burleigh Bears
Coming off the bench for the match, Lynch made his presence felt early, crossing for the first try of the match in the 20th minute after running onto a ball from the ever-reliable Pat Politoni. From then on, the big prop took 16 runs for 170 metres, made four tacklebreaks and 21 tackles.
Jeff Lynch try - 20th minute
17. Preston Riki - Redcliffe Dolphins
In a beaten team where the Redcliffe forwards were outmuscled by their Tweed opponents, Riki put in a strong effort in his 49 minutes on the field to top the run metres for his side with 109. Riki also scored the last try of the match in the 77th minute, but was also working hard in the middle of the field with a linebreak, two tacklebreaks and 16 tackles.
