Finals Week 3 Team of the Week: Gamble's great game
The Hostplus Cup preliminary finals saw two elimination finals played with Norths Devils and Redcliffe Dolphins winning their way through to this year's grand final.
Five-eighth Tyson Gamble was in fine form for the Devils, setting up two of his team's four tries to claim the Hastings Deering player of the match award and the captaincy honours for the Finals Week 3 Team of the Week.
Liam Hampson has been coming off the bench for the Dolphins with great impact, and was named the Hastings Deering player of the match in his side's win against Burleigh Bears.
Each round, Queensland Rugby League recognises the 17 best performers and name the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week, presented by Hostplus. These team selections are based not only on statistical data, but also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games.
Finals Week 3 Team of the Week
1. Trai Fuller - Redcliffe Dolphins
Displaying the type of form which saw him earn a train-and-trial deal with the NRL Dolphins side, Fuller was on song at the back for the Dolphins in their victory against the Bears. While he was kept scoreless this match, he still chimed in for his team with two try assists, one line break assist and also made nine tackle breaks while running for 107 metres.
2. Setu Tu - Redcliffe Dolphins
The talented winger crossed for his 12th try of the season as the Dolphins defeated the Bears on Saturday, sealing the win with his four-pointer in the 70th minute. As well as scoring points, Tu also made 138 run metres which included one line break and three tackle breaks. Add to that three offloads and three tackles for a good day's work.
3. Grant Anderson - Sunshine Coast Falcons
While his Falcons side were unable to overcome the challenge of an in-form Norths Devils side in their preliminary final, the Melbourne Storm-contracted centre can still look back on his season with contentment, knowing he achieved much this year, including earning an NRL debut and playing six games overall. In his final Cup game of the year, Anderson put in a stellar effort for the Falcons, making 153 run metres, 67 of them post-contact, and producing five tackle breaks.
4. Valynce Te Whare - Redcliffe Dolphins
Since moving into the Cup side after finding his feet in the Rugby League Brisbane A Grade competition earlier this season with Brighton Roosters, rugby union convert Te Whare has been one Redcliffe's most dangerous players and he showed that again in the preliminary final against the Bears. Running for a round-high 228 metres, Te Whare also scored one try and made two line breaks and eight tackle breaks.
5. Tony Tumusa - Norths Devils
Tumusa has been alternating between centre and wing for the Devils this season, but on Saturday was out wide for his side and performed well, scoring one try and making 130 run metres from 10 runs. Tumusa also made a line break and three tackles breaks during his side's win against the Sunshine Coast. Falcons flyer Sualauvi Faalogo was also strong for his side with 155 run metres and four tackle breaks.
6. Tyson Gamble - Norths Devils (c)
The Newcastle Knights-bound five-eighth returned to the line-up for the Devils in their preliminary final win against Sunshine Coast and made an instant impact, with his two try assists, two line break assists, tackle break, 11 tackles and 158 kick metres earning him that game's Hastings Deering player of the match honours.
7. Guy Hamilton - Burleigh Bears
Always a competitor, Hamilton tried hard for the Bears in their tough preliminary final loss against Redcliffe and was one of their standout performers. Booting 293 kick metres in the game, Hamilton also scored one try, ran for 107 metres, produced one try assist, one line break assist, one line break and four tackle breaks. He was also made to work hard in defence, making 16 tackles.
8. Nathaniel Peteru - Burleigh Bears
Standing just under two metres tall in height, Peteru is hard to miss, and on Saturday, his contribution to the team could not be missed either. Peteru crossed for his first try of the season mid-way through the second half in a game that also saw him make 121 run metres, one line break, three tackle breaks and 21 tackles.
9. Liam Hampson - Redcliffe Dolphins
Injected off the bench for the Dolphins in recent weeks with great effect, Hampson again proved a game-changer for his side, earning himself Hastings Deering player of the match honours for his contribution. In his action-packed 38 minutes on the field, Hampson scored a second-half try, made 73 run metres from 10 runs, had one line break and three tackle breaks and also made 10 tackles. For the Falcons, the ever-consistent Tyson Smoothy was again one of his side's best performers, making 32 tackles and scoring one try.
10. Lazaras Vaalepu - Sunshine Coast Falcons
The young Falcons forward came off the bench for the Falcons and made a solid impact, running for 125 metres which included one line break and seven tackle breaks. During his 31-minute stint, he also scored one try and made 14 tackles. Devils prop Viko Puliuvea also was strong during his 48 minutes, scoring one try and making 96 run metres, which also included one line break and three tackle breaks.
11. Brendan Piakura - Norths Devils
The talented Brisbane Broncos second rower was part of a strong Devils pack and performed his role well in the team's win. During his 57 minutes on the field, the Cook Islands international made 88 run metres, which included three tackle breaks, had an offload and made 14 tackles. Having missed last year's grand final after suffering a head knock in his side's preliminary final win over the Bears, Piakura will be keen to play in this Saturday's decider.
12. Leivaha Pulu - Norths Devils
One of the most experienced players in the Devils forward pack, Pulu was a leader for his side with his performance. Running for 92 metres, Pulu also had one try assist, one line break assist and an offload. He also made 25 tackles.
13. Pride Petterson-Robati - Redcliffe Dolphins
Petterson-Robati played 53 minutes for the Dolphins and proved highly effective in that time, running for 138 metres, 54 of them post-contact, and producing a line break along the way. The Warriors-contracted forward also produced a try assist and made 17 tackles in defence.
14. Kierran Moseley - Norths Devils
The star defender of the weekend, Devils hooker Moseley topped the tackle count for the weekend, making 43 in the game. Playing for the full 80 minutes, the NRL-experienced rake also made 88 run metres from 11 runs, which included a tackle break.
15. Josh Rogers - Burleigh Bears
Rogers has been one of Burleigh's most dependable players all season and he gave his all until his side's last game of their season. The talented five-eighth has has had a breakout season this year, and on Saturday set up one try, produced one line break assist, made one tackle break, 14 tackles and gained 125 kick metres.
16. Patrice Siolo - Sunshine Coast Falcons
During his 56 minutes on-field, Siolo ran for 117 metres, making three tackle breaks along the way. Add to that 37 tackles and it was a captain's knock from the Sunshine Coast lock.
17. Jackson Frei - Redcliffe Dolphins
A short-and-sharp stint from Frei yielded some positive results for the Dolphins, with the Warriors prop scoring one try and making 130 run metres during his 44 minutes on the field. Frei, whose brother Brendan was with Norths as they made the grand final last year, also made one line break and five tackle breaks to add to his attacking stats.
