Round 18 Team of the Week: Steadman keeps Seagulls' finals hopes alive
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The Tweed Seagulls are playing for their season and it showed in Round 18, as a number of players stood up to earn a vital two points.
Led by halves Tom Steadman and Tom Weaver, the Seagulls remain a mathematical chance of making this year's finals following a 50-10 victory over the Souths Logan Magpies on Saturday.
Steadman has earned captaincy honours after an attacking masterclass.
Elsewhere, Ipswich's Joe Stimson and PNG's Alex Max also recorded mammoth efforts to ensure Family in League Crazy Sock Round was a memorable one.
Each round, Queensland Rugby League recognises the 17 best performers and names 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.
Round 18 Team of the Week
1. Zacariah Miles - Sunshine Coast Falcons
The Falcons fullback helped his side back into the winner's circle on Sunday, playing a crucial role in the 38-20 victory over the Mackay Cutters. Not only did Miles cross twice - in the 30th and 33rd minutes - but he also set up a third four-pointer. Busy in attack, Miles finished with 162 run metres, a line break, a line break assist and a tackle bust. Elsewhere, Lachlan West was strong for the Northern Pride with three try assists.
2. Kaleb Ngamanu – Tweed Seagulls
The Tweed Seagulls needed a win in Round 18 to stay as a mathematical chance of playing in this year's finals series and they responded in a huge way on Saturday with a 50-10 upset victory over the Souths Logan Magpies. Ngamanu was key to this, electric in attack. The winger amassed 192 run metres, scored a try and set up another, and recorded two tackle busts, two line breaks, a line break assist and an offload.
3. Will Partridge - Northern Pride
A number of Pride players stood up on Sunday to secure the win over the Brisbane Tigers, including Robert Derby and Jake Clifford. But Partridge's involvement made quite the difference, as the centre bagged a double to get the two points. Partridge also had 161 run metres, three tackle breaks and a line break, as well as 18 tackles.
4. Alex Max - PNG Hunters
One of the Hunters' best all season, Max was on fire on Sunday on home turf against the Central Queensland Capras. A huge force in attack, the former Rabaul Gurias player got through a mountain of work, including 242 run metres, a jaw-dropping 10 tackle breaks, two offloads, a line break and a line break assist. He also scored a try for his efforts. Other standout centres included Norths Devils' Tesi Niu and Townsville's Gehamat Shibasaki.
5. Dudley Dotoi - Townsville Blackhawks
The explosive winger ultimately scored the try that helped secure a draw with the Burleigh Bears, capping off a stunning performance from the young gun. Dotoi bagged a double, ran for a huge 220 metres and recorded nine tackle breaks and a line break. Other wingers who starred include Ipswich's Ken Maumalo, Pride's Robert Derby and Brisbane's Ronald Philitoga.
Round 18 clash of the week: Blackhawks v Bears
6. Tom Steadman (C)
The Tweed playmaker stood up for his side last week with a hugely influential performance against the Magpies at Cbus Super Stadium. Steadman orchestrated the vital win, scoring a try and setting up another to keep his team in finals contention. He also amassed 228 run metres and notched up five tackle breaks, two line breaks, a line break assist and offload. Steadman also made 14 tackles with 100 per cent efficiency.
7. Tom Weaver
Steadman's halves partner was also at his best on Saturday. The Gold Coast Titans affiliate nabbed a double and set up a third try. He also ran for 105 metres with five tackle breaks and a line break. Weaver made 18 tackles.
8. Joe Stimson - Ipswich Jets
A contender for Team of the Week captaincy, Stimson was destructive against the Western Clydesdales. The Gold Coast Titans affiliate smashed his way through 245 run metres with five tackle busts, a line break and an offload. He also scored a try and made 26 tackles.
9. Judah Rimbu - PNG Hunters
In back-to-back Team of the Week appearances, the PNG rake was a busy man against the Capras on Sunday. Rimbu starred on both sides of the ball, scoring a try and setting up another in attack, while also recording 113 run metres, three tackle breaks, three line break assists, a line break and an offload. He also made 35 tackles in 60 minutes on the field.
10. Thomas Mikaele - Mackay Cutters
A shining light in a losing side, the North Queensland Cowboys affiliated forward put in a damaging 56 minutes on the field. He smashed through 180 run metres with a stunning six offloads and five tackle breaks. Mikaele also made 24 tackles with 100 per cent efficiency.
11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
The Gold Coast Titans affiliate set the platform well for his halves in Saturday's win over the Magpies. Alick-Wiencke ran for 183 metres and was hard to contain with six tackle breaks, two offloads, a line break assist and a try assist. He also made 16 tackles.
12. Jeremiah Simbiken - Norths Devils
The Dolphins NRL forward was a busy man against Redcliffe on Sunday. Simbiken scored two tries to help his side to the close win at Bishop Park. He also ran for 155 metres and had three tackle breaks, two offloads, two line breaks, a line break assist and 21 tackles. Hiale Roycroft was also big for Mackay, with seven tackle breaks and 29 tackles against the Sunshine Coast, and Dane Aukafolau continued his strong season for the Northern Pride with 127 run metres and a try assist.
13. Sam Coster - Burleigh Bears
The Bears workhorse returns to Team of the Week with a strong effort against the Blackhawks. Playing his part in the draw, Coster made a huge 41 tackles with 100 per cent efficiency and also recorded 140 run metres, two tackle breaks and an offload. Elsewhere, Rory Ferguson was massive in a losing team with 50 tackles while Mackay's Sean Mullany scored a double and Sunshine Coast's Sam Burns was also impressive.
14. Josh Lau - PNG Hunters
Benched only due to the efforts of Steadman, Hunters playmaker Lau earned himself a hat-trick to get the two points over the Capras on Sunday. He also had 98 run metres, three line breaks and two tackle breaks, as well as 22 tackles, in a solid effort on home turf.
15. Valynce Te Whare - Redcliffe Dolphins
Another hat-trick went to Redcliffe's Te Whare on Sunday in his derby clash with the Norths Devils. The Dolphins NRL affiliated centre was hard to handle and while he didn't get the two points, he was his usual wrecking ball self with five tackle busts, two line breaks, 59 run metres and 16 tackles.
16. Jordan Lipp - Norths Devils
The Devils' players' player on Sunday, Lipp has excelled since switching to fullback. He continued his form at Bishop Park in Round 18 with two tries, 149 run metres, two tackle breaks, a line break and an offload.
17. Scott Galeano - Sunshine Coast Falcons
Sunshine Coast centre Galeano was strong on Sunday against the Cutters with a try and an assist, 138 run metres, three tackle breaks, two offloads, a line break assist and 15 tackles.
