Round 20 Team of the Week: Chester stuns with attacking masterclass
- Author
- Timestamp
Harvey Norman Women in League Round produced one of the performances of the season, as Northern Pride fullback Tom Chester ran amok against the Western Clydesdales.
The North Queensland Cowboys rising star was unstoppable in attack, notching up a massive 422 run metres to earn the title of Team of the Week captain.
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 20 Team of the Week
1. Tom Chester - Northern Pride (C)
This one was a no-brainer. In what is a likely Hostplus Cup record, the North Queensland Cowboys-affiliated young gun amassed a jaw-dropping 422 run metres, tearing the Western Clydesdales apart on Saturday. The fullback was unstoppable as he raced away to two tries and an assist, five line breaks, three line break assists, an offload, and a mammoth 20 tackle busts. Take a bow, Tom Chester.
2. Tom Farr – Central Queensland Capras
The Capras winger was integral to his side's win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Saturday. Bagging a double, Farr also ran for 156 metres with four tackle breaks and two line breaks.
3. Gehamat Shibasaki – Townsville Blackhawks
In back-to-back appearances, Shibasaki is helping the Blackhawks in their strong bid to play finals this year. A wrecking ball against Souths Logan, Shibasaki scored two tries and amassed a huge 206 run metres. He also recorded three tackle breaks, two offloads, a line break and a line break assist.
4. Braidon Burns – Northern Pride
Backing up his fellow Cowboys-contracted star with a stunning 246 run metres for himself. He also nabbed two tries and a huge 13 tackle breaks, as well as three offloads, two line breaks and 12 tackles with 100 per cent efficiency. Other notable centre performances included Brisbane's Kane Bradley - who was unlucky to miss out - as well as Redcliffe's Valynce Te Whare, Souths Logan's Ethan Quai-Ward, and Tweed duo Carter Gordon and Malakhi Donovan.
5. Manase Kaho – Norths Devils
A shining light in a losing team, Kaho was instrumental in the Devils' narrow loss to Tweed Seagulls. Kaho not only bagged a double to keep his side in the mix, but he worked his way through 162 run metres, four tackle breaks and three line breaks.
6. Anthony Milford – Central Queensland Capras
The Dolphins NRL playmaker is helping his team fire at the right time of the year. Milford was in fine form on Saturday, clocking up a try, try assist, 182 run metres, six tackle breaks, two line breaks and a line break assist. He also had seven kicks for 209 metres.
7. Kyle Foxwell – Ipswich Jets
Ipswich locked in their fourth win of the season on Sunday and Foxwell helped direct them to the two points over Mackay. With a try and two assists, Foxwell was a busy man with three tackle breaks, a line break, a line break assist and 13 kicks for 395 metres. He also had 34 run metres.
8. Keenan Palasia – Tweed Seagulls
The Gold Coast Titans forward stood up to the Norths Devils pack with a huge effort on Saturday. In a big 74 minutes, Palasia smashed his way through 147 run metres, recorded an offload and made 39 tackles with just one miss, in a solid all-round performance.
9. Jayden Hodges – Townsville Blackhawks
The Blackhawks rake put in a solid effort on Saturday. The veteran hooker made 33 tackles with just one miss and had 66 run metres, a line break and one kick. For the PNG Hunters, Judah Rimbu made an extremely impressive 52 tackles while Kierran Moseley was strong for Norths.
10. Joe Stimson – Ipswich Jets
Leading from the front, Stimson set the platform the Jets' victory on Sunday. In 77 minutes, the Gold Coast Titans got through a mountain of work, including 244 run metres, four tackle busts and 27 tackles. Other impressive props included Townsville's James Tamou and Northern Pride's Marly Bitungane.
11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke – Tweed Seagulls
Alick-Wiencke has been in strong form this year. The Gold Coast Titans affiliate nabbed a try for Tweed in their crucial win over Norths. He also amassed 167 run metres and made 16 tackles to help his side to the two points.
12. Jaron Purcell – Redcliffe Dolphins
The Dolphins returned to the winner's circle and Purcell's impact was key to this on Saturday. The backrower made 157 run metres with six tackle breaks, a line break, an offload and 32 tackles. Other notable mentions include Larson Dale-Doyle, who bagged a double for Capras, and his teammate Zev John.
13. Sam Coster – Burleigh Bears
While the Bears failed to get the two points against Tigers, Coster's effort could not be denied. The reliable lock not only bagged two tries - one of which brought his team into 22-all at a crucial point - but also had 166 run metres, seven tackle breaks, two line breaks, an offload and a huge 40 tackles with no misses.
14. Ronald Philitoga – Brisbane Tigers
The Tigers put in a true team effort to get the win on Sunday, with fullback Tony Thompson and centre Bradley among some of the standouts. But Philitoga makes Team of the Week not just for his overall efforts but for scoring one of the tries of the year. The flying winger managed to just touch the ball in to get the Tigers in the lead in the 52nd minute. Philitoga also had 186 run metres, two tackle breaks, two offloads and a linebreak.
15. Evan Child – Northern Pride
Child has been strong for the competition leaders all year and Saturday was no different. Against the Clydesdales the lock had a try assist, 118 run metres, three tackle breaks, three offloads, a line break and a line break assist in 64 minutes. He topped this off with 26 tackles.
16. Max Bailey – Redcliffe Dolphins
Another impressive lock in Round 20 was Max Bailey. The Redcliffe skipper led from the front with 181 run metres, six tackle breaks and 27 tackles in 64 minutes.
17. Takitau Mapapalangi – Burleigh Bears
In his second Cup game, Mapapalangi muscled up against the Brisbane Tigers with a solid performance through the middle. In 55 minutes, the prop scored a try, amassed 170 run metres, recorded five tackle breaks, a line break and an offload, and made 23 tackles.
