Round 21 Team of the Week: Dolphins flyer Fuller at his fabulous best
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The race to finals is on and players were all stepping up in Round 21 of Hostplus Cup.
There were numerous doubles, big tackle counts and plenty of stellar performances across the five games played.
Northern Pride, led by halves Jake Clifford and Thomas Duffy, secured the minor premiership with a win over Sunshine Coast Falcons in Cairns.
And Redcliffe Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller was at his best with a big performance against Ipswich Jets, earning him Hostplus Strong Performer and Round 21 Team of the Week skipper honours.
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 21 Team of the Week
1. Trai Fuller - Redcliffe Dolphins (C)
The 2023 Petero Civoniceva Medal winner - always dangerous in attack - did what he does best in Round 21, running for 235 metres, scoring two tries and setting up one try against Ipswich Jets. Fuller, who has appeared nine times in the NRL this year, also make four line breaks and nine tackle breaks to earn himself Team of the Week skipper honours and the Hostplus Strong Performer nod.
2. Brandon Nima - PNG Hunters
The hard-running Hunters winger scored a double for his side against Tweed Seagulls to help secure the win in Port Moresby. Nima also ran for 187 metres, made two line breaks, five tackle breaks and two tackles, missing none. Norths Devils winger Blake Paskins was also strong with one try assist, 157 run metres, including 47 post-contact, two line breaks and five tackle breaks.
3. Esom Ioka - Western Clydesdales
The Clydesdales centre put in an impassioned performance in a losing side in Round 21 to earn a spot in Team of the Week. Ioka scored one try, ran for 119 metres, made one line break, five tackle breaks and 17 tackles against Brisbane Tigers. Northern Pride's Braidon Burns also gets a mention for clocking 208 run metres, including 84 post-contact, and making eight tackle breaks.
4. Luke Maddaford - Ipswich Jets
Despite his side going down to Redcliffe Dolphins, the Jets centre lifted to a level he can be proud of. Maddaford scored the Jets' only try, ran for 162 metres, including 62 post-contact, made 12 tackle breaks and 13 tackles.
5. Flynn Camilleri - Sunshine Coast Falcons
The Falcons winger scored the first two tries in the game to take his season 2024 tally to 11 tries from 16 appearances, ran for 153 metres, made one line break and four tackle breaks to earn a spot in the Round 21 Team of the Week.
6. Jake Clifford - Northern Pride
The North Queensland Cowboys-contracted weapon - "a strong ball runner" as coach Eric Smith put it - beat stiff competition in the five-eighth stakes in Round 21, with plenty of big performances across the games. Clifford scored two tries, assisted in two tries, ran for 112 metres, made two line breaks and four tackle breaks to help his side get the win over the Falcons. Dolphins five-eighth Latrell Siegwalt was also excellent with one try, one try assist, 140 run metres, one line break, three tackle breaks and he also kicked seven of eight conversions. The Hunters' Joshua Lau also gets a mention for a top-notch performance.
7. Thomas Duffy - Northern Pride
Alongside Clifford, Duffy was strong for Pride; with both getting a nod from coach Smith after the game. "Cliff and Duff, especially in that second half, I love seeing both those guys run the ball," he said. Duffy assisted in four tries, kicked four from four conversions, ran for 73 metres, made 303 kick metres, had one line break, two line break assists and made 19 tackles.
8. Joe Stimson - Ipswich Jets
Stimson made a huge 52 tackles, with a tackle efficiency of 92.86 per cent, against Redcliffe Dolphins. The Gold Coast Titans-contracted prop also ran for 125 metres, made four tackle breaks and had 13 hit-ups. Wynnum Manly prop Cooper Page-Wilson was also good, scoring one try, making one line break, two tackle breaks and 24 tackles in 33 minutes.
9. Judah Rimbu - PNG Hunters
The Hunters hooker was strong through the middle with one try, 176 run metres, including 38 post-contact, made one line break, nine tackle breaks and 29 tackles with a tackle efficiency of 93.55 per cent. Jets hooker Brandon Clarke also put in a strong performance with 57 run metres, one line break, two tackle breaks and 35 tackles, with a tackle efficiency of 94.59 per cent, in 48 minutes.
10. Brent Woolf - Redcliffe Dolphins
Woolf was excellent off the bench for the Dolphins in Round 21, providing punch. Woolf scored two tries, ran for 100 metres, made one line break, four tackle breaks and 27 tackles in 62 minutes. Teammate Josh Kerr was also good with one try, 121 run metres, one line break and three tackle breaks in 42 minutes, while Wynnum Manly's Kalolo Saitaua was hard to handle with 115 run metres and eight tackle breaks.
11. Louis Geraghty - Sunshine Coast Falcons
Geraghty, the one-club man who hit his 100 Cup games milestone in Round 19, was solid in attack and defence for the Falcons in Round 21. The second rower scored one try, ran for 73 metres, made one line break, four tackle breaks and 39 tackles.
12. Asher O'Donnell - Brisbane Tigers
In his 10th appearance for the Tigers in season 2024, O'Donnell was superb. The hard-running second rower ran for 164 metres, including 71 post-contact, had 14 hit-ups, made five tackle breaks and 29 tackles to secure his spot in Team of the Week. Teammate Thomas Rafter was also solid with one try assist, one line break, two tackle breaks and 27 tackles, as was opposition second rower Blake Lenehan with 111 run metres, three tackle breaks and 24 tackles, missing none.
13. Mason Teague - Norths Devils
The Dolphins-contracted lock put in a top-notch performance for the Devils against Wynnum Manly. Teague scored one try, registered 121 run metres, including 46 post-contact, made one line break, one tackle break and a huge 41 tackles, with 93.18 per cent tackle efficiency.
14. Ollie Pascoe - Wynnum Manly Seagulls
The first bench spot goes to the Wynnum Manly interchange player, who was excellent for his side at the weekend. Pascoe scored one try, assisted in one try, ran for 76 metres, made one line break, four tackle breaks and 33 tackles with 91.67 per cent tackle efficiency.
15. Lindon McGrady - Tweed Seagulls
McGrady - Tweed royalty - was on fire in Round 21. McGrady, who was pipped at the post by Fuller for starting fullback honours, scored one try, assisted in one try, kicked five from five conversions, ran for 173 metres, made two line breaks and nine tackle breaks.
16. Kurt Falls - Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Falls was on fire for Wynnum Manly. The handy five-eighth scored two tries, ran for 111 metres, made 331 kick metres, one line break, four tackle breaks and 22 tackles with 91.67 per cent tackle efficiency.
17. Caius Faatili - Sunshine Coast Falcons
Falcons prop Faatilli was a standout for his side with 144 run metres, including 70 post-contact, four tackle breaks and 17 tackles in 40 minutes; coach Brad Henderson said "physically challenged them all game... he can hold his head high".
