The 2024 Unofficial Hostplus Cup Team of the Year
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For each round of the 2024 Hostplus Cup season, the Queensland Rugby League recognised the 17 best performers and named the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week, presented by Hostplus.
These team selections were based not only on statistical data, but also took on board live and broadcast viewings of the games.
Each week, difficult decisions were made and players from across the competition were acknowledged - from starry-eyed debutants to the old hats of the competition.
Some players became regular faces, their consistency earning them repeat selections.
And now, based off the number of appearances throughout the regular season in the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week plus the support of competition-leading statistics, here is the unofficial - emphasising unofficial - 2024 Team of The Year.
Please note: The official Team of the Year will be named on Friday at the Queensland Rugby League Awards.
Unofficial Team of the Year
1. Jordan Lipp - Norths Devils
The grand final fullback was selected in the QRL's Hostplus Cup Team of the Week a stunning seven times throughout the season. What makes this even more impressive is that Lipp played across four positions this year, including fullback, wing, centre and bench utility. He earns the Team of the Year fullback spot as this is the jersey he has owned at the Devils since Round 14. With two finals games also under his belt - and the big dance ahead this Sunday - Lipp has scored 19 tries across 22 appearances, recorded 33 tackle busts, made 12 try assists and 16 line breaks. He is second in the competition for tries scored and equal first for intercepts.
2. Ronald Philitoga - Brisbane Tigers
The Tigers young gun returned from an ACL injury to make an immediate impact in 2024. Philitoga played 10 games - stringing a nice run together at the back end of the season - and in those 10 matches he made Team of the Week on five occasions. The 22-year-old scored 12 tries across his 10 appearances and had a massive 41 tackle breaks, 12 line breaks and an average of 190 run metres per game.
3. Will Partridge - Northern Pride
Partridge thrived this season under new coach Eric Smith, helping take his side to the 2024 minor premiership. Named five times in Team of the Week, the Norfolk Island product scored 16 tries in 16 appearances - the third most in the competition. He was a constant threat with the ball in hand, finishing his year with a jaw-dropping 50 tackle busts and 14 line breaks, as well as four try assists. He averaged 153 run metres a game.
4. Alex Max - PNG Hunters
Similar to Partridge, Max was selected in the Team of the Week five times in 2024. The explosive PNG centre was hard to contain, finishing the year with 64 tackle breaks. Max played 17 games and scored 13 tries, made 17 line breaks, had three try assists and finished with a total of 2336 run metres. He was equal third for most line breaks in the competition.
5. Manase Kaho - Norths Devils
The competition's leading try-scorer for 2024, it is no surprise the grand final winger was one of the top performers of the year. He finished the regular season with 19 tries and has bagged another during his finals campaign. Kaho has played 22 games - with Sunday's premiership decider still to come - and has notched up a perfect century in tackle breaks. Kaho has also recorded 2521 run metres and 19 line breaks - the most line breaks in the competition for 2024. He made Team of the Week on three occasions.
6. Jake Clifford - Northern Pride
The North Queensland Cowboys playmaker only turned out for the Pride 14 times throughout 2024 but certainly made an impression, with four selections in Team of the Week. Clifford scored eight tries and set up another 17. He also recorded 13 line break assists, seven offloads and 1489 run metres. He finished the regular season ranked fifth for try assists.
7. Tom Duffy - Northern Pride
Clifford and his Pride halves partner Tom Duffy were the red-hot pairing for most of the season. The competition's leading point scorer, Duffy finished his season with 216 points. Over his entire 22 games, the Cowboys affiliate - who was picked in Team of the Week on five occasions - scored five tries and kicked 98 goals. He also amassed 32 try assists and 20 line break assists - both the most of anyone in the competition.
8. Joe Stimson - Ipswich Jets
His time in Cup was short, but when he played, Stimson was a busy man. In seven appearances, the Gold Coast Titans affiliate made Team of the Week four times. In his time with Cup, the prop made 232 tackles with 90.6 per cent efficiency. He averaged a huge 183 run metres per game and recorded seven offloads and two tries.
9. Judah Rimbu - PNG Hunters
The crafty hooker had a career-best season in 2024. With 16 tries in 23 games - equal third for most in the competition - Rimbu also helped set the Hunters on their path to the preliminary finals with 91 tackle breaks, 10 line break assists, 11 offloads and five try assists. He also made 121 dummy half runs, which was the most in Cup. In defence he was a huge asset to PNG, making a total of 726 tackles across the season - the fourth highest in the competition - with 94 per cent efficiency. He was selected in Team of the Week six times.
10. Max Bailey - Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe skipper always puts his heart on the line. This was seen multiple times across the year, with Bailey picked for Team of the Week on five occasions. For the Dolphins he has played prop, lock and second row. Ahead of his first Cup grand final on Sunday, Bailey is sitting on 20 games with six tries, 34 tackle breaks, eight offloads and 546 tackles. He had 806.4 post-contact metres for the year so far.
11. Oryn Keeley - Norths Devils
The Dolphins NRL affiliate has had a sensational season with the Devils, culminating in this Sunday's grand final. With 14 appearances for Norths and seven Team of the Week selections, Keeley was destructive, particularly with the ball in hand. He averaged 176 run metres per game with eight line breaks and eight line break assists. He scored five tries and had 30 offloads - the fourth highest in the competition. Keeley also made 270 tackles.
12. Dane Aukafolau - Northern Pride
In his first season of Hostplus Cup, Aukafolau was significant. The powerful backrower - with six Team of the Week selections - had the highest post-contact metres for a forward with 1094 metres (fifth highest overall). In 20 games he scored 10 tries and recorded 17 offloads, 10 line breaks, two line break assists and 397 tackles.
13. Sam Coster - Burleigh Bears (C)
Reliable and consistent, Coster is not only lock for the Unofficial Team of the Year, but he is captain as well. The Bears enforcer found himself in Team of the Week on 10 occasions throughout the year - the most of any player. He played 21 games and made 816 tackles, with an incredible 98.7 per cent efficiency. Coster had the most tackles in the competition for 2024. He also had the most offloads with 41 and recorded four tries, a try assist, a line break assist and an average of 133 run metres per game.
14. Lachlan Hubner - Central Queensland Capras
The Central Queensland Capras lock - who made his NRL debut with the Dolphins this year - was outstanding in 2024. Hubner earned selection in Team of the Week six times and played 18 times for the Capras. He made 606 tackles and had an average of 154 run metres per game. He recorded 29 tackle breaks, 937.6 post-contact metres, 13 offloads and three tries.
15. Kyle Schneider - Northern Pride
It was a battle between Schneider and Rimbu all year, with the Pride skipper making Team of the Week on four occasions. He had 22 appearances throughout the season and made 812 tackles - the second highest in the competition. Across the year he scored two tries and made seven try assists, seven line break assists and three offloads.
16. Josh James - Redcliffe Dolphins
The hero of last week's preliminary final victory, James has been a consistent performer all year for the Dolphins. With four appearances in Team of the Week, the Redcliffe playmaker had 23 games this year - with the grand final to come - and had 25 try assists and 14 line break assists throughout the season. He also recorded three tries and three offloads. He was the third best for try assists, the top player for kick metres - with 5537 - and No. 1 for field goals.
17. Trai Fuller - Redcliffe Dolphins
A true Cup stalwart, Fuller may have spent more time in the NRL this year, but he still was a top performer for the competition. In 10 games - and with four Team of the Week appearances - the Dolphins fullback scored seven tries and set up another five, recorded a massive 70 tackle busts and 11 line breaks, and averaged 180 run metres a game.
