The NRL has had its big adventure on the Sunshine Coast, and saw some upset wins, and some big wins, and another big win is our NRL Round 5 Team of the Week.
After sitting through all of the eight NRL Round 5 games, we may as well have something constructive to show for it.
Our NRL Round 5 Team of the Week list features the best players from the weekend, and where possible try to pick the 13 players in position, and then the next best four, where possible. But some positions don’t shine like others, so we have a flexible starting 13 from time to time.
As usual there’s a pile of five eighths begging to be selected, but you can only pick one in each position, and there’s just a handful of interchange for support.
Of course any Team of the Week is going to cause debate, so feel free to pick apart our NRL Round 2 Team of the Week.
NRL Round 5 Team of the Week
FULLBACK – ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (Warriors)
Was in everything against the Rabbitohs and looked like something was going to happen with every touch. A vintage season so far for RTS.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | 1 | 4 | 17 | 218 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
WING – JOSH ADDO-CARR (Storm)
After a slowish start to the season, Addo Carr showed some glimpses of last year’s form. Part of a group of players to show why Queensland should be very worried for this year’s State of Origin from this weekend.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Josh Addo-Carr | 2 | 8 | 11 | 102 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
CENTRE – LATRELL MITCHELL (Roosters)
A second consecutive Team of the Week nomination for the Rooster, who is getting back to confident best.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Latrell Mitchell | 1 | 14 | 13 | 146 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
CENTRE – JOEY LEILUA (Canberra)
Part of the Canberra side that kept previously slippery Eels to nil. The good old days of Joey combining with Jordan Rapana look like returning. The horn and viking clap is still gold. Good, different.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Joseph Leilua | 0 | 0 | 13 | 135 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
WING – JAMAYNE ISAAKO (Broncos)
Possibly an odds selection but the man known as Hollywood still impressed despite the Broncos losing. Deserves a go at fullback sooner rather than later. An injury to Darius Boyd would be a massive silver lining.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Jamayne Isaako | 0 | 8 | 14 | 147 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
FIVE EIGHTH – CODY WALKER (Rabbitohs)
Four tries and one of them the match winner as he dove like Superman to win South Sydney the match against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast. Dangerous throughout, and rewarded for his skills, quick thinking and backing up. Continues to be one of Souths’ best.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Cody Walker | 4 | 16 | 17 | 144 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
HALFBACK – BEN HUNT (Dragons)
If Ben Hunt has an off day later in the season and gets attacked on social media again, perhaps those fools can remember this match against the Bulldogs where he destroyed the opposition and was in everything. He may well just play himself into an Origin jersey again, even as a temporary number nine he could cause trouble.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Ben Hunt | 2 | 8 | 14 | 110 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
PROP – MARTIN TAUPAU (Manly)
In case you hadn’t seen any of our previous Team of the Weeks from earlier in the season, we love Martin Taupau’s work, and his form is one of the backbone to Manly’s revival. Probably not quite as good as his big effort last week, but still good.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Martin Taupau | 0 | 0 | 12 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
HOOKER – DAMIEN COOK (Rabbitohs)
Simply his best performance of the season so far, and a performance that should be sending off alarms bells for the Maroons in a month of so. Given the space he needed, he tore up the Warriors at times, providing plenty of forward momentum.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Damien Cook | 0 | 0 | 17 | 172 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
PROP – JOSH PAPALII (Raiders)
The big man for the Raiders laid down a decent platform for the Raiders as his team kept the Eels scoreless. Just in time for Origin selection we figure.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | Tackle Bust | Errors |
| Josh Papalii | 1 | 4 | 17 | 154 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
SECOND ROW – VILIAME KIKAU (Panthers)
The big, big man, is starting to come back into the form that saw him delight for the Panthers last weekend.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Viliame Kikau | 1 | 4 | 12 | 114 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
SECOND ROW – BOYD CORDNER (Roosters)
The Roosters captain offered plenty for the minor premiers against the Sharks. Yet another NSW Blue finding some form at the right time.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Boyd Cordner | 1 | 4 | 18 | 165 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
LOCK – JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (Panthers)
A good night out for the Penrith lock on another disappointing night for his side.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| James Fisher-Harris | 1 | 4 | 13 | 133 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
INTERCHANGE – LUKE KEARY (Rossters)
Another masterful symphony of rugby league from the current maestro of the Roosters. Set up the easy win over the Sharks with his speed and guile. Yet another appearance in our NRL Team of the Week.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Luke Keary | 0 | 0 | 5 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
INTERCHANGE – COREY NORMAN (Dragons)
Another great weekend for Norman, who at least didn’t have to slot the winning field goal for the third week in a row. Forming some kind of partnership with Hunt. We reckon the Broncos could do with such a partnership right now.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Corey Norman | 0 | 0 | 13 | 105 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
INTERCHANGE – MICHAEL CHEE-KAM (Tigers)
Scorer of the match winning try, but impressive enough before then. Good week for players with hyphenated names.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Michael Chee-Kam | 1 | 4 | 13 | 140 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
INTERCHANGE – JAKE TRBOJEVIC (Sea Eagles)
Another big effort from the remaining TrMy Itemsbojevic brother. Once again being one of the remaining NSW Blues to get back into form.
| Player | Tries | Points | Runs | Metres | LB | LB Asts | Try Asts | TackleBust | Errors |
| Jake Trbojevic | 0 | 0 | 14 | 132 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
NRL Round 5 Team of the Week Top Five
The NRL Round 5 Team of the Week are the best for the games played in that weekend, but some are just a little better than others. So we give out bonus points from 5-4-3-2-1.
5pts – Damien Cook
4pts – Cody Walker
3pts – Ben Hunt
2pts – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
1pts – Viliame Kikau
TEAM OF THE YEAR PROGRESS
After five rounds here is the top 15 or so.
| Player | Total |
| C. Munster | 10 |
| M. Taupau | 8 |
| A. Reynolds | 7 |
| L. Keary | 7 |
| C. Gutherson | 7 |
| R. Tuivasa-Sheck | 7 |
| J. Taumalolo | 6 |
| T. Trbojevic | 6 |
| D. Cook | 6 |
| T. Pangai | 5 |
| R. Farah | 5 |
| D. Cherry-Evans | 5 |
| C. Walker | 5 |
[…] [ April 15, 2019 ] NRL Round 5 Team of the Week NRL […]