NRL Round 6 Team of the Week

April 23, 2019

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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 – CLINT GUTHERSON (Eels)

Gutherson continued his heroic 2019 form, and put on another super display to help Parramatta open their new stadium in style. We hope the Eels management know what they’re doing with the re-signing of their number 1. A certain red and green Sydney based club has just shed a million or so of salary cap in the exact position he plays in.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Clint Gutherson	2	0	2	0	1	2	2	19	190	1

WINGER – MAIKA SIVO (Eels)

Another integral part of the great day out for Parramatta at the new ground. A try, line break and almost 200 metres are good stats.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Maika Sivo	0	1	4	4	1	0	0	17	196	4

CENTRE – BRONSON XERRI (Sharks)

Continues to be the best player starting with X since Anthony Xuereb for Penrith, and was a huge part of the second half comeback by the Sharls on Thursday night.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Bronson Xerri	1	1	3	4	1	1	0	15	198	12

CENTRE – LATRELL MITCHELL (Roosters)

As if his all round performance agaisnt the Storm wasn’t enough, he nails the best looking field goal this season from 40 metres out to seal the golden point win. Form is looking ominous for Origin time. One of the passes for a try was very reminiscent of an inform Gene Miles back in the day.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Latrell Mitchell	1	1	2	13	2	0	1	11	101	6

WINGER – PHILLIP SAMI (Titans)

Possibly the best performance of a player wearing number 14 this season. Sami has these kinds of performances in him a few times a year, and the Knights were unlucky to be on the receiving end of one. In saying he has the peaks, he is still worth giving more opportunities to.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Phillip Sami	0	1	10	4	2	0	0	16	219	2

FIVE EIGHTH – TYRONE ROBERTS (Titans)

Has missed some game time this season already, but powered the Titans to a second win of the season over his old club.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Tyrone Roberts	1	2	0	8	1	1	1	5	70	10

HALFBACK – MITCH MOSES (Eels)

The performance of the weekend. Christened the new stadium with a runaway first try and was involved in jut about everything in a 40+ win.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Mitchell Moses	3	1	3	19	1	2	1	12	133	13

PROP – PAYNE HAAS (Broncos)

There’s a reason there’s plenty of hype around the big young bopper for Brisbane, despite some off field issues that may see a lesser person “rested” he still strolls into the team. Perfroamcses like his against the Raiders shows why.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Payne Haas	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	19	170	36

HOOKER – CAMERON SMITH (Storm)

Cameron Smith has become harder to like with each passing season, but few can deny his experience and value. He turned it up in the second half when the Storm, and the contest needed it most. Still can run a game like no other. Not just the onfield refereeing either.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Cameron Smith	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	8	72	50

PROP – OFAHIKI OGDEN (Bulldogs)

A second selection for prop on a losing side, but we were mightily impressed with the Bulldogs prop, and like to do things differently.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Ofahiki Ogden	0	1	4	4	1	0	1	12	116	28

SECOND ROW – SHAUN LANE (Eels)

Perhaps we got caught up with the moment by selecting a fourth Eels in our Team of the Week, but the stats don’t lie, nor does the huge victory for Parramatta.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Shaun Lane	1	1	2	4	2	0	1	11	123	22

SECOND ROW – JOSH MAGUIRE (Cowboys)

A massive perfromance in his 200th NRL game, and just what the Cowboys needed, epsecially with Jason Taumalolo out. A little tatse of what the Broncos are missing for the first time this season.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Josh McGuire	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	23	220	42

LOCK – CAMERON MURRAY (Rabbitohs)

The Souths lock continues to impress, and you can tell when he is off the field for the Rabbitohs.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Cameron Murray	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	18	166	39

INTERCHANGE – BEN HUNT (Dragons)

Playing himself into Maroon with another big performance in a Dragons win. Set up the match winner.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Ben Hunt	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	8	37	24

INTERCHANGE – JAMES TEDESCO (Roosters)

In the thick of everything good for the Roosters, benefitting from being surroinded by in form Latrell Mitchell, Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
James Tedesco	0	1	3	4	0	0	2	21	208	1

INTERCHANGE – JOHN BATEMAN (Raiders)

The best recruit from the UK in years continues to impress for the already impressive Raiders. Grabbed a try for his efforts. Only one tackle off equalling the weekend high of 51 set by teammate Josh Hodgson.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
John Bateman	1	1	3	4	1	1	0	10	67	50

INTERCHANGE – JOEY LEILUA (Raiders)

The Canberra centre is getting back to his best, he certainly was a handful for the Broncos on Sunday.

Player	Try Assist	Tries	Tackle Breaks	Points	Line Break	LB Assists	Errors	Runs	Metres	Tackles
Joseph Leilua	0	2	6	8	2	0	1	14	125	8