Every week of the Intrust Super Premiership, NSWRL.com.au picks the best-performers of the previous round. Here’s who impressed us the most in Round 10.
1 – Adam Quinlan (Illawarra Cutters)
Quinlan was a constant force at the back as the Cutters put the Knights to the sword in Newcastle. Hi broke the line twice and busted seven tackles to run 171 metres, bag a double and set up a third in the convincing victory. Quinlan was named Man Of The Match in the Fox Sports Match Of The Round and with State of Origin likely to force Josh Dugan out of the Dragons’ number 1 jersey, pushed his case to grab the vacant position with both hands.
2 – Kato Ottio (Mounties, fourth appearance)
As per usual, Ottio offered his services exceptionally on the wing for Mounties in a high-quality affair at Henson Park. An intercept led to a 90-metre run to the tryline for the Papua New Guniean flyer, sealing the game for the visitors in the game’s dying stages.
3 – Chase Stanley (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
On an afternoon when every set play seemed to come off for the Blue-and-whites, Stanley was a big part of the side’s maiden win. His game included two offloads, two tackle breaks and three line-break assists which also led to three tries. It was a promising return for Stanley, who has battled injury throughout his career – and while Kerrod Holland has since taken his NRL opportunity with both hands, Stanley may return to the top grade should Josh Morris earn another Origin call-up.
4 – Taane Milne (Illawarra Cutters)
While all five of the Cutters’ outside backs were exceptional on Sunday afternoon, Milne was a standout; the centre’s 17 runs brought 168 metres, five offloads, three tackle breaks, a line-break and two tries. Milne also had a try assist in the victory and appears better for his one game of NRL experience in Round 8.
5 – Jarrod McInally (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, captain)
McInally’s selection in the Round 10 Team Of The Week – as captain – almost needs no description at all. For the first time in Bulldogs history, the winger crossed for an incredible six tries, which was an immense effort to deliver the club their first win of the year. As if any other stats matter, McInally also ran 19 times for 205 metres, seven tackle breaks and two offloads – and was not required to make a single tackle in the game.
6 – Josh Cleeland (Newtown Jets, third appearance)
A standout in the number six jersey for the Newtown Jets, Cleeland came within whiskers of delivering his side victory on Saturday afternoon. He combined exceptionally with second-rower Kurt Capewell throughout his 80 minutes and broke five tackles – resulting in a double. It could have been three and the Jets would have regained the lead if Cleeland had not been ruled to have knocked on late in the game, but regardless the five-eighth did all he could for the home side.
7 – Mason Lino (New Zealand Warriors)
Lino was a late call-up for the Warriors, but engineered a classy 32-16 win over the Panthers on Saturday. The halfback regained possession of his own grubber kick to score in the victory, also having a hand in a number of the Warriors’ four-pointers at Pepper Stadium.
8 – Shannon Wakeman (Illawarra Cutters)
As the Cutters ran rampant at Hunter Stadium, Wakeman’s 168 metres and six tackle breaks helped lay the platform. The big man came off a fine performance for the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Residents with another good game for the Cutters, also scoring a deserved try off a well-timed Sam Coster ball.
9 – Sam Coster (Illawarra Cutters)
Off the back of the Cutters’ big 44-point win, Coster finds himself in the Team Of The Week for the first time – wearing jersey number 20, he was elevated to the starting hooking role which proved to be a good move. Boasting 40 tackles, an incredible 10 tackle breaks, a try assist and a deserved four-pointer himself.
10 – Jacob Host (Illawarra Cutters)
Host was another standout for the Cutters, who performed strongly across the park. His game-high 19 runs included three tackle breaks, a line-break, 196 metres and a try to suit. It was a dominant game alongside Wakeman in the front row.
11 – Mitch Barnett (Mounties, fourth appearance)
Barnett was strong as per usual for Mounties in their top-of-the-table clash with the Jets. The second-rower started his day in the worst possible fashion, knocking the ball on in the opening set to gift Newtown an early attacking set – but after Mounties defended the error, it was only up for Barnett. The 22-year-old scored two tries in quick succession in the minutes before half-time, first cracking the Jets defence before pouncing on a Sam Williams grubber. The double proved to be a vital momentum-changer and Mounties went on with the job in the second stanza.
12 – Tony Williams (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
In a move that many Bulldogs fans believed was long overdue, Tony Williams was this week relegated to the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. The former VB Blues second-rower had enjoyed a solid start to the season, but his performances had dropped in recent weeks which eventually saw him dropped. The man nicknamed T-Rex proved he was first grade material, however, with 138 metres, four tackle breaks and two offloads, running well on the left side of the field which brought six tries to McInally.
13 – Rod Griffin (Wests Tigers, second appearance)
At 29 years of age, Griffin has proved he’s still got it and earned a second selection in the Team Of The Week. Thanks to a game-high 206 metres, 33 tackles, four offloads, four tackle breaks and try, the Papua New Guinean international has generated a big following at the Tigers and many hope he can finally make his NRL debut at some stage this year.
14 – Dane Chisholm (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
The Bulldogs halfback was a big part of the Bulldogs’ first win of 2016 on Saturday, putting three men into space, setting up a try and scoring one himself. Importantly, Chisholm ran for 122 metres in the victory and got the balance between ball-running and ball-playing right.
15 – Zane Tetevano (Wyong Roos, sixth appearance)
Tetevano continues to impress for the Roos and is selected in the Team Of The Week for the sixth time this year. This week it was 161 metres and 32 tackles that secured his place and while it wasn’t enough for the Roos to overcome the Tigers at Campbelltown, the big man did all he could in his 80 minutes at lock.
16 – Asipeli Fine (Wests Tigers, second appearance)
With a strong performance alongside Griffin, the Wests Tigers captain ran 168 metres and made 24 tackles. Fine also scored a try to bring the Tigers’ total to 24 with 10 minutes remaining – a vital four-pointer in a game that finished 24-22.
17 – Josh Starling (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
He’s been unable to nail down a first grade spot so far in 2016, but Starling was integral to the Sea Eagles’ forward pack in Round 10. His 180 metres and 28 tackles were impressive in a 68-minute game and while it wasn’t quite enough to get the Sea Eagles over the line, he showed his experience in the heartbreaking defeat.
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