Each week, the NSWRL.com.au staff writers will name their 17 best performers from the weekend's Intrust Super Premiership NSW. These selections, heavily based on statistical data, are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSWRL.
1 - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Club: Warriors; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
256 total metres, one try-assist, two line-break-assists, 10 tackle-breaks, two offloads, one try.
Nicoll-Klokstad was at his best in the Warriors' demolition of the Tigers on Saturday, once again showing spectators why he was named centre in the 2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year. The talented outside back had missed the opening two games of the season, but returned to his preferred position at fullback last weekend to tear apart the Tigers - and post the highest Round 3 metre tally of any player in the competition.
2 - Bureta Faraimo
Club: Wentworthville Magpies; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
166 total metres, three line-breaks, five tackle-breaks, three tries.
With the Magpies completely dominant over the Sea Eagles on Sunday, Faraimo was the go-to man with three tries. A weapon on Wentworthville's left edge, it must be said that Blacktown's right-edge defence left a lot to be desired, but Faraimo made the most of it to bring up his hat-trick.
3 - Brend Naden
Club: Mounties; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
191 total metres, one line-break, five tackle-breaks, one try.
Naden's big metre tally was the biggest in Mounties' clash with the Panthers, which was much needed in slippery conditions. Typically hard to handle and scoring for the first try within 10 minutes, Naden is fitting in nicely for the Mount Pritchard-based club once again.
4 - Jerry Leasi
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
145 total metres, one try-assist, one line-break, three tackle-breaks, two offloads, 15 tackles.
While the Bulldogs went down to the Roos at Morry Breen Oval, Leasi was solid in attack and defence, laying on the visitors' only try at the 64th minute mark. The Bulldogs were hurt by the NRL promotions of regular backs Brad Abbey and Marcelo Montoya, leaving Leasi to fill in.
5 - Sitiveni Moceidreke
Club: North Sydney Bears; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
147 total metres, four line-breaks, one tackle-break, one offload, four tries.
Four tries for the North Sydney Bears mean Moceidreke is an obvious inclusion in the Team of the Week, as his side eventually gave the Knights no hope of taking victory. While none of the winger's tries were particularly spectacular, he did what was required and was there when it mattered, skyrocketing him to the top of the competition's try-scorers' list for 2017.
6 - Luke Kelly
Club: North Sydney Bears; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
Two try-assists, two line-break-assists, 258 kicking metres.
The Bears were on top of the Knights from kick-off on Saturday - even if it wasn't reflected on the scoreboard - and that was thanks in no small part to Luke Kelly. He's credited with two try-assists but was frequently involved, making use of a dominant forward pack to star at McDonald Jones Stadium.
7 - Jamal Fogarty
Club: Wentworthville Magpies; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
One try-assist, one line-break-assist, one line-break, one tackle-break, 18 tackles, one try, eight goals.
The two Intrust Super Cup-winning halves of 2016 met for the first time on Sunday with both the Magpies and Sea Eagles chasing their first win, but it was Fogarty to emerge as an obvious winner. The former Burleigh Bear starred as the Magpies earned the two competition points in emphatic fashion, with an NRL debut certainly in his sights this season.
8 - Tom Burgess (c)
Club: North Sydney Bears; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
20 total runs, 241 total metres, 94 post-contact metres, three tackle-breaks, two offloads, 18 tackles.
Burgess is the captain this week following a huge 52 minutes in Newcastle, running further than any other forward including 94 metres after contact. With 20 runs he had a massive involvement and as a result is expected to return to the NRL in Round 4, replacing suspended twin brother George.
9 - Mitch Williams
Club: Wyong Roos; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
One try-assist, two line-break assists, one tackle-break, 35 tackles.
A typically solid performance from the Roos captain helped the side to a third consecutive win when they met with the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. Holding up in defence and also providing opportunities with the ball, Williams led Wyong as good as usual to keep the team undefeated.
10 - Pat Sipley
Club: Warriors; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
178 total metres, two tackle-breaks, 25 tackles.
With the Warriors running more than 600 metres further than the Tigers on the weekend, Sipley was a big part of that and can be credited with the big win. While brother Toafofoa lasted just 13 minutes before injury forced him from the field, Pat filled the void nicely at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
11 - Tony Williams
Club: Newtown Jets; 2017 TOTW Selections: 1.
40 minutes, 162 total metres, 77 post-contact metres, five tackle-breaks, one offload, 10 tackles.
One of the Sharks' most intriguing signings is yet to see first grade time in 2017, but has now made the Team of the Week in two of his three outings for the Jets. Playing only the first half in Wollongong, the former NSW VB Blues second-rower was at his destructive best as he continues to push for an NRL return.
12 - Tyrone McCarthy
Club: Illawarra; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
99 total metres, one tackle-break, one offload, 47 tackles.
Illawarra's skipper led from the front in their game against Newtown, with his 47 tackles second only to Blacktown's Brendan Attwood (48) in Round 3. The reigning premiers were impressive, taking a 10-point win despite being forced to make 49 more tackles, but it didn't trouble McCarthy who was as solid as ever in defence.
13 - Paul Carter
Club: Wyong Roos; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
13 total runs, 172 total metres, two line-breaks, two tackle-breaks, two offloads, 29 tackles, one try.
Dynamic in the no.13 jersey, Carter is the clear choice for lock in this week's best 17. Breaking the line twice for one try - but still contributing with 29 tackles - the Roosters' new recruit has filled the void vacated by usual lock Zane Tetevano and will hope to play alongside him in Roosters colours soon.
INTERCHANGE
14 - Mitch Cornish
Club: Wyong Roos; 2017 TOTW Selections: 1.
Two try-assists, two line-break assists, one tackle-break, 20 tackles.
Backing up his Round 1 Team of the Selection with another big performance, Cornish once again fills the bench utility role. Laying on two of the Roos' four tries, Cornish proved once again that he's settling in well to the new club.
15 - James Bell
Club: Warriors; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
159 total metres, two tackle-breaks, two offloads, 25 tackles.
As mentioned, the early exit of starting prop Toafofoa Sipley meant more work was required from the Warriors' forwards and James Bell rose to the occasion. Only Carter ran further in the no.13 jersey this week but Bell was right up there with the best-performing forwards in Round 3.
16 - Josh Kerr
Club: Illawarra; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
29 minutes, 120 total metres, two line-breaks, four tackle-breaks, two offloads, 14 tackles, two tries.
It takes a huge effort to make the Team of the Week from just 29 minutes on the field - and that's exactly what Josh Kerr produced against the Jets. Running in the home side's first two tries in the first 11 minutes of the second half, Kerr effectively turned the game in favour of Illawarra and got them well on their way to victory.
17 - Andy Saunders
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; 2017 TOTW Selections: 0.
21 total runs, 180 total metres, 35 tackles.
Along with Wyong winger Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, who is unlucky to miss out this week, Saunders had more runs than any other player this week and still made 35 tackles. The former Panther is shaping as a valuable addition to the Bulldogs' squad so far this year.
