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 - Watson Heleta
Club: Wests Tigers; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
19 total runs, 220 total metres, seven tackle-breaks.
The livewire Tigers fullback proved a tough man to contain in his side's two-point loss to the Jets last weekend. Running for in excess of 200 metres, Heleta asked plenty of questions of the Newtown defence, often leaving Greg Matterson's men clutching at air as he ran by.
2 - Bureta Faraimo
Club: Wentworthville Magpies; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
157 total metres, three line-breaks, seven tackle-breaks, two offloads, two tries.
The competition's leading try scorer, Bureta Faraimo crossed for a pair of tries in Wentworthville's heart-stopping loss to the Knights in Round 4. Faraimo asked plenty of questions of the Knights' defence, and often they had no answers.
3 - Jamal Idris
Club: Wests Tigers; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
99 total metres, one try-assist, six tackle-breaks, four line-breaks.
A late inclusion into the Tigers outfit last weekend, True Blue Jamal Idris impressed all comers in the side's loss to the Jets. Statistics credit Idris with the lone try assist, though the big outside-back had a hand in each of the Tigers three first-half tries, and caused plenty of headaches for the Newtown defence.
4 - Nathan Davis
Club: Wentworthville Magpies; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
124 total metres, one line-break, five tackle-breaks, one offload, one try.
Former Gold Coast Titan Nathan Davis earns his place in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week after a strong performance against the Newcastle Knights. Davis proved a tough man to contain, breaking five tackles and crossing for a try his side's loss in the Hunter.
5 - James Tuitahi
Club: Newtown Jets; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
87 total metres, two line-breaks, two tackle-breaks, two tries.
Kept quiet for much of the Jets clash with the Tigers, James Tuitahi finished with a late roar to see the Newtown side home to a much-needed win. Two second-half tries - including what proved the match-winner - sees the Newtown flyer book his place in the Team of the Week.
6 - Penani Manumalealii
Club: Newtown Jets; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
One try-assist, two line-break-assists, two tackle-breaks, two offloads.
Intstrumental in the Jets' win, Manumalealii threw a gem of a pass to set up Tuitahi's last-gasp winning try. The returning Jets pivot let his voice be heard all throughout the contest, directing traffic and piloting the Newtown side to the eventual two-point win.
7 - Darren Nicholls
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
One try-assist, one line-break, seven tackle-breaks, one offload, 23 tackles, one try, four goals.
Backing up his selection in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week from Round 2, Panthers half Darren Nicholls earns the title of the week's most esteemed number seven. It was a complete performance by the Penrith general, strong in both attack and defence, and he was rewarded with a try as the Panthers downed the previously-undefeated Wyong Roos.
8 - Kurt Dillon (c)
Club: Newtown Jets; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
17 total runs, 189 total metres, one offload, 47 tackles.
Strong from the game's first carry, Newtown prop Kurt Dillon earns the mantle of the Captain of the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week.
Producing phenomenal numbers for a bigger body, Dillon's efforts - both with and without the ball - show all the makings of a future leader.
9 - Mitch Rein
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 1
One line-break-assist, one line-break, two tackle-breaks, one offload, 46 tackles, one try.
Penrith's Mitch Rein pushed his claims for an NRL recall with another strong showing in the Panthers win over the Wyong Roos. Crafty out of acting half, Rein laid on a try, crossed for one of his own, and didn't shy away from the tough work in defence.
10 - Dave Taylor
Club: Mounties; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
134 total metres, 54 post-contact metres, four tackle-breaks, one offload, 28 tackles.
The 'Coal Train' was at his barnstorming best, albeit in a losing side, as the Mounties fell at the feet of the Bears in a hard slog at Aubrey Keech Reserve last Saturday. Tackle-breaks, big metres, and plenty of post-contact distance travelled, show that Taylor was a tough man to contain in the wet conditions.
11 - Kyle Lovett
Club: Wests Tigers; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
20 total runs, 194 total metres, two tackle-breaks, one offload, 24 tackles.
Experienced at the NRL level, Kyle Lovett showed his wares at Campbelltown, in the Tigers clash with the Jets. Lovett's high work-rate earns him a first selection in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week for 2017.
12 - Cheyne Whitelaw
Club: North Sydney Bears; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
23 total runs, 179 total metres, one line-break, three tackle-breaks, 30 tackles.
The work of North Sydney backrower Cheyne Whitelaw ensured the Bears kept their perfect start to the 2017 season intact. Playing big minutes, Whitelaw ran for near-on 180 metres, also making 30 tackles in his side's win against Mounties.
13 - Blake Lawrie
Club: Illawarra; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
20 total runs, 200 total metres, one tackle-break, 27 tackles.
Blake Lawrie's big numbers weren't enough to see his Illawarra side to a win over the NZ Warriors, but they were enough to earn selection in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week. Lawrie cracked the 200-metre marker, and proved a stonewall in defence.
INTERCHANGE
14 - Craig Garvey
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
124 total metres, one try-assist, one line-break, four tackle-breaks, 34 tackles.
Nippy Bulldogs rake Craig Garvey's efforts in the side's tight win at Lottoland earn a selection in the Team of the Week. Handy both in attack and defence, Garvey's go-forward out of acting half had his side on the front foot against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.
15 - Rod Griffin
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
17 total runs, 163 total metres, one line-break, four tackle-breaks, 22 tackles, one try.
An all-round effort from Bulldogs lock forward Rod Grffin earns the PNG international a place in the Team of the Week. Bagged a rare four-pointed in the win at Lottoland, spurring on his side to their first win of the season.
16 - Rhyse Martin
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
18 total runs, 168 total metres, one line-break, two tackle-breaks, 29 tackles, one try.
Rhyse Martin joins fellow Bulldogs Garvey and Grffin in the Team of the Week, and alike Griffin, the backrower crossed for a try in the win over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles. Backing up his work without the ball, Martin ran for 168 metres, shoring up the Dogs' middle-third.
17 - Tyrone Amey
Club: Newcastle Knights; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
19 total runs, 162 total metres, two tackle-breaks, 24 tackles, 44 minutes.
Playing relatively few minutes, Newcastle's Tyrone Amey had a big impact, in seeing the Knights to an eventual four-point win over the Wentworthville Magpies. Amey's efforts earn a first cap in the Team of the Week, though if they're replicated throughout the season, he'll be doing his chances of future selection little harm.
