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. Nick Meaney
Club: Newcastle Knights; 2017 TOTW selections: 2.
15 total runs, 168 total metres, one try-assist, one line-break, five tackle-breaks, one offload.
The young Knights fullback continues to impress in the Intrust Super Premiership, earning his third Team of the Week selection with another good showing against the Sea Eagles. Setting up a try and returning the ball strongly, Meaney is in fine form and a major factor in Newcastle's recent run.
2. Tautalatasi Tasi
Club: North Sydney Bears; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
18 total runs, 198 total metres, one line-break, six tackle-breaks, one try.
As Mounties ran out to an impressive start at North Sydney Oval, Tasi stemmed the flow somewhat with the first four-pointer for the Bears - and was solid for the duration with a game-high 198 metres. His second selection in the competition's best 17 pushes his case for an NRL berth among a number of talented Bears and Rabbitohs backs.
3. Brent Naden
Club: Mounties; 2017 TOTW selections: 3.
13 total runs, 101 total metres, two try-assists, two line-break-assists, three tackle-breaks, two offloads.
Laying on two tries, Naden was vital to Mounties' strong showing against the Bears on Sunday, dynamic in attack as the visitors fell just short of claiming both competition points.
4. Junior Pauga
Club: Warriors; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
17 total runs, 303 total metres, one try-assist, one line-break-assist, eight tackle-breaks, two offloads, two tries.
Pauga scored against the run of play not once, but twice at Mt Smart Stadium, pouncing on a wayward pass late in the first half before coming up with a one-on-one strip late in the second. Both plays resulted in long-range tries, which earns the centre a whopping 303 metres run - he is the only player to crack 300 so far this season.
5. Maika Sivo
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
Three line-breaks, three tackle-breaks, one offload, three tries.
In just his third game at this level, Sivo scored a hat-trick against the hapless Tigers, making it five in just two games for the Fijian Flyer. Well known for his try-scoring exploits in the Ron Massey Cup - his mark of 19 tries in that competition is still easily unbeaten, despite Sivo last playing for St Marys a month ago - the Panthers winger now has 24 in total for the year, which is the most of any individual across senior competitions so far.
6. Liam Coleman
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
One try-assist, one line-break-assist, one tackle-break, 19 tackles.
Another part of the recently-successful Panthers outfit was their five-eighth, who complemented Darren Nicholls nicely in their thrashing of the Tigers. The son of former Rabbitohs half Craig Coleman, it was the 20-year-old's first taste of the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and he will be pleased to experience a big victory first up.
7. Darren Nicholls
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 3.
Two try-assists, one line-break-assist, two tackle-breaks, 176 kick metres, 17 tackles, six goals.
A major reason for the Panthers' rise to third on the Intrust Super Premiership NSW, Nicholls performed yet again at St Marys Leagues Stadium. Laying on two tries, directing a well-oiled attack and kicking six goals on Sunday, Nicholls makes the Team of the Week for the fourth time, putting him among the competition's most consistent in recent weeks.
8. Luke Yates
Club: Newcastle Knights; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
14 total runs, 112 total metres, one tackle-break, 46 tackles.
In another barnstorming performance Luke Yates set the tone for the Newcastle forward pack, laying the foundations for his side's eventual 10-point win. Showing the form that saw him playing NRL to start the season, Yates did his chances of a first-grade recall no harm, leading the Knights to a fourth-straight win.
9. Joey Lussick
Club: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
One try-assist, one line-break, two tackle-breaks, 35 tackles, one try.
Blacktown hooker Joey Lussick opened his side's account in Newcastle, though the Workers Sea Eagles couldn't capitalise upon the good work of their number nine. Holding his own throughout much of the 80 minutes, Lussick earns a maiden Team of the Week call up.
10. Sitaleki Akauola
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 1.
18 total runs, 209 total metres, three tackle-breaks, 25 tackles.
No stranger to first grade football, Penrith's Sitaleki Akauola impressed in his side's big win over the Wests Tigers. Eclipsing more than 200 metres from his 18 carries, the hard-hitting forward proved a tough task to contain, breaking three tackles. Not one to shy away from the tough work on the other side of the ball, Akauola put together 25 tackles in a rounded performance to earn a debut start in the Team of the Week.
11. Vilame Kikau (c)
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 3.
11 total runs, 125 total metres, two try-assists, two line-break-assists, two line-breaks, nine tackle-breaks, two offloads, 18 tackles, two tries.
In what can only be described as a near-perfect performance, Penrith's Vilame Kikau earns the mantle of the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week captain after a dominant showing against the Wests Tigers. The figures, while they speak for themselves, perhaps don't truly reflect the impact the hard-running forward had on the clash - Kikau's efforts setting the tone in the one-way, nine-tries-to-one win.
12. Braden Robson
Club: Newcastle Knights; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
17 total runs, 164 total metres, one line-break, three tackle-breaks, 30 tackles, one try.
Knights young-gun Braden Robson caught the eye with an all-round effort in the side's win over the Workers Sea Eagles. Claiming a try for his efforts, Robson carried the Steeden on 17 occasions, brushing aside the Blacktown defence with three tackle-breaks to his name also. The performance sees Robson earn a first-time entry into the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Week for 2017.
13. Kaide Ellis
Club: Penrith Panthers; 2017 TOTW selections: 2.
23 total runs, 225 total metres, one line-break, three tackle-breaks, 35 tackles, one try.
Penrith workhorse Kaide Ellis turned in a sensational effort against the Wests Tigers, and rightfully earns a start in the Team of thr Week. With 23 carries to his name, Ellis averaged near-on 10 metres per run, breaking three tackles, and touching down for a well-earned try en route to an impressive 48-6 win.
14. Viliami Kaveinga
Club: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
22 total runs, 210 total metres, six tackle-breaks.
One of four Sea Eagles players to earn a start in the Team of the Week despite falling at the feet of the Knights, Viliami Kaveinga showed every ounce of his strength and will in his side's 10-point loss at the weekend. Hungry for possession when on the field, Kaveinga's stamina, size and power saw him carry the ball on 22 occasions, eclipsing 200 metres, while accumulating an astonishing six tackle-breaks.
15. Brendan Attwood
Club: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles; 2017 TOTW selections: 2.
13 total runs, 153 total metres, three tackle-breaks, 51 tackles.
Blacktown's Brendan Attwood impressed albeit in a losing outfit, stringing together 51 tackles in his side's 10-point loss to the Knights in Newcastle. Strong at every time of asking, Attwood also showed the way for his side when with ball in hand, asking plenty of questions of the Knights' middle-third defenders.
16. Jamil Hopoate
Club: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles; 2017 TOTW selections: 6.
18 total runs, 178 total metres, one tackle-break, 43 tackles.
In a losing outfit at McDonald Jones Stadium, Hopoate pulled his weight with 43 tackles - the second-most of his team, alongside captain Attwood. Consistently hard to handle, Hopoate was solid with and without the ball to earn yet another Team of the Week selection.
17. Pasami Saulo
Club: Newcastle Knights; 2017 TOTW selections: 0.
11 total runs, 105 total metres, three tackle-breaks, one try.
Newcastle edge forward Pasami Saulo impressed when off the bench in the Knights' 22-12 win over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Hunter. With a high invovlement rate in his time on the field, Saulo was rewarded with a try for his efforts done in bringing the ball out of his own end.
