During the 2024 season, nswrl.com.au selects the round’s best 13 of New South Wales eligible players. These selections are based on the writers’ opinions and do not reflect the views of the NSWRL or the selection process for the Westpac NSW Blues.
1. Tyrell Sloan. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Dragons fullback started the season with an outstanding performance against the Gold Coast Titans putting his team in the prime position to win their opening game of 2024 (28-4).
Sloan scored a hat-trick, made two line breaks, and ran for 107 metres from 13 runs.
2. Zac Lomax. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Lomax was another Dragons player who made a significant contribution to victory on Saturday night at Cbus Super Stadium. It's earned him the NSW Player of the Week.
He scored a total of 12 points – a try and four conversions – while making two line breaks and running for 266 metres with 106 post-contact.
3. Siosifa Talakai. Club: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 1.
Bouncing back from a 12-0 deficit against the Warriors on Friday night, Talakai ended up scoring the winning try in the Sharks 16-12 victory.
The centre ran for 161 metres, along with a line break, a line break assist, a try assist and 19 runs. His 67 post-contact metres were the most by any Shark.
4. Reuben Garrick. Club: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Being one of the key players to help the Sea Eagles light up Las Vegas with a win over the Rabbitohs, Garrick had a great start to his 2024 campaign.
He scored 16 points – a try and kicking six conversions from six attempts – while running for 214 metres and making 19 tackles.
5. Jason Saab. Club: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Although the night didn't end well with a hamstring injury, Saab and Garrick were a lethal right edge for the Sea Eagles in the 36-24 win over the Rabbitohs.
Saab scored a try, made a line break, three tackle busts and ran for 248 metres – 32 post contact.
6. Luke Brooks. Club: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Starting a fresh at a new club has proved wonders for Brooks, playing a pivotal role for the Sea Eagles win and becoming the fourth Manly-Warringah player in this year's Team of the Week.
The five-eighth scored a four pointer, made a line break and a line break assist along with 24 tackles.
7. Mitchell Moses. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 3. TOTW selections: 1.
Starting the 2024 season strongly, Moses played an instrumental role in guiding the Eels to their season-opening win against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Despite picking up a groin complaint in the game, the Parramatta halfback kicked for 391 metres, had a line-break assist, an offload and forced two line dropouts.
8. Mitch Barnett. Club: Warriors. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1
Enjoying his second season with the Auckland-based club Barnett made a great start to 2024 despite being on the losing end against Cronulla-Sutherland (16-12).
He made 20 runs for 174 metres in just 51 minutes on the field, with 54 of those post-contact. He also had a tackle break, an offload and made no errors.
9. Jacob Liddle. Club: St George Illawarra. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The dash upfield to set up Tyrell Sloane’s second try gave Liddle his line break and try assist of the match in the 28-4 win over the Gold Coast.
The Wyong Roos junior made six runs from dummy-half in total for 55 minutes, along with a one-on-one steal, and making 37 tackles missing just one.
10. Junior Paulo. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 1.
Entering his sixth season with the Eels, Paulo picked up from where he left off in his fifth – a power-packed display but this time coming off the bench.
His 43 minutes on the field produced 62 post-contact metres – the highest of any of his teammates – along with two offloads, and three tackle busts in his 19 runs for 163 metres.
11. Haumole Olakau’atu. Club: Manly-Warringah. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
He scored 10 tries in 2023 and he’s off and running in 2024 scoring on American soil this time in the Sea Eagles win over South Sydney in Las Vegas.
Olakau’atu made 84 post-contact metres in his 16 runs for 184 metres overall, along with six tackle busts, a line break, an offload and 32 tackles.
12. Bryce Cartwright. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The six off-loads in the 26-8 win over Caneterbury-Bankstown rocketed Cartwright to the top of the NRL list in that category, although he’s joined by Penrith’s Soni Luke.
But Cartwright also scored two tries, busted out of three tackles, had two line breaks and 22 tackles among his 18 runs for 114 metres.
13. Isaah Yeo. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 1.
In a very tight contest with Melbourne Storm, where only one try was scored, Yeo stood out despite being in the losing Panthers side (8-0).
He made 25 runs for 175 metres, have five tackle busts two offloads and 32 tackles.
