NRL Round 15: Team of the Week

In another exciting weekend of NRL action, St George Illawarra Dragons eased passed South Sydney Rabbitohs whilst Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys recorded thrilling wins over Brisbane Broncos and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles respectively.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks battled passed Gold Coast Titans, Penrith Panthers overcame New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta Eels were too electric for the Sydney Roosters on Saturday.

On Sunday, Canberra Raiders edged Newcastle Knights before Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs continued their revival with an easy win over Wests Tigers. But after all that, who makes our team of the week?

Full-back: Reuben Garrick
First choice and already a very close call but Reuben Garrick edged it. Though his side surrendered a winning position, Garrick put in a superb individual performance for the Sea Eagles. Scoring a try and slotting over three goals as well as managing five tackle busts and amassing 270 metres from 21 carries which really saw him as a stand out.

Wingers: Corey Oates & Brian To’o
Another very difficult choice but Corey Oates and Brian To’o are selected. Oates scored two tries for the Broncos and though the result was not to be, regardless, he put in a top effort, such as gaining 183 metres from 15 carries along with his tries. To’o, still hoping to rediscover his 2021 form, had a great game for the Panthers, scoring two tries as well as two tackle busts and managing 217 metres from 19 carries.

Centres: Valentine Holmes & Aaron Schoupp
Valentine Holmes was an easy choice but rather than the likes of Peta Hiku or Justin Olam joining him, Aaron Schoupp of the Bulldogs sneaks in. Holmes notched two tries and four goals for the Cowboys in their thrilling win over the Sea Eagles and that was not all. The International also managed six tackle busts as well as a staggering 270 metres from 29 carries. Schoupp though, on top of scoring for the Bulldogs, topped the metres made with 293 of his own from 20 carries, being one of the key players for the Doggies as they continue their climb up the table.

Stand-off / five-eighth: Cameron Munster
A man who remains in the spotlight is Cameron Munster. He recently starred for Queensland in the State of Origin and carried on his top form for the Melbourne Storm in their entertaining win over the Broncos. Having scored a try as well as putting in 15 tackles and 157 metres with ball in hand, Munster can trouble any opposition on his day and should remain a Dally M contender going forward.

Scrum-half: Nathan Cleary
Arguably his future international half-back partner, Nathan Cleary secures the number seven position in our team of the week once again. Cleary produced two try assists as well as 21 tackles, three busts and 135 metres with ball in hand, steering the Panthers to yet another easy win.

Props: Junior Paulo & Joseph Tapine
Back to another incredibly difficult choice but two juggernauts in Junior Paulo and Joseph Tapine make the cut. Paulo put in 27 tackles for the Eels as well as four busts and 229 metres from 25 carries, the highest amount from a prop over the weekend. Tapine amassed the second highest amount of metres with 203, from 20 carries, but put in 26 tackles, three busts and even managed a try assist for the Raiders.

Hooker: Harry Grant
Once again, another tough choice, but Melbourne’s Harry Grant is chosen. Grant managed a try assist for the Storm as well as 45 tackles, two busts and 111 metres from 16 carries, leading the way for the former champions as they remained in hot pursuit near the top of the table.

Second-row: Shaun Lane & Hudson Young
Onto the back row and yet another Parramatta/Canberra combination is chosen in Shaun Lane and Hudson Young. Lane provided two try assists for the Eels as well as 25 tackles and 155 metres from 18 carries. Young was a try scorer for the Raiders as well as putting in 33 tackles, nine busts and 139 metres from 20 carries.

Loose-forward: Jason Taumalolo
Cowboy Jason Taumalolo rides his way back into the side completing it at 13. Keeping his place from last week, Taumalolo put in 21 tackles for North Queensland as well as amassing 216 metres in their historic late comeback win over the Sea Eagles.