NRL Team of the Week: Round 5

1. James Tedesco

No surprise with this selection as Tedesco put in a truly magnificent solo performance. The reigning Dally M winner scored three tries, set up two more, made two line breaks, five line-break assists, broke 10 tackles made 231 run metres. Surprisingly, this was only Tedesco’s second hattrick of his career.

2. Dane Gagai

Gagai was excellent in South Sydney’s win over the Titans in Round 2. The Maroons winger scored two tries and broke five tackles in his side’s win.

3. Waqa Blake

Playing against his former club in Round 5, Eels centre Waqa Blake put in a fine performance as he scored one try and set up another as the Eels continued their perfect start to the season.

4. Peta Hiku

Another that scored a hattrick in Round 5, Hiku wreaked havoc for the North Queensland Cowboys defence and makes his first appearance in our Team of the Week.

5. Brett Morris

The Roosters put in another destructive performance in Round 5, and Brett Morris was in the thick of the action. Morris scored a try, assisted two more, and ran for 240 metres.

6. Jack Wighton

Wighton continued to threaten a solid Wests Tigers defence for the full 80 minutes. He was rewarded with a try early in the second half that set the Raiders on track for a hard-fought victory.

7. Daly Cherry-Evans

Cherry-Evans was highly influential in Manly’s second half comeback against the Broncos and notched up a try of his own as his side overcame a 18 point deficit.

8. Addin Fonua-Blake

A lot was riding on Fonua-Blake as his fellow front-rower Martin Taupau was injured early in the game against Brisbane. Fonua-Blake stepped up to the challenge and made 254 run metres, 124 of which came after contact and made 27 tackles.

9. Cameron Smith

Making his first appearance in our Team of the Week, Smith made two try assists, two line break assists and made 42 tackles as his side gave the Knights their first defeat of the season.

10. Regen Campbell-Gillard

Like teammate Waqa Blake, Regen Campbell-Gillard was also up against his former side in Round 5.  RCG made 144 run metres, 64 post-contact metres and 19 tackles in his sides comeback win.

11. Ryan Matterson

Making his second consecutive appearance in our Team of the Week, Matterson was again excellent as the Eels won their fifth game in a row to start the season – the first time the club has done this since their last Premiership winning season in 1986. Matterson made 154 run metres, 44 tackles and scored the try that sealed the game for Parramatta.

12. Angus Crichton

Crichton scored another two tries in Round 5 and also notched up 144 metres and 45 tackles.

13. Jake Trbojevic

Another that was influential in Manly’s comeback win over the Broncos, Trbojevic made 174 run metres, 77 of which came after contact and made 38 tackles.