Round five of Super League is over and what another great weekend of rugby league it was!
From Wigan and Hull’s incredible battle to Warrington and Hull KR’s try fest, the action has been brilliantly entertaining.
But, just which 17 players deserve their place in the Team of the Week?
1. Zak Hardaker
His battle against Jake Connor was well-documented on Thursday night, but Hardaker definitely came out on top, riling Connor up enough to see the Hull man being sent to the sin-bin. In fact, the ex-Leeds and Castleford fullback put in another tremendous shift at the back and he doesn’t seem to be losing his place to Bevan French anytime soon.
2. Tom Davies
The former Wigan man has become one of Catalans’ most consistent performers on the wing and Tom Davies bagged another three tries in the Dragons’ 38-18 drubbing of Wakefield on Friday night.
3. Greg Inglis
All eyes were on the Warrington man as he took to the field for the first time in his new colours. And, Inglis didn’t disappoint, scoring once and looking like he had never been away from a rugby league field.
4. Liam Farrell
He’s not exactly accustomed to the centres position, but Liam Farrell has taken to the number four role like a duck to water. Having played there for the past month, the Wigan man is still at the top of his game and continues to impress with every passing game. Farrell kept a hold of Hull’s Carlos Tuimavave all evening and was instrumental in Wigan’s left-side attack.
5. Adam Swift
Adam Swift has turned his career around at Hull FC in 2021. After a less-than successful maiden year at the KCOM Stadium, the former St Helens winger has become a firm favourite of Brett Hodgson and he is certainly reaping the rewards of that faith being shown in him. He crossed against Wigan with a well-taken try and made good yards out of defence.
6. Jackson Hastings
He was the difference for Wigan between winning and losing against Hull on Thursday night, but Jackson Hastings will be thoroughly missed when he leaves at the end of 2021. With a destructive kicking and running game, the halfback truly showed what he is made of with yet another accomplished display.
7. Aidan Sezer
The mercurial halfback tore Leeds to shreds, registering 13 of his side’s 14 points as Huddersfield won for the first time in 2021. Sezer had a hand in everything did well and even provided the assist for Lee Gaskell’s one-pointer to settle the game.
8. Mikolaj Oledzki
10. Gil Dudson
He really appears to have taken a shine to life in Perpignan and Gil Dudson put in another barnstorming performance as Catalans took Wakefield to the cleaners on Friday night. Complete with some superb runs, the prop put himself about in defence, causing all sorts of problems for Trinity.
11. Sione Mata’utia
He’s started most of St Helens’ games as a loose-forward, but Sione Mata’utia was handed the number 11 role by boss Kristian Woolf, and he did not disappoint. Mata’utia crossed the line for a try, but it was his overall work ethic and determination that helped Saints across the line against Leigh.
12. Mike McMeeken
After a stagnant few seasons at Castleford, a move to the south of France for Mike McMeeken was a way of reigniting his career. And, that move has done just that. He crossed again on Friday night against Wakefield and was a thorn in Trinity’s side all evening.
13. Danny Addy
Danny Addy was one of Salford’s best players in their defeat against Castleford, with some big hits and terrific runs setting the platform for his halfbacks. The utility man seems to have settled into the loose-forward role with the Red Devils and is thriving under Richard Marshall.
Substitutes
14. Daryl Clark
He came off the bench for Warrington against Hull KR and brought some great zip around the ruck. Clark also crossed the line for a try and cut KR apart through the middle.
15. Agnatius Paasi
The Tongan international has settled in seamlessly in St Helens and features in a Team of the Week for a second time following another courageous performance against Leigh on Friday night. His passion for Saints is apparent already as he chased Anthony Gelling the whole way as the latter cantered 80 metres for an interception try.
16. Brad Martin
The Castleford youngster found himself thrust into the limelight early when Nathan Massey went off with a head injury, but Martin had a superb game. The forward didn’t look out of place and in fact looked very much in place in a Tigers side that scraped through against Salford.
17. Liam Watts
Though his position is primarily number eight, Liam Watts started on the bench for Castleford, but you cannot omit the prop from the Team of the Week after yet another England-deserving performance. He single-handedly carried the under-strength Castleford pack to dominance against Salford and finished off his try like a halfback.