Super League Team of the Week: Hull FC, St Helens and Wakefield Trinity dominate

Another round of fixtures are done and dusted, with St Helens the only side currently unbeaten in Super League.

First, Leeds Rhinos were hammered at home by Hull FC on Thursday night before St Helens overcame Warrington Wolves with ease on Friday night.

Salford Red Devils just couldn’t claw back a big deficit against Hull KR on Friday, too, whilst Wakefield Trinity won their first win of the season over Toulouse Olympique.

On Saturday, Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers played out a thrilling, see-saw game which saw four cards handed out.

And, Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors rounded off the night with a massive win for the French side, but just who deserves a place in our Team of the Week?

1. Jake Connor – Hull FC

It was a Jake Connor masterclass against Leeds with the fullback destroying the Rhinos with silky skills and outrageous passes. On this showing, he just cannot be left out of the England squad.

2. Tommy Makinson – St Helens

What a game from this winger once more! A two-try masterclass as well as some great goal kicking and big runs out of his own half earned Makinson a place in this side.

3. Corey Hall – Wakefield Trinity

Corey Hall has excelled for Wakefield Trinity this season after joining from Leeds Rhinos and he capped off another fine performance for the West Yorkshire side in a must-win game against bottom-of-the-table Toulouse. Hall scored a try and seems to be forming a great partnership with winger Tom Johnstone.

4. Ricky Leutele – Huddersfield Giants

A hat-trick for Ricky Leutele confirms his position in the centres after a devastating performance against Castleford Tigers. The likes of Mahe Fonua and Derrell Olpherts just couldn’t handle the former Toronto Wolfpack star.

5. Greg Eden – Castleford Tigers

He’s made two appearances this season and on both occasions he has found himself in the Team of the Week. Despite being starved of good ball, Greg Eden scored a try and set up another in delightful fashion after cantering down the wing in the Tigers’ defeat to Huddersfield.

6. Ben McNamara – Hull FC

In the face of adversity due to the injury of Josh Reynolds and the suspension of Luke Gale, Ben McNamara had one of his best games in a Hull shirt in their demolition of Leeds on Thursday night. The halfback belied his youthful age to strike up a great partnership with makeshift number 7 Joe Lovodua.

7. Mikey Lewis – Hull KR

What a little magician Mikey Lewis is turning into! The diminutive number 7 enjoyed yet another brilliant performance, scoring his trademark chip and chase and helping Hull KR finally push Salford out of the game.

8. Alex Walmsley – St Helens

Yet another week, yet another inclusion for St Helens’ Alex Walmsley. The rampaging forward helped get Saints through a sticky patch in the opening exchanges against Warrington and then ran his blood to water throughout the remainder of the game.

9. Michael McIlorum – Catalans Dragons

Following his return from suspension, Michael McIlorum more than provided the direction Catalans had been missing in recent weeks despite their victories. Bringing that steel at dummy-half and the bite in defence, the former Wigan man certainly helped the Dragons on their way against the Warriors.

10. Chris Satae – Hull FC

You only have to look at the stats after the game to see how influential Chris Satae was in the win over Leeds. Over 200 metres made from 19 carries – with over 100 of those metres coming in post-contact. When Hull needed their big men to stand up and be counted, Satae certainly did that.

11. Matt Whitley – Catalans Dragons

Another big performance from the second-rower who continues to do the tough stuff that people rarely see. A tremendous fighter and battler, Matt Whitley turns up every week for the Catalans Dragons and deserves every bit of recognition he is getting.

12. Ligi Sao – Hull FC

In an unfamiliar position of the second-row, Ligi Sao excelled in quite extraordinary circumstances. You would have been forgiven in thinking that Sao had played in the back-row his whole career as Hull FC put Leeds Rhinos to the sword.

13. Morgan Knowles – St Helens

Chosen as Sky Sports’ man-of-the-match against Warrington, Morgan Knowles is absolutely vital for this St Helens outfit. With Kristian Woolf losing both Joe Batchelor and Sione Mata’utia to injury, Knowles took the bull by the horns and put in yet another tremendous shift.

Substitutes

14. Liam Watts – Castleford Tigers

When Castleford needed some much-needed go forward off the bench after trailing 18-0 to Huddersfield, Liam Watts provided just that, steaming through the Giants’ defence on more than one occasion.

15. Curtis Sironen – St Helens

After being named as a substitute following his return from suspension, Curtis Sironen was in excellent form for St Helens in their victory over Warrington. The injuries to Joe Batchelor and Sione Mata’utia opened up the door for Sironen and boy did he take his chance.

16. Kelepi Tanginoa – Wakefield Trinity

In such a nailbiting fixture against bottom-of-the-table Toulouse, Wakefield were able to count on impressive South Sea Islander Kelepi Tanginoa. Not only did he score, but the second-rower made some bulldozing runs through the heart of the French side’s defence.

17. Albert Vete – Hull KR

He started on the bench, but Albert Vete had one of his best games in a Hull KR shirt against Salford on Friday night. Always one to lead from the front, the powerful prop also got his hands on the ball more which will have pleased head coach Tony Smith.