The Super League Team of the Week is in for Round 19, and a total of eight different clubs have been represented.
The week started with Wakefield Trinity beating local rivals Bradford Bulls at Odsal, before Friday night saw wins for Wigan Warriors and St Helens – which bodes well ahead of their meeting this week.
Warrington Wolves toppled Hull KR in the first game of Saturday’s triple header, before Leigh Leopards held off a Hull FC comeback to take an away win.
Toulouse Olympique won their third game in a row at home to York Knights, whilst Castleford Tigers rounded out the action with a thrilling upset win over Leeds Rhinos.
As such, players from all seven winners have been included in the selections, whilst one man is included after impressing in defeat.
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Super League Round 19 Team of the Week
Full-back: Olly Ashall-Bott (Toulouse Olympique)
It was yet another stand-out showing from the man many believe should be England’s full-back at the World Cup. The Widnes academy talent scored one, assisted another and made seven tackle busts against the Knights.
Wingers: Jason Qareqare (Castleford Tigers) and Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors)
Scoring the match-winning try for Castleford, Qareqare continued his impressive scoring streak and has now scored eight in his last seven matches. He could have had a hat-trick had he not had a try ruled out for obstruction, but that disallowal needn’t matter, as he added another just minutes later to seal the win for the Tigers.
Eckersley bagged three of his own, with two of those coming in the final minutes. Wigan led 12-10 with just minutes to go, before the winger added two in quick succession to seal the win for Matt Peet’s side. He also ran for 155 metres across 21 carries.
Saints youngster Jack Campbell also deserves a mention after his try double on debut against Catalans.
Centres: David Armstrong (Leigh Leopards) and Adam Keighran (Wigan Warriors)
Armstrong is back to his best after recovering from an ACL injury, and after being deployed in the centres, is proving to be a huge threat. The usual full-back scored two tries and made five tackle busts, as well as two clean breaks.
Wigan centre Keighran made the match-winning play according to Peet, with his breakaway carry in the second half changing the momentum completely in their favour. He also had to go into the halves during George Marsden’s HIA, and in that time he bagged two assists.
Halves: Adam Cook (Leigh Leopards) and Harry Robertson (St Helens)
Cook, like Armstrong, is playing some of his best rugby in a Leigh shirt, and he continues to be a difference maker. After a slow start to the season, he has grown into the halves role and this week scored a try, created two more and made 22 tackles with no misses.
Robertson made a shock switch to the halves this week, and it clearly worked for the Red Vee, as the youngster scored twice, and was a constant threat with ball in hand – making 157 metres from 17 carries.
Props: Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield Trinity) and Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors)
Trinity forward Caleb Hamlin-Uele is having a stormer of a season, but if reports are to be true, the England-eligible enforcer is set to miss out on the top 10 of the Man of Steel ranking for rounds 10-18. This week, he made 132 metres from just 11 carries, and in defence he made 38 tackles with just two misses.
Thompson made a huge 150 metres against the Giants, as well as 25 tackles. It could well be that both of these men are involved in England’s opening game of the Rugby League World Cup against Tonga in October.
Hooker: Tom Humphreys (St Helens)
Another St Helens youngster who impressed against Les Dracs, the promising number nine bagged two assists in the win, whilst also running for 58 metres, all of which came from dummy half runs.
Back Rowers: Frankie Halton (Leigh Leopards) and James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos)
Leopards forward Halton was another stand-out in the win, after he made 24 tackles and 115 metres from 12 carries.
Leeds man McDonnell didn’t deserve to be on the losing side on Sunday, and was comfortably the best player on the pitch for the opening 20 minutes. He scored two tries, one in either half, however his late shot on Tom Weaver allowed Castleford to kick a penalty goal, and those two points proved pivotal come full-time.
Loose forward: Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
The former England international is aging like a fine wine, and his move to 13 under Sam Burgess has been a masterstroke. Making 27 tackles with no misses, Currie bagged an assist in the win over KR, whilst also making 126 metres from 18 carries.
