The last full round before the State of Origin series takes effect on the competition was highlighted by another all-Queensland derby decided by a point. The Roar‘s NRL MVP leaderboard continues to take shape.
Every week we continue to get more players added to what is becoming the biggest spreadsheet in the history of the world. There are now 126 players who have registered votes for the season and it continues to show the depth of talent right across the competition.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 34 defeat St George Illawarra Dragons 24
Blogged by: Jarrod McGrouther
3: Adam Reynolds – Controlled the game fantastically for the Rabbitohs and has been rewarded with a State of Origin call up. He had a very strong kicking game, a hand in a few tries and ran the ball well.
2: Sam Burgess – He might have had a few laughable errors throughout the game, but he made up for them with a massive 43 tackles and 170 metres from just 18 runs with a few solid passes thrown in for good measure.
1: Paul Carter – Scored a try for the Rabbitohs and ran the ball hard all night, making 111 metres to go with his 29 tackles. Also did a good job at getting under the Dragons skin when the going got tough.
North Queensland Cowboys 19 defeat Brisbane Broncos 18
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Johnathan Thurston – What can’t this man do? No, seriously, is there anything? Apart from the fact he got absolutely smashed and then got up to kick the winning field goal mere seconds later, he took the line on 16 times making 116 metres, and played a role in nearly all of the Cowboys attack, combining well with Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote once again.
2: Ben Hunt – Fought hard to keep the Broncos in the game with a strong kicking game and was the catalyst to their comeback in the second half playing a hand in all their tries.
1: Jason Taumalolo -The Cowboys enforcer is a thing of beauty running the ball and demonstrated that again with 174 metres from just 16 runs as well as a line breal
Wests Tigers 20 defeat Newcastle Knights 12
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Elijah Taylor – Played a really positive role for the Tigers, taking on the line alot and playing like a third half. Add to that his 42 tackles and two try assists and you can see why he was the best player on the field.
2: Daniel Saifiti – If Taylor was the best player on the field then Saifiti was a run away best for the Knights. He had a fantastic impact off the bench making an absolutely massive 237 metres from 19 runs as well as a few offloads.
1: Aaron Woods – Started the game really strongly and had the Knights on the back foot from the outset. Ended up with 204 metres, a few offloads and looked dangerous all afternoon.
New Zealand Warriors 12 defeated by Canberra Raiders 38
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Josh Hodgson – The English hooker might have had a couple of quiet weeks but it was a return to form across the ditch as he came off the bench with a try, a try assist, a line break and a grand total of seven dangerous runs.
2: Elliot Whitehead – Worked really hard for the Raiders all game long and had the Raiders edge defence under pressure more than once.
1: Jordan Rapana – Got plenty of quality ball once again and ended the match with 161 metres, with some quick play the balls helping tries.
Cronulla Sharks 20 defeat Manly Sea Eagles 12
Blogged by: John Coomer
3: Andrew Fifita – Like Adam Reynolds on Thursday Night, secured his spot in the Blues squad with 183 metres from 20 runs and 33 tackles.
2: Jake Trbojevic – He could just about run through a brick wall Trbojevic and he looked to do that against Cronulla with 125 metres while tackling anything that moved with 37.
1: Paul Gallen – Topped the tackle count with 38 and added 160 metres in what was another workman like performance from the skipper.
Penrith Panthers 24 defeat Gold Coast Titans 28
Blogged by: Widget
3: Ashley Taylor – Scored a try for the Titans and ran the ball a lot looking dangerous when he did all the while controlling the offence with a strong kicking game.
2: Jamie Soward – Played a role in a couple of tries continuing his recent trend of trying to run the ball wherever possible with a strong performance.
1: Ryan James – The Titans prop had a try assist in a dangerous looking performance where he picked up 120 metres and a monster 48 tackles.
Canterbury Bulldogs 32 defeat Sydney Roosters 20
Blogged by: Alan Nicolea
3: David Klemmer – Led the Bulldogs from the front all game long with 243 metres, threatening the Roosters defence regularly.
2: Josh Reynolds – Scored a fantastic individual try in the first half, had a role in most of the Bulldogs attacking plays and coupled it all up with a strong kicking game.
1: Latrell Mitchell – Scored two tries in a leading performance for the Roosters adding 95 metres and a line break. Should be one of the NRL’s stars in a few years.
Parramatta Eels 6 defeated by Melbourne Storm 18
Blogged by: Joshua Thomas
3: Suliasi Vinivalu – The young Fijian knows how to find a tryline. Another two tries against the Eels with 139 metres and three line breaks.
2: Tim Glasby – Absolute work-a-holic performance from the bench with 189 metres from just 16 runs and a couple of tackle busts, coupled with a line break to boot.
1: Manu Ma’u – The young second rower continues to prove why he will be one of the NRL’s best in the future as he picked up another 190 damaging metres with a line break.
1. Anthony Milford (Brisbane Broncos) – 17 votes
-2. Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders) – 15 votes
=2. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) – 15 votes
4. Ben Barba (Cronulla Sharks) – 13 votes
=5. Corey Norman (Parramatta Eels) – 12 votes
=5. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) – 12 votes
=5. Josh Reynolds (Canterbury Bulldogs) – 12 votes
=8. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers) – 11 votes
=8. Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons) – 11 votes
=8. Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys) – 11 votes
=8. Jamie Soward (Penrith Panthers) – 11 votes
=8. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks) – 11 votes
There have been few changes at the top of the leaderboard with many of the big name players who are sitting up the top missing out on points.
Once you get past the first four on the leaderboard, it really does become a log jam with eight players covering 12 and 11 votes and a further three on ten.
Anthony Milford still holds onto his lead, all that has been eaten into after he failed to register a vote in the Broncos golden point loss against the Cowboys. Both Josh Hodgson and Johnathan Thurston registered three votes though and move themselves into equal second.
Jamie Soward is the other mover, coming into the top ten for the first time this season while two votes for Josh Reynolds moves him a little bit closer to the top.
What do you think Roarers? How did we go this week? Get it right?
See you next week!
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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