Round 11 may have been marred by a myriad of sin-binnings and send offs but rugby league fans were treated to some truly spectacular individual performances as State of Origin and internationals draw near.
The next generation of NRL stars stood up over the weekend with a host of young guns showing their quality against the old charge.
Here is your NRL team of the week for Round 11.
Fullback: Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)
The wonderkid continued to prove himself as the best fullback in the world with a standout individual performance against the Titans. Ponga scored an end-to-end try, running for a grand total of 210 metres with two line breaks and twelve tackle busts.
He was the Knights’ primary attacking weapon beating out strong positional performances by James Tedesco, Matthew Dufty and Tom Trbojevic and adding to the conversation for a Queensland Origin début.
Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Wing: Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)
Cotric was destructive in Mudgee, proving formidable on the left edge for the Raiders. The green machine were unable to come up with the chocolates however, the New South Wales Origin bolter loomed as a massive threat out wide making eight tackle busts, two line breaks and a try.
Centre: Jesse Ramien (Cronulla Sharks)
Ramien has emerged from the shadows as one of Cronulla’s best backline players, proving he is a first grade regular in the Sharks’ win over the Bulldogs. The young centre worked well alongside Edrick Lee, scoring a try. He made six tackle busts in attack and also backed up in defence for 20 tackles.
Centre: Moses Suli (Manly Sea Eagles)
Suli has experienced some off-field adversity so far in 2018 but the centre proved his detractors wrong by showing his ability to wreak havoc. The 19-year-old inspired Manly’s right-edge attack, combining well with Matthew Wright and going over for a try late in the game to secure victory over the Storm.
He had four tackle busts, running for 120 metres and contributed 15 tackles.
Wing: Jamayne Isaako (Brisbane Broncos)
While all the focus was on the battle between James Roberts and Latrell Mitchell on the other side of the field, Jamayne Isaako blew the Roosters away with two tries made up of individual brilliance to get the Broncos over the line in a gritty affair.
He made five tackle busts and two line breaks, running for 126 metres while also kicking four goals from six attempts.
Five-Eighth: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Brimson proved the difference in the Titans’ 33-26 win over the Knights scoring the match-winning try.
The young five-eighth teamed up well with Ashley Taylor to help steer his team to victory, sending Phillip Sami over for a try, making five tackle busts and coming up with a try-saving tackle on Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
Cherry-Evans kept a cool head in a controversial rivalry match against the Melbourne Storm. The Manly skipper steered his team away from off-field turmoil and onto victory over the reigning premiers, acting as a triple threat with his passing, running and kicking abilities through two tackle busts and two try assists off the boot for Matthew Wright and Tom Trbojevic as well as a solid 14 tackles in defence.
Daly Cherry-Evans (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Prop: Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Vaughan and fellow prop forward James Graham laid the platform for the Dragons to win the battle in the middle against a big, robust green machine pack. He ran for 167 metres from 13 runs, busting five tackles and making 28 tackles.
Hooker: Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
The battle for the New South Wales No.9 jumper is fierce but Damien Cook got the better of Cameron McInnes in Round 11 with a stellar performance in Townsville for the Bunnies. He was energetic out of dummy-half, running for 86 metres with five tackle busts, a try and an assist for George Burgess. He also dominated the ruck with a massive 46 tackles.
Prop: Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Kept the Bulldogs at bay in the middle of the park, restricting the blue and white pack from laying the platform. The Tongan international ran for a huge 169 metres with seven tackle busts, three offloads and 37 tackles, leading the Sharks’ engine room.
Back row: Tohu Harris (Warriors)
Harris was a silent contributor for the Warriors during their win over the Eels on Friday night. He may play a no-frills brand of football but he proved all the difference in another huge performance from the ex-Storm backrower.
Harris ran for 106 metres on the edge but his impact was felt most in defence with 46 tackles.
Back row: Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)
The Roosters struggled to put Tevita Pangai Junior to ground, the Broncos star dominating on the edge running for an unrivalled 182 metres with eight tackle busts and three offloads.
Alongside Joe Ofahengaue, he set the precedent for Brisbane’s forward pack in a tough battle making 26 tackles in defence.
Lock forward: Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans)
Arrow has been one of the most impressive forwards in 2018 and Round 11 was no exception, chewing up 145 metres with six tackle busts up the middle of the park. He was everywhere in defence, making 40 tackles and standing up for the Titans when they had only eleven men on the field.
Interchange: Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
Luke Keary ran riot down the left edge, combining well with Latrell Mitchell. He sent Boyd Cordner having gone over for two of his own earlier in the game. Keary had more hits than misses, sparking the Roosters’ attack when they needed it most.
Luke Keary (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Interchange: Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
Taupau thrived in the explosive rivalry between the Storm and Sea Eagles, charging into the Melbourne line for 161 metres and bumping off would-be defenders with five tackle busts and four offloads. He made 28 crunching tackles in defence providing the coal needing to stoke the Sea Eagles’ engine room.
Interchange: Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
Terepo dealt maximum damage for the Eels in an otherwise dour display. Parramatta has struggled but Terepo has consistently delivered over the last few weeks, stepping up into the starting side at prop and taking it in his stride running for 127 metres with three tackle busts, a try assist and 31 tackles.
Interchange: James Tamou (Penrith Panthers)
James Tamou has made a real impact off the bench for the Panthers with another big effort against the Wests Tigers. With Penrith hit hard by injury, Tamou has taken on a greater role in the forward pack running for 119 metres with four tackle busts, a line break and 22 tackles.
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