We are now almost three quarters of the way through the 2018 NRL season and although the finals picture looks clear, a number of teams are still looking to upset the finals order.
The Raiders and Wests Tigers both enjoyed wins over the weekend as the Broncos fell victim to the Warriors in an upset loss, possibly putting them at risk of falling out of the eight with a tough run home and Canberra having a good for-and-against record. Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs moved two points clear of the top to cement their stranglehold over the competition.
It was a fantastic weekend of football with plenty of outstanding individual efforts, on both the winning and losing sides. Here is the NRL team of the week for Round 18.
Fullback: Will Hopoate (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Hopoate was a ray of hope for the Bulldogs in their loss to the first-placed Rabbitohs, playing a key role in sparking their attack. The Tongan international ran for 290 metres, tearing the Rabbitohs apart with ten tackle busts and ten offloads. He played a great support role and combined with Reimis Smith to deliver the ‘Dogs a try.
Are the Doggies a chance in 2018? (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Wing: Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)
His other winger may have scored three tries but the Raiders were most effective down the right edge with Rapana showing some acts of raw athleticism during the green machine’s much-needed win. Rapana scored a double against the Cowboys off the back of seven tackle busts and 173 running metres, displaying amazing skill on the wing.
Centre: Solomone Kata (Warriors)
Kata was lethal on the edge for the Warriors in their upset win over the Broncos. The Tongan international scored two tries from centre, acting as a handful in attack with 203 running metres off the back of seven tackle busts and a line break.
Centre: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
Hayne rediscovered himself against the Knights, showing glimpses of his former self, once considered as one of the best players in the world.
He proved a headache for the Knights, wreaking havoc on the left edge with 15 tackle busts and two line breaks, running for 197 metres and making 13 tackles while also opening up the field in the lead-up to Mitchell Moses’ try and putting Corey Norman through the line to score.
Jarryd Hayne of the Eels (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Wing: Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Jennings continued his impressive form on the left edge for the Rabbitohs, humiliating the Bulldogs’ right-side defence with a three-try haul. He worked well off the back of Cody Walker, running for 178 metres throughout the game.
Five-Eighth: Matt Moylan (Cronulla Sharks)
Moylan got one over his former club, terrorising the Panthers in a Friday night thriller. He has settled into his role at the Sharks, gelling in attack to score a try of his own and set up another.
He was effective while running the ball, busting through ten tackles and gaining a total of 154 metres while his kicking game was just as good with a total of 257 metres from seven kicks.
Halfback: Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle Knights)
Pearce returned from injury in spectacular fashion, playing a starring role in the Knights’ 18-16 win over the Eels. He turned Newcastle’s form around after scoring a try and setting up another, slotting straight back into the side and combining well with Connor Watson in the halves.
He put his body on the line to make 19 tackles and kicked for an impressive 611 metres, also forcing a drop-out.
Mitchell Pearce (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Prop: Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
Despite losing to the Storm by one point, Martin Taupau was the star of the show in the Battle of Brookvale. The Kiwi international ran for a huge 263 metres, leading the way for the Silvertails through the middle of the park.
He made three offloads, providing the second phase play that led to Shaun Lane’s first try of the evening, and also made 25 tackles in defence.
Hooker: Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Backing up from a State of Origin series victory with the New South Wales Blues, Damien Cook was enigmatic beating his former club with the quick play-the-ball.
Cook acted off ruck play to punch holes in the Bulldogs’ line, running for 122 metres off the back of the four tackle busts and a line break. He also made 46 tackles in defence.
Prop: Agnatius Paasi (Warriors)
Paasi was one of the Warriors’ best as they caused a huge upset to improve their position inside the top eight. He played aggressively up the middle, running for 161 metres and making 24 tackles. He also received a try to his name with some solid hit-ups.
Back row: Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)
Kikau has been one of the best back-rowers in the competition throughout the 2018 season and Friday night was no different. The Fijian worked hard on the edge, gaining 206 metres with eight tackle busts. He also made 27 tackles in defence.
Back row: Shaun Lane (Manly Sea Eagles)
Lane scored two tries, accounting for the majority of Manly’s points scored in their narrow loss at the hands of the Storm. The rangy backrower played well off Fainu’s ruck-work, busting through four tackle busts and making 34 tackles.
Lock forward: Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
Trbojevic continued to display his brand of no frills football with a solid performance that helped Manly to win the battle of the forwards. Backing up from State of Origin alongside his younger brother, Tom, and Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic ran for 130 metres and led the tackle count with 50 tackles.
Interchange: Adam Reynolds (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
South Sydney sit on top of the ladder, testament to the skill of Adam Reynolds in guiding the cardinal and myrtle around the park. He displayed great organising skills to create overlaps on the left edge and kicked for 400 metres, putting Canterbury’s back three under pressure from the torpedo bomb.
Reynolds used his quick footwork to exploit the ‘Dogs through the middle, busting through three tackles and running for 109 metres, scoring Souths’ second try from close range.
Interchange: Issac Luke (Warriors)
Luke’s work around the ruck proved the difference for the Warriors, not only providing good service for his halves and putting forwards into holes but running the ball himself. Luke made a number of good darts from acting half, busting through six tackles and making two line breaks to nab a four-pointer against the Broncos. He made 31 tackles for the evening, rarely missing a shot.
Issac Luke of the Warriors (AAP Image/David Rowland)
Interchange: Tim Glasby (Melbourne Storm)
Glasby may not have been the star of the show against the Sea Eagles but he was certainly a consistent performer off the bench and did everything that was required of him. He worked hard through the middle with 124 metres gained from 12 touches of the football and made 39 tackles, providing the impact Melbourne needed to inspire them to victory.
Interchange: Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Vaughan played a gritty game against the Wests Tigers through the middle, working well off of Gareth Widdop.
The New South Wales firebrand ran for 169 metres, busting through five tackles and nearly going through for a try, called back due to a James Graham forward pass. The Gungahlin junior made 35 tackles as the Dragons fell to the Wests Tigers.
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