Only five rounds of football remain in the regular season, however, the top eight could see some drastic change after an entertaining Round 20.
The Cowboys, Rabbitohs and Panthers all inspired comeback wins while the Storm and Roosters showed their premiership credentials. Despite losing to the Titans, the Warriors may have pulled off a great escape after the Wests Tigers recorded a loss to the Bulldogs, which maintains a four-point buffer.
Some of the game’s brightest talent, young and old, dazzled over the weekend while others faltered. Here is your NRL team of the week for Round 20.
Fullback: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Tedesco proved to be the Roosters’ x-factor as they pulled off a big victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday afternoon. The Italian international set the standard early on, playing a pivotal role in opening up a 10-nil account after as many minutes.
He was solid under the high ball and had some good runs, gaining a total of 221 metres, busting through five tackles and scoring two tries.
Wing: Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm)
Vunivalu may not have displayed much razzle dazzle against the Raiders, but he was integral in shutting down a left-edge attacking raid early in the first half. Vunivalu scored a try of his own, also busting three tackles and making a line break while looking secure under the high ball.
Centre: Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters)
Mitchell terrorised the Dragons’ right edge defence scoring a hat trick of tries in the Roosters 36-18 win. The 21-year-old made a total of eleven tackle busts and two line breaks in a dominant display, running for a total of 100 metres.
Centre: Brenko Lee (Gold Coast Titans)
Lee was explosive on the edge for the Titans, putting in a good all-round performance. The centre tallied up 202 running metres in total with two tackle busts, a line break and a try. His offloading skills were on full display, creating some enterprising second phase play while he also made 16 tackles in defence.
Wing: Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans)
The Titans’ young players were on centre stage against the Warriors as they sent the Auckland-based club a rude shock. Chief among them was Phillip Sami, who dazzled on the wing with a two-try haul. Sami ended the afternoon with 239 running metres, three tackle busts and three line breaks.
Five-Eighth: Alexander Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Brimson put in an outstanding performance, leading the Titans to victory over the Warriors. The first-year rookie scored a try as well as running for 134 metres with six tackle busts and two line breaks.
Halfback: Cooper Cronk (Sydney Roosters)
Cronk has settled into his new position at the Roosters very well, steering the club to yet another big win. The former Australian international was influential with some good organisational skills, combining well with James Tedesco.
Cronk’s kicking game was effective, kicking for 440 metres and also forcing a dropout while scoring a try and making 23 tackles in defence.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Prop: Aiden Tolman (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Tolman has come back into the Bulldogs’ side with great effect, leading the way through the middle as they defeated the Wests Tigers. The veteran forward ran for 159 metres, laying the platform for Lachlan Lewis and Jeremy Marshall-King in a dominant display by the blue and whites.
He led the tackle count with 42 for the evening.
Hooker: Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Cook worked well from the ruck with some brilliant attacking football that inspired the Rabbitohs to a comeback victory over the Eels. The State of Origin representative ran for 128 metres with four tackle busts and a try assist while making 49 tackles in defence as South Sydney stayed in touch with the Storm at the top of the table.
Prop: Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
Taupau came off the interchange bench against the Panthers, and it only enhanced his impact. The Kiwi international ran for 159 metres from 13 touches with nine tackle busts, setting the Panthers’ defensive line on fire. He also made 28 tackles in their 28-24 loss.
Back row: Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
Kaufusi played an effective attacking game on the right edge, scoring a try in the Storm’s 44-10 win over the Raiders. He helped his side to solidify their place at the top of the table with 119 running metres, 32 tackles and a line break.
Back row: Rhyse Martin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Martin has been a revelation for the ‘Dogs in 2018 with his big engine inspiring the team to victory over 80 minutes against the Wests Tigers. He ran for 131 metres with three tackle busts and 41 tackles while maintaining a perfect night off the boot kicking four from four.
Lock forward: Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
McGuire provided plenty of go forward for the Broncos as they won a battle of attrition against the Sharks. He laid the platform effectively, gaining 118 metres and raising the bat with 50 tackles in what was a miraculous performance that now has the Broncos within striking distance of the top four.
Interchange: Matthew Lodge (Brisbane Broncos)
Lodge played his role off the bench in a gutsy display by the young firebrand. He worked hard through the middle, butting heads with Andrew Fifita to run for 150 metres and make 24 tackles. He also scored a well-deserved try early in the first half.
Interchange: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
The Cowboys won ugly and much of it was courtesy of a vintage performance by Johnathan Thurston. The veteran turned up the heat as he nears the end of his career, organising the Cowboys’ attacking structures to coordinate a second half raid against the Knights.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
He set up two tries as well as scoring one of his own in their 20-18 win, also forcing a goal-line dropout in general play.
Interchange: Angus Crichton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Crichton proved the difference in a come from behind victory over the Eels. He nearly scored a try on the right edge for the cardinal and myrtle, much deserved given his great contributions both in attack and defence with five tackle busts and 38 tackles.
Interchange: Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Cleary stepped up when it mattered for the Panthers as they produced a stunning comeback in the dying stages of the match against Manly. While he made 22 tackles, his impact was felt most in attack where he ran the football for 121 metres with two tackle busts and a try.
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All the team list information for Round 9.
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