That’s all she wrote. After 25 rounds of football, the top eight and minor premiership is finally settled as we prepare to enter the finals.
The Sydney Roosters claimed the JJ Giltinan Shield with a big win over the Eels on Saturday night after the Penrith Panthers shocked the Melbourne Storm. In every game across the weekend there were some standout performances from representative stars and young blood alike.
Here is your NRL team of the week for Round 25.
Fullback: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Tedesco was extremely dangerous at the back for the Roosters as they delivered a warning shot to the rest of the competition. The fullback was secure under the highball, running for 259 metres and forming a nice combination at the back with Blake Ferguson.
He busted through eleven tackles with two line breaks and three try assists, looming up on the left edge in support of Luke Keary, as well as scoring a try of his own.
Wing: Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
Mansour was enormous in the Panthers’ thrilling victory over the Melbourne Storm. The Australian international scored two tries on the wing for the mountain men with some strong runs in attack, gaining a total of 172 metres. He was fierce with every touch of the ball, busting through nine tackles.
Centre: Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters)
Mitchell surged to the top of the point scoring leaderboard with a 24-point tally against the Eels on Saturday night. He was lethal on the left edge, running for 137 metres with ten tackle busts and three line breaks, combining well with Daniel Tupou and sending his winger over for a try. The State of Origin representative scored a hattrick of tries himself, proving himself once again as the best centre in the world.
Centre: Joseph Manu (Sydney Roosters)
Manu was dangerous on the Roosters’ right wing scoring a try in their 44-10 flogging of the Parramatta Eels. He continued his tryscoring streak with a lone four-pointer and worked well with winger Blake Ferguson with a try assist. The Cook Islands international made five tackle busts, two line breaks and ran for 186 metres as well as completing 15 tackles.
Wing: Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)
The NRL’s leading metre-eater, Ferguson chewed through an enormous 314 metres against the Eels. The former Australian international scored two tries with five tackle busts and three line breaks while also looking secure under the high ball.
Five-Eighth: Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Walker played a big role in turning South Sydney’s form around as they delivered a 51-10 thrashing of the Wests Tigers. The attacking five-eighth set up a number of attacking raids down the Rabbitohs’ favoured left side, scoring a try and setting up another. He busted through four tackles and forced two dropouts, rekindling his partnership with skipper Greg Inglis.
Halfback: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
Thurston drew his career to a close on an absolute high with a game-breaking performance against the Titans. In front of a capacity crowd on the Gold Coast, Thurston impressed with a masterclass by setting up two tries and putting together a pin-perfect kicking display with three forced dropouts. The future Immortal was also damaging in defence, producing 22 tackles and rattling the Titans.
Thanks JT. For everything. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Prop: George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
The Rabbitohs proved they are still premiership contenders with their 51-10 victory over the Wests Tigers and George Burgess had them moving through the middle of the park. The England international was strong alongside his brothers with 29 tackles in defence and also five tackle busts in attack.
Hooker: Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
McInnes was enigmatic from acting half with some good scoots out of the ruck to gain 47 metres from five runs. He was strong in the middle with 48 tackles and provided good passing service.
Prop: Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
Saifiti was extremely influential on Old Boys Day and responsible for keeping the Knights in the game against the Dragons. The Fijian international ran for an unrivalled 229 metres through the middle of the park with three tackle busts while also making 20 tackles in defence.
Back row: John Sutton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Sutton was one of the Rabbitohs’ best forwards in their big win over the Wests Tigers delivering some attacking brilliance on the left edge. The veteran backrower displayed some scintillating footwork, running for 173 metres with four tackle busts and two line breaks as well as scoring a try and setting up two more.
Back row: Tohu Harris (Warriors)
Harris had another understated but influential performance for the Warriors, once again proving himself to be one of the club’s most valuable players as they secured a 20-16 win over the Raiders. The New Zealand international kept his side moving forward, gaining 147 metres from 15 runs with three tackle busts while also making a 36-tackle contribution in defence.
Lock forward: Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
The Raiders may not have qualified for the finals in 2018 but Josh Papalii’s campaign can be marked down as a success after the veteran forward reinvigorated his career. He was strong in their loss at the hands of the Warriors with 138 running metres and 36 tackles. He also busted three tackles and scored a try, dominating in the middle of the park.
Josh Papalii (Digital Pic by Robb Cox © Action Photographics)
Interchange: Corey Oates (Brisbane Broncos)
Oates narrowly misses out on a starting wing spot however, he was too brilliant to be excluded from the 17. The rangy winger scored four tries as the Broncos dismantled the Sea Eagles including a full-field effort. He hit the line hard in a gutsy performance on the right wing.
Interchange: Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Murray made a big impact off the bench, featuring heavily in the forward rotation for the cardinal and myrtle. The young lock forward made twenty runs for a total of 191 metres and was put through a heavy workload with 23 tackles in addition to three tackle busts.
Interchange: Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
Holmes was the Sharks’ principal attacking weapon as they ended the Bulldogs’ strong form and secured a place inside the top four. The fullback provided three try assists and also scored one of his own, running for 139 metres and making two tackle busts.
Interchange: Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle Knights)
You could have been mistaken for thinking that the eighth immortal, Andrew Johns, had returned to Newcastle after Mitchell Pearce produced a spectacular performance off the boot. Pearce’s kicking game was extremely accurate, berating the Dragons with a number of bombs and cross-field kicks as well as forcing three drop-outs. He also provided 15 tackles in defence.
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