Ricky’s Round 6 Team of the Week
Fullback: Luke Patten: Really starting to hit his straps. Made great metres off kick returns and scored two tries in a dominant Bulldogs display. Could be a surprise inclusion at fullback for NSW.
Winger: Antonio Winterstein: The young kid has done it again. Turning out to be a real match winner for the Broncos. Scored two tries in a hard-fought win. Has a great future and should play Origin in a few years time.
Centre: Wendell Sailor: The warhorse is back. 3 tries in his past 2 games and is only making his Origin credentials stronger. Went off injured with a suspected hamstring tear.
Centre: Jamie Lyon: Is currently in the best form of his career. Scored two tries in a solid performance by the Sea Eagles and will look to continue that next week.
Winger: Hazem El Masri: Continuing his point scoring show with a 16 point performance on the weekend in the thrashing of the Eels. This could be his last year at the top level.
Five-eighth: Mat Rogers: Now that he is injury free, he is proving to be a nuisance for opposition teams. Scored the winning try for the Titans against the Raiders and caused havoc around the ruck for the Raiders.
Halfback: Jonathon Thurston: The playmaker is back to his best. Set up a few of the Cowboy’s tries and re-kindled his former deadly partnership with Matt Bowen. This could be a bad sign for any opposition teams. Will challenge Scott Prince for the QLD #7.
Prop: Matthew Taufua: In his first major stint in the NRL, the young man has really taken his game to another level. Providing the Knights with big metres in attack and strong defence, he is proving to be a handy addition to a reformed Knights team.
Hooker: Issac De Gois: A player who has turned out to be a great buy for the Knights. Quick out of dummy half and a real workhorse. Put in a solid performance against the Dragons getting himself on the scoresheet.
Prop: Jeff Lima: The only solid performer in a woeful Storm performance. Has continued his good form with great showings in both attack and defence and wouldn’t look out of place in a QLD jersey.
2nd Row: Gareth Ellis: Has struggled to maintain his Round 1 form, but really took another huge step for the Tigers this week. He took his game to another level and was the most dominant forward in the game. A very dangerous player with great ball-running skills.
2nd Row: Ryan Hoffman: Didn’t have his best game, but did enough to be a strong player for the Storm last night. Scored their one and only try and was solid in defence also.
Lock: Shane Shackleton: Previously thought to not have what it takes to play in the NRL, Shackleton has really stepped it up and made the lock position his own. Has great footwork for a big man and is strong in defence.
Reserve 1: Karmichael Hunt: Had a very solid game from Fullback with terrific kick returns and use his strength and pace to outmaneuver the Panthers defence. Should be QLD’s fullback and got himself on the scoresheet.
Reserve 2: Chris Lawrence: Further strengthed his Origin credentials with a solid performance in the gutsy win by the Tigers last night. Showed his solid defence in stopping some crucial plays and scored two tries.
Reserve 3: Brett Stewart: The man is a freak. Only his second game back and he has scored 5 tries. Works well with Watmough and Ballin from offloads and used his pace to his advantage to cross for two solid tries. Could get a fullback/wing spot for NSW.
Reserve 4: Kris Keating: Once again showed what a livewire he is. Had a dominant first half display causing havoc for the Bulldogs and had a hand in all the Eels tries. A great find for the Eels.