In a new series each round for NRL News, we are going to pick one of the top tries of every match and briefly dissect the play, how it worked and what caught the defence off guard.
Starting with the Ryan Papenhuyzen show in the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs clash.
If we look at Ryan Papenhuyzen’s first try, it is his subtle vision that allows the play to both eventuate and end up in points.
Taking the line on, Papenhuyzen gets on the outside of Jaydn Su’A and forces Adam Reynolds to come across to try and nullify his run.
Spotting this, Papenhuyzen throws a short pass to put Kenny Bromwich through the gap.
With Reynolds pushing in, Campbell Graham, who is on his opposition man in Justin Olam, cannot spin move back to his right quickly enough.
Bromwich hits the gap and finds Papenhuyzen back on the inside to score a well-worked and crafty try.
Mitch Barnett’s try for the Newcastle Knights against the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Just before half-time and needing points, the Newcastle Knights shifted the ball left.
Connor Watson, replacing the injured Kurt Mann, took the line on and made Corey Waddell commit to him.
The key tell, however, was Kyle Flanagan rushing up towards Watson, leaving his backside exposed for Mitch Barnett to stroll through a yawning gap.
The space Barnett runs through is created by a poor defensive read from Flanagan who, ideally, should have stayed in the line to at least force an attempted tackle on Barnett.
Beautiful vision from Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford for Xavier Coates to score against the Parramatta Eels.
On a roll, Milford gets the ball and has time to look up. His vision to spot the open space for Coates to run into allows the play to progress.
The open space is created by Eels winger Maika Sivo rushing up into no-man’s land and allowing Coates to get in behind him.
Taking the ball in full flight, Coates then finishes acrobatically to cap off a well-executed play.
Gold Coast Titans score a sole try in loss to New Zealand Warriors via Corey Thompson.
Corey Thompson’s try is all set up by a lovely decoy run from Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Dummy half Erin Clark and Fa’asuamaleaui are on the same page, as the forward takes off quickly enough to ensure that Kodi Nikorima commits to him.
He cannot get his balance to turn back the other way in time and Clark’s pass finds AJ Brimson.
Running an equally good decoy is Brian Kelly, whose run sucks in David Fusitu’a on the wing, thus creating space.
With Fusitu’a occupied by Kelly and Peta Hiku covering Brimson due to Nikorima’s bad read, Thompson is able to coast over and score easily.
Sydney Roosters forwards Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Angus Crichton combine to score in a big win over Manly Sea Eagles.
Seeing forwards assist other forwards is a thing of beauty and Sio Siua Tauekahio and Angus Crichton combined brilliantly.
Receiving the pass from the dummy half, Taukeiaho takes the line on and is able to get Curtis Sironen to commit to him ever so slightly.
That minute error of judgment is all it takes for Angus Crichton to score.
Sironen cannot turn and tackle quickly enough to stop the hard-running Crichton, who is able to overpower the smaller man in Daly Cherry-Evans to score a try.
Kurt Capewell powers over for Penrith Panthers in opening win over North Queensland Cowboys.
Although good execution by the Penrith Panthers, this try is simply on the back of a terrible defensive decision by North Queensland Cowboys makeshift centre, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Panthers half Nathan Cleary is at second receiver and is able to look up upon receiving the ball.
Charging towards him is Tabuai-Fidow who makes a meal of the tackle attempt, as Cleary’s pass finds Kurt Capewell.
Capewell is able to step back inside and avoid the poor tackle attempt made by Jake Clifford before diving over the line to score.
Quick feet and awareness from Luke Brooks gives Wests Tigers the lead over the Canberra Raiders.
The beauty of this try lies in two key factors. One, the quickstep and subtlety of Luke Brooks, and two, the misread by Josh Papalii.
Papalii made the previous tackle but instead of holding his line at marker, he drifts to the right to follow the ball.
As Brooks takes the line on – avoiding the rushing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the process – Papalii’s eagerness to follow the ball sees him attempt to crowd Brooks.
With too much speed and some football smarts, Brooks offloads and finds Jacob Liddle who scores through the gap that Papalii should have occupied upon completing the previous tackle.
Blistering speed from Matt Dufty shows St George Illawarra Dragons potential against Cronulla Sharks.
A player with pure speed is a thing of beauty and a lovely bit of hole-running and support play produces a quality try such as this.
Ben Hunt takes it to the line, looking for support, and finds Matt Dufty.
Defensively, there isn’t even much-done wrong by either Aiden Tolman or Jack Williams.
Neither has the speed or quickness to deal with Dufty flying through the gap, as he weaves his way in and out, evading defenders to score.
Most notably, he puts the afterburners on ever so slightly to easily get past Sharks fullback Will Kennedy.