Round 7 of the NRC had a couple of lop-sided affairs, a fairly dire tv match but was wrapped up with pretty darn good encounter in the west. But with Brisbane City and Canberra Vikings continuing to roll all comers, how will this week’s TOTW look?
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1. Allan Alaalatoa (Canberra Vikings) – 4 TOTW appearance
A Grand Slam of appearances for Alaalatoa who is loving this competition in 2015. Whilst benefitting greatly from being a part of a powerful Vikings pack, Big Al is proving an immovable object at the scrum and an almost unstoppable force around the field.[/one_third]
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2. Heath Tessman (Perth Spirit ) – 1
Led from the front as part of the dominant front row for the Spirit that laid the platform for his team’s three try turnaround to snatch the lead and almost the game. Scored a good try himself with a 20 metre run up the guts brought down just short of the line, but managing to roll on his back, reach over his head and plant the ball down. A Spirit stand out this season.[/one_third]
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3. Sam Talakai (Brisbane City) – 2
Sam the Man has been fantastic all NRC in a position that has had many stars. On Friday night he was dominant in the scrum, again, against a very experienced front row for the Stars. Around the paddock he put in some big hits, and led his team with distinction as captain and ensured Brisbane retained the Horan Little Shield. [/one_third]
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4. Blake Enever (Canberra Vikings) – 1
Enever is part of arguably the best locking combination of the NRC, alongside the towering Rory Arnold. Enever’s game has been of the highest level all NRC after some breakthrough games for the Brumbies. Controlling the lineout, making metres with the ball whilst being strong at the breakdown. What more could you want from a lock?[/one_third]
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5. Tom Staniforth (NSW Country Eagles ) – 2
Another strong 80 minute performance for Staniforth who was in everything and was a beast to pull down. Even set up the final try with a long cut out pass that Quade would be proud of, for Ed Stubbs to cross the line for what proved to be the winning score. His second consecutive TOTW appearance. [/one_third]
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6. Jordan Smiler (Canberra Vikings) – 2
The Smiler Assassin was at his clinical best again in the Vikings massive win over the Melbourne Rising. Big hits and strong runs, Smiler has provided tremendous consistency for the Canberra team partnering strongly with Jarrad Butler and Ita Vaea. [/one_third]
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7. Cohen Masson (Greater Sydney Rams) – 1
This is a tough call on the Vikings’s Jarrad Butler who scored another try on the weekend and lead admirably. However Cohen Masson was the standout player in the television fixture in a somewhat underwhelming Thursday night encounter with the Rays. Scoring two tries himself Masson exhibited a strong on ball game, and was seemingly never too far away from the action all night.
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8. Ita Vaea (Canberra Vikings) – 5
Shaping as the favourite the be the Player of the Tournament and leading the way with five TOTW appearances, Vaea continues to roll on, rolling over defenders seemingly at will. He has become such a crucial part of the Vikings arsenal as much as when he doesn’t carry the ball as when he does. Scott Higginbotham for Brisbane City continued his late season form surge, however Vaea remains the form No 8 of the comp.[/one_third]
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9. Joe Powell (Canberra Vikings) – 1
Like THP, the scrumhalf position has been one of tremendous quality this NRC season. For the Vikings, Powell came close to getting his debut TOTW gig last week, but couldn’t be denied this week after a rock solid performance including a pile of defensive work throughout the game. Nick Frisby for Brisbane City was also very good whilst the Spirit’s Michael Ruru impressed from the bench. [/one_third]
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10. Jono Lance (NSW Country Eagles) – 3
Lance’s strong NRC continued with a performance in which he controlled the backline nicely, orchestrating the set moves that broke the Spirit open and gave Country the win. Jono pulled off a monster tackle on the big Perth lock, Ross Haylett-Petty, in a memorable moment whilst his kicking was spot on, both in hand and off the tee, including two conversions from the sideline.
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11. Jarome McKenzie (NSW Country Eagles) – 1
McKenzie was one of the rising stars of last year’s tournament however serious injury meant he ended 2014 early and started 2015 late. He’s back and getting back to full confidence and on the weekend finished a good winger’s try for NSW Country running onto the ball at pace and breaking through the tackles of both opposite wingers to score. McKenzie was very solid in defence as well. Chris Kuridrani was close as well as he continues to enjoy the fruits of some quality players inside him.
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12. Sione Tuipulotu (Melbourne Rising) – 1
Just a schoolboy last year, the impressive Sione has been a revelation so far off the bench for the Rising. Given the chance to start on Friday night, against the high flying Vikings, Tuipulotu’s game was one of the few highlights for Melbourne fans. His running was a feature for the Rising and proved a constant source of angst for the highly functional Canberra defence. Henry Teafu is to be commended with his performance amongst an all-star City team. [/one_third]
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13. Samu Kerevi (Brisbane City) – 1
It’s hard to believe that this is Samu’s debut cap in the TOTW. Whilst he hasn’t reached the levels of play he did in 2014, Kerevi has remained an attacking powerhouse for Brisbane City. His game has matured, however, and the his selflessness is apparent as he sets up countless tries for his outside men. He was at his best on Friday night and proved too strong for a spirited Stars defence, making big meters every time he carried. [/one_third]
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14. Junior Laloifi (Brisbane City) – 2
The Prince’s four tries on Friday night was many things. A record for Brisbane for most tries in a match (equalling the NRC record). A record for the most tries in an NRC season, already one ahead of Andrew Kellaway’s nine in 2014 (with at least one, probably 2, likely 3 games to go). But overall it was yet another example of his amazing ability to sniff out an opportunity. He must be firming to snag a Reds contract for 2016.[/one_third]
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15. Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane City) – 2
And his form just continues to improve. Hunt has clearly found his groove at the back of the City team, having a hand in five of Brisbane’s first six tries including scoring one himself. He has provided Brisbane with a new dimension in attack and providing Reds fans with renewed hope for 2016. It was noticeable how indecisive Brisbane looked when Special K was replaced. Aidan Toua from the Vikings deserves a mention for scoring probably the individual try of the season against the Rising. Simply brilliant.
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