Want some exciting rugby to watch? How’s 39 tries and 306 points in a weekend of footy. Not half bad I reckon. The 2015 NRC is throwing up some fantastic performances that it seems unfair to single out just 15 (and change) each week, but that’s what we are going to do. Here is the GAGR NRC Team of Week Three.
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1. Allan Alaalatoa (UC Vikings) – 1 week in the team
Alaalatoa worked hard as part of a strong Vikings scrum in a dominant wider pack performance. The set piece worked a treat for the Vikings and the tries directly from the lineout is evidence of this. Whilst Allan’s brother Mike has decided to ply his trade in the ITM Cup in New Zealand, Allan sticks to his guns in Australia and the Vikings are reaping the reward.[/one_third]
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2. Andrew Ready (Brisbane City) – 1
In one of many individual match ups between Reds squad members, this was a bell ringer. Saia Faingaa, for Country, gutsed it out after taking a knock trying to stop Liam Gill from scoring, but Ready was the one putting the big hits in for City. Ready was at his aggressive best in Toowoomba, hitting hard in defence and running with intent.[/one_third]
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3. Sef Fa’agase (Queensland Country) – 2
As predicted the set piece battle in the City Country clash on the Downs was a cracker. There were no questions asked nor given at scrum time and Fa’agase took it up to fellow Reds prop Pettowa Paraka. Fa’agase once again was busy in attack and strong in defence and is making a real claim for a Reds front row spot in 2016. Young Sam Needs from the Rams gets recognition for being the third tight head prop to score a brace of tries this NRC.
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4. Rory Walton (Perth Spirit) – 1
Despite the Spirit losing all three games this year, the physicality of lock forward Rory Walton has been a real stand out so far in 2015. Once again on the weekend against the Stars Walton was off-loading and shedding tackles and put his side in with a big shot in that tight first half. Big Rory Arnold from the Vikings had a busy game including scoring a well-taken try.[/one_third]
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5. Matt Philip (Sydney Stars) – 1
The Stars have continued on their winning way this year and look to be a unit that will be hard to stop. Lock Matt Philip, from Sydney Uni, has been a key contributor in all three games this season. Against the Spirit he worked hard all day, and made some good breaks, reminiscent of Dean Mumm, and scored his second try of the season. [/one_third]
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6. Jordan Smiler (UC Vikings) – 1
The Brumbies received a boost last month when Smiler turned his back on a French contract to stay at the Brumbies for two more years. His performance at blindside for the UC Vikings on weekend should make Canberra fans very happy he’s staying. His physicality at the breakdown earned his team a number of turnovers and a massive hit towards the end of the match will make the season highlights package without a doubt.[/one_third]
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7. Liam Gill (Brisbane City) – 2
Gill’s in the form of his life. Reds’ Player of the Year. Man of the Match in the first Round of the NRC, off to star for the Barbarians v the Samoa, and then back to again stand out for City on Sunday. It was just more of the usual in Toowoomba, with turnovers, decisive runs and big hits. Two big plays as well were his well worked try around the front of the lineout and his, what, 35m quicklineout throw in the first half. Quite a bloody talent. [/one_third]
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8. Ita Vaea (UC Vikings) – 2
Like Gill, Vaea seems in career best form at the moment and how lucky are we to have the NRC for him to be showcasing it. He pretty much terrorised the Rams on the weekend including setting up an early try with a big run and an outrageous offload to Jerome Niumata, before scoring himself late in the day to close out the victory. He’d look very good with a gold jersey on his back. Colby Fainga’a of the Rising was also excellent, but it was too hard to go past Vaea this week.
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9. Jake Gordon (Sydney Stars) – 1
The 2016 Waratahs recruit has shown himself to be an astute signing by Daryl Gibson. The Stars have built their success on the linking of their hard running pack with their pace out wide, with Gordon being a key link in the middle. On the weekend he again showed great vision in guiding the Stars around the field, together with some good positional kicking as well. His try in the 69th minute sealed the match.
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10. Jack Debreczeni (Melbourne Rising) – 1
The Rising didn’t get it all their own way in the Thursday night FOX SPORTS game last week, but flyhalf Debreczeni lead the way throughout the match. He was a steady hand in this match, showed excellent management skills, had a great night with the boot, was involved in multiple tries including one of his own. He showed once again what a valuable asset he is to the Rising and Rebels and what he could potentially be down the track for the Wallabies.
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11. Chris Kuridrani (Brisbane City) – 1
Kuridnrani has a wonderful connection with centre Samu Kerevi both on and off the field. They play together at club, NRC and state, and the combination is evident at all levels. It was this game that saw Kuridrani, the Panther, in full flight though and full of running. He was instrumental in a number of City’s long range tries and ran strongly all match, proving a real danger on the counter attack. He scored a try himself, his first for the season after topping Brisbane’s try scoring tally in 2014. [/one_third]
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12. Campbell Magnay (Queensland Country) – 1
Magnay’s return from injury to the Country team could not have been timed better, given injuries to other Reds backs Anthony Fainga’a and JJ Tualagi. It resulted in Magnay having to play in the relatively unfamiliar position of inside centre and take on added seniority when Chris Feauai-Sautia and Radike Samo went off injured. The 18 year old Magnay stepped up and produced a busy, and aggressive display including a strongly taken try in the second half.
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13. Tom Carter (Sydney Stars) – 1
The enigma that is Tom Carter came on for the Stars early in the 2nd half, for the injured Jim Stewart and his impact was immediate. Just a couple of minutes later he made a break down left touchline which almost resulted in a try to Harry Jones. Later in the match, after some pick and go attack the ball came to Carter again who sold everyone a dummy and crossed the try line himself. His experience for the high-flying Stars will prove invaluable as they head home against some of the tournament’s top teams.[/one_third]
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14. Jerome Nuimata (UC Vikings) – 1
The experienced Nuimata is one of a few Vikings without a Brumbies contract, but his display on the weekend was very reminiscent Joe Tomane and Henry Speight. Nuimata was rewarded for his busy display at Viking Park with two well taken tries, the first was a brilliant effort supporting an Ita Vaea break and the second sealed the game late in the game. Stacey Ili of the Rising showed his wares, exhibiting a nice step and good agility, a strong finisher who did a sound job replacing Jonah Placid at fullback.[/one_third]
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15. Junior Laloifi (Brisbane City) – 2
First round stand out, Junior Laloifi was at it again for Brisbane City scorching the barren looking Clive Berghoffer Stadium turf on Sunday and helping to secure his team’s third straight victory. Whilst his first try was very much a team effort travelling 60m up the field, his second effort was all him – a 95m break away effort having picked up a loose ball near his own try-line. The man they call Prince is proving to be one of the real exciting machines this NRC season. Paul Asquith for the Rams deserves a mention as his team’s most dangerous runner against the Vikings.
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