By Colleen Edwards (QRL content producer)
The final regular round of the season produced some thrilling matches and some outstanding performances from players across all of the games.
In his side’s big Turn to Me Round win, Central Queensland Capras five-eighth Radean Robinson was excellent, to be the Hostplus strong performer and captain for the Round 20 Team of the Week.
Hard-working Burleigh Bears forward Lochlyn Sheldon played well in the feature game of the round to earn himself the Hastings Deering player of the match honours.
Each round, Queensland Rugby League recognises the 17 best performers and name the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week, presented by Hostplus. These team selections are based not only on statistical data, but also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games.
Round 20 Turn to Me Round Team of the Week
1. Taine Tuaupiki – Burleigh Bears
The Burleigh Bears fullback has been enjoying an outstanding season in the Cup and is always in the mix when it comes time to pick the Team of the Week. In Round 20, he made 166 run metres, six tackle breaks, a line break, two line break assists and two eye-catching try assists. Tweed Seagulls skipper Lindon McGrady was in fine form again for his team in their close loss to Brisbane Tigers, kicking five from five goals and producing two try assists, two line break assists and a tackle break. Regular performer Trai Fuller was also solid for Redcliffe Dolphins, producing some try savers and making eight tackle breaks in his 186 run metres.
2. Brayden McGrady – Norths Devils
Norths winger Brayden McGrady made a successful return to the field in Round 20, crossing for two tries as the Devils posted a close win against Townsville Blackhawks. McGrady also made 158 run metres, one tackle break and also made 47 kick metres from two kicks. McGrady’s fellow winger Jayden Corrigan was outstanding again, crossing for a try and making a whopping 16 tackle breaks in his 137 run metres.
3. Tony Tumusa – Norths Devils
One of a number of Devils to have great games in Round 20, Tumusa was in amongst the action as his side posted a come-from-behind win against Townsville, scoring back-to-back tries to start the second half comeback. Tumusa also ran for 134 run metres and make two line breaks and a huge 13 tackle breaks.
4. Esan Marsters – Burleigh Bears
Marsters combined well with the Bears backline in his side’s big victory against Wynnum Manly Seagulls, scoring a try after following through on the good work of his fullback Taine Tuaupiki. He also ran for 206 run metres (68 of those post-contact), had a try assist of his own and a line break break assist. The Gold Coast Titans contract back also made two line breaks and seven tackle breaks.
5. Brandon Roberts – Central Queensland Capras
With 179 run metres, two line breaks, eight tackle breaks and a try to his name, the Capras winger was again hard to handle for the opposition and makes another appearance in Team of the Week. Bears winger Dante Lusio was also great in his Hostplus Cup debut, scoring a try and running for 192 metres.
6. Radean Robinson – Central Queensland Capras (c)
Young Capras five-eighth, who lists ‘Radz’ as his nickname, was on song in his side’s big win against Souths Logan Magpies to close the last regular round for the season. Robinson scored two tries, made 144 run metres, had a huge four try assists, two line break assists, made a line break himself as well as six tackle breaks. Throw in 93 kick metres from five kicks, two offloads and 16 tackles to complete an all-round strong performance. Townsville Blackhawks youngster Jake Bourke had a strong game as well, with two try assists and 234 kick metres, as did PNG Hunters five-eighth Kingstimer Paraia, who also had two try assists and a line break assist.
7. Judah Rimbu – PNG Hunters
While it was more of an overall team performance that helped the Hunters steal a famous victory in the closing stages of the match in their homecoming, young halfback Rimbu was a key part of that win with a try assist and a line break assist, as well as earning 149 kick metres from his six kicks. His opposing half Brandon Finnegan was a standout for the Cutters with a try assist, a line break assist, a line break and two tackle breaks. Guy Hamilton also played well for the Bears with a try assist and two line break assists.
8. Nick Lui-Toso – Northern Pride
Lui-Toso scored his third try of the season in a strong showing which also included 228 run metres, a try assist, a line break assist, a line break and five tackle breaks and 19 tackles. Tepai Moeroa was also strong for the Falcons in their tight win against the Redcliffe Dolphins, making 135 run metres from 18 runs. The Melbourne Storm contracted forward also had two offloads, a line break and made four tackle breaks. In defence, Moeroa also made 36 tackles. Wynnum Manly prop Kalolo Saitaua was again one of the best for his side, with 123 run metres, five tackle breaks and 20 tackles from his 59 minutes.
9. Haele Finau – Brisbane Tigers
The Tigers rake has been in consistent form of late and makes another appearance in the Team of the Week after his two-try outing in Round 20. Finau, who played seven games for the Tigers last year, also had two line break assists, made a line break himself and four tackle breaks in his 61 run metres. Across the round, there were some strong showings, including from Capras rake Trey Browne who scored a try and had two try assists and from Redcliffe’s Liam Hampson in a power-packed performance off the bench where he produced two try assists, two line break assists, two line breaks and 20 tackles.
10. Nat Neale – Ipswich Jets
While he wasn’t able to to bow out of the game with a win, retiring Jets skipper Nat Neale did what Nat Neale does; putting in a full effort until the final minute of the game. Neale made a stupendous 64 tackles – nearly double the next best for the game and 20 more than Magpies defenders Christian Hazard and Jake Elmore who made 40+ in their game – and also made 82 metres from nine runs. To top it off, he kicked a conversion to end his career with a 100 per cent success rate. Enjoy retirement Nat, you’ve earned it.
11. Bronson Garlick – Brisbane Tigers
The Melbourne Storm contracted forward was one of the standout performers for the Tigers who won a tight tussle with Tweed. Scoring a try to add to his 114 run metres, three tackle breaks, four offloads, two line breaks and 21 tackles, Garlick was also in the mood to help others with his line break assist and try assist.
12. Connelly Lemuelu – Northern Pride
With 179 run metres, a try assist, a line break assist and three tackle breaks amongst his stats for the game, Auckland-born forward Lemeuelu was a heavy lifter for the Pride in their big win against Ipswich Jets which helped them keep their finals hopes alive. Lemeuelu, who is off the The Dolphins next season, also made 32 tackles.
13. Ash Little – Northern Pride
In his 51 minutes on the field, Little made 16 tackles, had a line break and two tackle breaks. Overall he made 204 run metres, 85 of them post-contact, from 17 runs. Little also scored a try mid-way through the first half, his sixth four-pointer for the season.
14. Lochlyn Sheldon – Burleigh Bears
The Hastings Deering player of the match winner for the feature game, Bears lock Lochlyn Sheldon was rewarded for his solid efforts which saw him run for 95 metres, including 36 post contact, and make a tackle break. Sheldon also made 29 tackles during his 48 minutes on the field.
15. Patrice Siolo – Sunshine Coast Falcons
Sunshine Coast Falcons skipper Patrice Siolo was stood up for his team in a tough and close contest against Redcliffe Dolphins. He’ll be needed to provide more of the same this weekend when the two teams face off in Week 1 of the finals. In Round 20, Siolo made 38 tackles, ran for 176 run metres (67 of them post contact) and had three tackle breaks.
16. Brendan Frei – Northern Pride
Talk about impact from the bench – Frei played 55 minutes in the Pride’s win against the Jets and in that time, scored two tries and made two line breaks and two tackle breaks. In his fourth appearance for the club, Frei also ran for 89 metres and made 13 tackles.
17. Sam Lisone – Tweed Seagulls
The big man is in good form, featuring heavily in Tweed’s recent push for the finals. In his side’s close loss to the Tigers last weekend, the Seagulls prop made 14 tackles, scored a try, ran for 109 metres, produced a try assist, a line break assist, made a line break himself as well as three tackle breaks in his 44 minutes.
Main Image: Hostplus Cup R20 Tigers v Seagulls – Haele Finau with the ball. Photo: Mel Tabet
