By Jorja Brinums (QRL lead content producer)
Crazy Sock Round, in support of the Men of League Foundation, saw some top-shelf individual and team performances.
Central Queensland Capras second rower Nixon Putt was on fire against PNG Hunters, earning himself the Hastings Deering player of the match honours for the feature game and the Hostplus strong performer gong for the round.
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 15 Team of the Week
1. Tristan Sailor – Souths Logan Magpies
Plenty performed in the role of fullback in Round 15, but Magpies livewire Sailor pipped them all at the post for a spot in this week’s Team of the Week. Sailor clocked a huge 234 run metres, including 76 post-contact, made one line break, two line break assists, four try assists and eight tackle breaks against Brisbane Tigers. A big mention goes to Wynnum Manly Seagulls’ Ben Farr with one from one conversions, 243 run metres, one try assist, one line break assist and seven tackle breaks. Ipswich Jets fullback Ngangarra Barker and Sunshine Coast Falcons fullback Luke Polselli were also impressive.
2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira – Burleigh Bears
Khan-Pereira was pivotal in Burleigh’s 30-16 win over Townsville Blackhawks. The gun winger was superb in attack, scoring a hat-trick of tries, clocking 151 run metres, making three line breaks, one line break assist and five tackle breaks. Townsville Blackhawks winger Taniela Sadrugu was also good with one try, 168 run metres, including 76 post-contact, and five tackle breaks.
3. Kane Jackson – Sunshine Coast Falcons
Jackson was solid for the Falcons during their 26-18 win over Tweed Seagulls. The talented centre, whose cousin Riley Price plays for Townsville Blackhawks and whose uncle is the one and only Brent Tate, scored one try, clocked 149 run metres, including 49 post-contact, made two tackle breaks and 19 tackles.
4. Denzel Burns – Ipswich Jets
Burns is a consistent performer for the Jets and Round 15 was no different. Burns scored two tries, clocked 182 run metres, made one line break and a massive nine tackle breaks during his side’s win over Mackay Cutters. Souths Logan Magpies centre Cole Waaka was also good with two tries.
5. Setu Tu – Redcliffe Dolphins
The Dolphins winger is no stranger to Team of the Week. Tu scored a hat-trick of tries, clocked 158 run metres, including 45 post-contact, made one line break and seven tackle breaks during his side’s big 54-16 win over Norths Devils.
6. Radean Robinson – Central Queensland Capras
The Capras five-eighth was excellent during his side’s 62-24 win over PNG Hunters in Round 15. Robinson scored two tries, had three try assists, clocked 130 run metres, made two line breaks, three line break assists, nine tackle breaks and nine tackles. Burleigh Bears performer Josh Rogers was again in the mix following another strong showing in his side’s win.
7. Ronald Volkman – Redcliffe Dolphins
Dolphins half Volkman was excellent in Round 15. Volkman, up against the always impressive Devils half Jack Ahearn, scored one try, assisted in two tries, kicked eight from eight conversions, one penalty goal, clocked 82 run metres, had two line break assists and made nine tackles. Ahearn was also good with two tries, 79 run metres, one line break, two tackle breaks and 16 tackles. Mackay Cutters half Brandon Finnegan also gets a shout-out this week with one try, three from three conversions, 93 run metres, one line break, one line break assist, one try assist, four tackle breaks and 19 tackles.
8. Nick Lui-Toso – Northern Pride
Lui-Toso, during his 55 minutes on the field against Wynnum Manly Seagulls, clocked a huge 260 run metres, including 109 post-contact, had 17 hit-ups and made 21 tackles, missing none.
9. Haele Finau – Brisbane Tigers
The Tigers hooker was excellent during their tight win over the Magpies in Round 15. Finau, during his 53 minutes on the field, scored one try, clocked 116 run metres, made one line break, five tackle breaks and 31 tackles. Special mentions go to Wynnum Manly’s Tristan Hope, who made a massive 56 tackles and Ipswich’s Rhys Jacks, who made 43 tackles.
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10. Tyler Szepanowski – Central Queensland Capras
Szepanowski is becoming a Team of the Week regular with his impressive performances for the Capras. Szepanowski, during his 52 minutes on the field, scored two tries, clocked 107 run metres, made two line breaks, six tackle breaks and 22 tackles with 95.65 per cent tackle efficiency.
11. Joshua Patston – Tweed Seagulls
Patston was a stand-out in a losing side at the weekend, solid in attack and defence. The talented second rower scored two tries, clocked 152 run metres, including 45 post-contact, made two line breaks, two tackle breaks and 29 tackles.
12. Nixon Putt – Central Queensland Capras (C)
The Capras second rower was the standout performer for Crazy Sock Round, supporting the Men of League Foundation. Putt earned Hastings Deering player of the match honours for the feature game and is the Hostplus strong performer for the round for his superb performance. Putt scored a hat-trick of tries, assisted in two tries, clocked 208 run metres, including 58 post-contact, made two line breaks, two line break assists, six tackle breaks and 17 tackles.
13. Ash Little – Northern Pride
Pride’s Ash Little gets the Team of the Week lock nod this week for his efforts against Wynnum Manly. Little, during his 57 minutes on the field, scored one try, clocked 131 run metres, including 43 post-contact, made one line break, four tackle breaks and 15 tackles. Souths Logan’s Rory Ferguson was also excellent with 220 run metres, including 100 post-contact, three tackle breaks and 36 tackles.
14. Harrison Graham – Wynnum Manly Seagulls
The Wynnum Manly talent was on fire in a losing side at the weekend. Graham, who is off to The Dolphins in 2023, scored two tries, clocked 52 run metres, made two line breaks, five tackle breaks and 38 tackles with 95 per cent tackle efficiency during his 52 minutes on the field.
15. Tom McGrath – Northern Pride
McGrath was solid for Pride during his 46 minutes on the field. The talented second rower scored one try, clocked 102 run metres, made one line break, seven tackle breaks and 26 tackles during his side’s win.
16. Jackson Frei – Redcliffe Dolphins
The talented Dolphins second rower, who is signed to the Warriors, scored two tries, clocked 90 run metres, made two line breaks, four tackle breaks and 18 tackles during his side’s massive win at the weekend.
17. Ricco Falaniko – Ipswich Jets
The Jets centre was excellent for the Jets in Round 15. Falaniko scored two tries, clocked 168 run metres, including 56 post-contact, made one line break, eight tackle breaks and five tackles, missing none.
