By Jorja Brinums (QRL lead content producer)
Harvey Norman Women in League Round saw Burleigh Bears flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira score four tries, two hat-tricks scored, plenty of tackles made and a tonne of emotion, with the passing of friend to many Michael Purcell and Wynnum Manly Seagulls legend Paul Green.
Khan-Pereira was the stand-out of the round, earning himself the Hostplus strong performer honours and skipper nod for the Round 18 Team of the Week. And Norths Devils skipper Jack Ahearn was impressive during the feature game to earn the Hastings Deering player of the match gong.
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 18 Team of the Week
1. Trai Fuller – Redcliffe Dolphins
The electric Dolphins fullback is one of the most entertaining players to watch within the Cup competition. Fuller was superb against Souths Logan Magpies during Harvey Norman Women in League Round, scoring a hat-trick and registering 181 run metres, two line breaks and a massive 13 tackle breaks. Northern Pride’s Will Partridge was also solid with two tries and three from three conversions; and Townsville Blackhawks weapon Tom Chester was also good with two tries, 76 run metres and four tackle breaks.
2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira – Burleigh Bears (C)
Khan-Pereira was absolutely on fire in a losing side in Round 18. The gun winger scored four tries against Mackay Cutters, assisted in one try, registered 195 run metres, two line breaks, three tackle breaks and four tackles at 100 per cent tackle efficiency. His try-scoring prowess earned him the title of Hostplus strong performer for the round and skipper honours for Round 18 Team of the Week.
3. Gehamat Shibasaki – Mackay Cutters
The talented centre showcased immense skill against the Bears. Shibasaki scored one try, registered a huge 297 run metres including 77 post-contact, two line breaks, three line break assists and nine tackle breaks. Sunshine Coast Falcons talent Young Tonumaipea also deserves a mention; during his 57 minutes on the field, he scored two tries, registered 164 run metres, one line break and seven tackle breaks.
4. Rocco Berry – Redcliffe Dolphins
Dolphins talent Rocco Berry, who is contracted to the Warriors, was on fire against Souths Logan Magpies with 177 run metres, two line breaks, one line break assist, one try assist, three tackle breaks and 22 tackles with 100 per cent tackle efficiency. PNG Hunters star centre Benji Kot was also excellent with two tries, one try assist, 150 run metres, two line breaks, one line break assist and five tackle breaks.
5. Scott Galeano – Tweed Seagulls
Galeano had a blinder against Northern Pride at the weekend. The Seagulls winger scored a hat-trick of tries, registered 241 run metres, including 78 post-contact, made two line breaks and four tackle breaks. Brisbane Tigers talent Bernard Gregorius was also good with one try, 171 run metres, two line breaks and six tackle breaks.
6. Gerome Burns – Ipswich Jets
The Jets had a lot to play for at the weekend with the loss of friend Michael Purcell and skipper Nat Neale playing his final home game, after announcing his retirement during the week. And Burns certainly stood up. The Jets five-eighth scored one try, registered 176 run metres, including 31 post-contact, two tackle breaks and made 21 tackles with 91.3 per cent tackle efficiency. Tweed’s Will Brimson was also solid with 94 run metres, one line break, two line break assists, three try assists, three tackle breaks and 22 tackles.
7. Adam Cook – Mackay Cutters
The Cutters stood up against ladder leaders Burleigh Bears in Round 18 and came away with the two points. Cook certainly performed for the Cutters; he scored one try, kicked six from six conversions and one penalty goal, registered 58 run metres, one line break assist, one try assist and 10 tackles. Souths Logan Magpies weapon Albert Kelly deserves a mention with one line break, one line break assist, seven tackle breaks and 293 kick metres. Redcliffe Dolphins star Cameron Cullen was also excellent on return with four line break assists, three try assists and one tackle break and Hunters’ Judah Rimbu was solid with two try assists and 286 kick metres.
8. Jordan Grant – Brisbane Tigers
Grant was solid for the Tigers during their close loss to Sunshine Coast Falcons. The talented prop, during his 63 minutes on the field, registered 189 run metres, including 73 post-contact, and made 28 tackles with 96.55 per cent tackle efficiency.
9. Kyle Laybutt – Townsville Blackhawks
The consistent Blackhawks hooker did what he does best during his side’s draw with PNG Hunters at the weekend, solid in attack and defence. Laybutt registered one try assist, one line break assist and one tackle break, as well as a huge 42 tackles with 97.67 per cent tackle efficiency. Wynnum Manly Seagulls talent Harrison Graham was also solid during his 39 minutes on the field with one try, 146 run metres, one line break, one line break assist, three tackle breaks and 12 tackles.
10. Nat Neale – Ipswich Jets
The “chicken pesto pasta prop” was superb during his final outing at North Ipswich Reserve. Neale registered 181 run metres, including 74 run metres, two tackle breaks and a huge 49 tackles with 96.08 per cent tackle efficiency.
11. Kane Bradley – Mackay Cutters
Bradley, who is contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys, was very good for the Cutters against the Bears in Round 18. Bradley scored one try, registered 186 run metres, including 48 post-contact, two line breaks, one try assist, six tackle breaks and 15 tackles. Wynnum Manly’s Zac Hosking was also good with one try, 138 run metres, including 61 post-contact, one line break assist, two tackle breaks and 26 tackles.
12. Jeremiah Simbiken – Redcliffe Dolphins
The Dolphins second rower put his best foot forward during Harvey Norman Women in League Round. Simbiken scored one try, registered 181 run metres, including 53 post-contact, two line breaks, one line break assist, four tackle breaks and 41 tackles with 95.35 per cent tackle efficiency. Central Queensland Capras second rower Ethan O’Neill was also solid with 166 run metres, including 61 post-contact, two line break assists, one try assist, six tackle breaks and 16 tackles.
13. Keven Appo – PNG Hunters
The Hunters lock did not disappoint in Round 18. Appo, during his 59 minutes on the field against the Blackhawks, registered 82 run metres, one tackle break and 33 tackles with an impressive 100 per cent tackle efficiency.
14. Ben Farr – Wynnum Manly Seagulls
The fullback position was tightly contested this round, with several stepping up to the plate. Farr was excellent in a losing side scoring one try, kicking one from one conversion attempts and making 225 run metres, including 78 post-contact, one line break, one line break assist, one try assist, five tackle breaks and six tackles with 100 per cent tackle efficiency.
15. Jack Ahearn – Norths Devils
The Devils skipper, a consistent performer for his side, was excellent in Round 18, earning himself the Hastings Deering player of the match honours for the feature game. Ahearn scored one try, kicked one field goal, registered 204 run metres, including 53 post-contact, one line break, three line break assists, one try assist, four tackle breaks and 16 tackles.
16. Jayden Corrigan – Norths Devils
Corrigan is proving a force to be reckoned with in the competition this year. The young flyer scored two tries, registered 225 run metres, including 82 post-contact, two line breaks, seven tackle breaks and three tackles with 100 per cent tackle efficiency in Round 18.
17. Tyson Smoothy – Sunshine Coast Falcons
Falcons hooker Smoothy was impressive as always, kicking three from four conversions, one penalty goal and registering one line break assist, 107 kick metres and a massive 48 tackles with 92.31 per cent tackle efficiency.
