Team of the Week: Headache for Dogs after bargain buy unlocks Galvin
He is the unsung signing who was brought into Canterbury’s side as injury cover, but managed to orchestrate the best performance of their season. Everyone is now waiting to see what the coach does with the team when the captain comes back.
1. Reece Walsh (Broncos): A stunning return to form with a move to first receiver, laying on all three Brisbane tries as they ended an eight-game losing run against premiership favourites Penrith in atrocious conditions on Thursday night.
Attribution: Getty Images
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors): As consistent as any finisher in the game - scored his weekly try and ran for a game high 230 metres as the Warriors took care of business against a brave but unlucky Dragons outfit on Saturday night in Auckland.
Attribution: Getty Images
3. Billy Smith (left) (Roosters): Now he has finally beaten his injury curse, is showing the class Roosters officials have known he possesses, scoring a try, setting up another and making a line break in the hard-fought win over the Storm.
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4. Simi Sasagi (Raiders): Continued his excellent season with a game high 210 run metres, carving up the Souths defence out wide at GIO Stadium as the Raiders scored a well-deserved win.
Attribution: Mark Nolan
5. Jed Stuart (Raiders): Ricky’s boy showed he deserves his spot on his merits, scoring a length of the field intercept and creating another try in the win over the Rabbitohs in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
Attribution: Getty
6. Braydon Trindall (Sharks): Maintained his magical run this season, setting up two of his team’s three tries in the nail-biting 20-18 defeat of the Knights at Shark Park on Friday night. Made a couple of errors but the good far outweighed the bad.
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7. Lachlan Galvin (Bulldogs): The game’s most scrutinised young player came good in the win over Tigers, using his creative skills to give his outside men time and space as the scoreboard kept ticking over. The inclusion of Sean O’Sullivan in the halves allowed Galvin to play a five-eighth role despite wearing the No.7 on his back and low and behold, we finally saw what he is capable of when not lumped with the responsibility of game management. It will be intriguing to see what Cameron Ciraldo does with O’Sullivan once Stephen Crichton returns from injury.
Attribution: Matt King
8. Xavier Willison (Broncos): In the heavy going at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night, outshone every forward on the field - including fellow prop Payne Haas - with a mammoth 210 run metres.
Attribution: Getty Images
9. Blayke Brailey (Sharks): In tough conditions at Shark Park on Friday night, his clever ball playing out of dummy half proved crucial in Cronulla’s close win over the Knights.
Attribution: Jeremy Ng
10. Naufahu Whyte (Roosters): One of the most underrated big men in the comp, has been as strong and consistent as any prop in the NRL this season and led the way up front in the gritty win over the Storm.
Attribution: Getty Images
