The key men behind upset wins for the Titans and Wests Tigers dominated the Team of the Week for Round 16 of the Telstra Premiership.
Meanwhile, after the Rabbitohs kept the Sea Eagles scoreless at home on Saturday, Damien Cook and Keaon Koloamotangi also featured in the team.
1. Keano Kini (Titans)
On a night when six Titans ran for more than 150 metres, it was 20-year-old Kini whole stole the show with an impressive 249 from fullback. The emerging No. 1 gun was a threat all night out the back, putting his hand up for 19 runs where he broke six tackles, busted the line on three occasions and scored on two.
2. Will Warbrick (Storm)
Cleary in a mood to make up for lost time after a month out with a hip flexor injury, Warbrick caused chaos for a Dolphins’ left edge who lost Jack Bostock in the opening minutes. Unleashed a monster fend to get rid of Herbie Farnworth to set up Melbourne’s second, before putting Jahrome Hughes over for their third. The next one was all his with a leaping take from a kick, while he came up with a couple of important claims at the defensive end as well.
3. Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
Returned to first grade in style after rupturing his ACL over 12 months ago. Playing in the centres, Doueihi ran for 212 metres, had a try assist, two line breaks and capped off his remarkable return with a runaway intercept try int he 73rd minute to seal the Wests Tigers’ 48-24 win over the Raiders.
4. Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)
Kiraz starred in a losing effort for the Bulldogs, doing everything he could to spark a comeback against the Roosters. Filled in at centre in the absence of skipper Stephen Crichton on Origin duties and showed why he needs more opportunities with the football in hand after running for 222 metres - 63 of which were post-contact - and broke eight tackles.
5. Alofi Khan-Pereira (Titans)
The Titans speedster headlined Saturday’s 66-6 victory over the Warriors with a four-try haul on the left edge. While the 22-year-old was gifted a couple in space, he also showcased his game smarts with a 90-metre intercept try in the second half. Finished the match with 224 run metres, two line breaks and two tackle breaks to go with his 16-point performance.
6. Jayden Campbell (Titans)
Had a field day behind a forward pack that rolled their opposition and constantly put himself in the frame to take advantage of half-breaks and a tiring defensive line. Punished the Warriors with three try assists and kept threatening with his jinking runs on a day in which he became the record holder for most points in a single match for the Titans, with a try and a perfect 11/11 off the boot giving him 26 by full-time.
7. Kieran Foran (Titans)
Against his former club Foran wound back the clock with a vintage performance that saw him set up four of his side’s 11 tries on a memorable day at Cbus Super Stadium. Not only was he dazzling with ball in hand, the Kiwi playmaker who turns 34 next month also punished any Warrior who was silly enough to run his way.
8. Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
Laid the platform up front to help his side to a big win over the Raiders on Sunday. Got through a mountain of work in his 47-minue stint at prop including 71 run metres, a line break and six tackle busts to go with his second half try.
9. Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers)
Another inspirational performance from the skipper to help his side go back-to-back with an upset victory over Canberra. The crafty No.9 had a try assist and six tackle breaks, while running 31 metres from three dummy half runs. But it was his work off the ball which helped the Wests Tigers control proceedings early in the match, making a match-high 41 tackles.
10. Terrell May (Roosters)
A massive effort to play every minute of the match on a soggy night in Gosford. May was relentless in his work and chewed the Bulldogs to bits with his powerful carries, which he had 26 of by full-time for a yield of 216 metres. His 76 post-contact metres ended up being more than the total yardage gained by five of the Bulldogs’ forwards.
11. David Fifita (Titans)
Continued his impressive run of form with a performance that caused chaos for the Warriors right edge defence on Saturday. Combined superbly with five-eighth Jayden Campbell and left centre Brian Kelly to steamroll the Warriors in attack and had some huge carries on his way to 195 run metres, with 10 tackle busts thrown in.
12. Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers)
12 months after starring in the Under 19s Origin, Fainu showed he’s ready to make an impact in the NRL with a starring performance from the emerging secondrower. Ran for 115 metres, broke four tackles and laid on 36 to help his side nullify the Raiders’ attack.
13. Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)
The move to the middle continues to reap rewards for the Rabbitohs forward, with Koloamatangi leading the South Sydney pack in the absence of Cam Murray. The lock ran for 230 metres and made 40 tackles before sealing his side’s win over Manly with a late try.
14. Sam Walker (Roosters)
The young playmaker had a hand in everything in the Roosters' 26-8 win over the Bulldogs. Walker set up all four of his side’s tries and kicked his opponents off the park, finishing the match with 323 metres off the boot.
15. Isaac Liu (Titans)
Only played 37 minutes of the bench but managed to do some serious damage to the Warriors’ middles in that time. Chugged his way to 130 metres off just eight carries of the ball – with his long-range break through the heart of the defence in the first half a particular highlight – and helped maintain the platform that had been set early on.
16. Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers)
The Wests Tigers young gun had a day out in the No. 6 jersey, bagging a double and running for 181 metres to come away with a win at Campbelltown Stadium. The 18-year-old provided endless spark to the Tigers’ attack and capped off a superb night out with a fifth tackle kick for Api Koroisau to score under the posts, tallying his seventh assist for the season.
17. Damien Cook (Rabbitohs)
The crafty hooker stepped up in the absence of key stars Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell to get his side on a roll early in the match. Controlled the ruck from dummy half and set up two tries to go with his 101 run metres and team-high 44 tackles.
