Golden point halfbacks, KFC eating wingers and a rampaging Kiwi prop headline NRL.com's Round 6 Team of the Week.
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roosters)
After making a triple century of metres in Round 5, Tuivasa-Sheck backed it up again with a spectacular 288 metres against Brisbane. Adding to his solid performance were his try assist and two line break assists.
2. Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
In his 200th game as a Warrior against the Wests Tigers, Vatuvei's two tries saw him equal Nigel Vagana's record as New Zealand's most prolific try-scorer in the NRL. His 117 metres and four tackle breaks weren't too shabby either.
3. James Roberts (Titans)
Scored a hattrick of tries, including two vital intercepts, set up another and ran for 204 metres in the Titans' second win of the season against Parramatta.
4. Tim Simona (Wests Tigers)
Simona scored a remarkable try when momentum was going against his Wests Tigers and broke a further four tackles in his team's 10-point loss to the Warriors.
5. Peter Mata'utia (Dragons)
Busy eating KFC and Chinese food just moments before the Dragons kicked off against the Bulldogs on Sunday, Peter Mata'utia – a late inclusion on the wing when Jason Nightingale was injured in the warm-up – didn't let his diet ruin his game by producing the most metres by a Dragon (199), a try and three tackle breaks.
6. Chad Townsend (Warriors)
Townsend outshined reigning Golden Boot recipient and teammate Shaun Johnson once again in the halves. He scored the first try of the match and produced a line break assist in another consummate performance.
7. Ben Hunt (Broncos)
Hunt starred throughout his team's thrilling win over the Roosters. Hunt scored twice (including one in golden point), set up another and busted seven tackles. The Brisbane halfback is currently doing enough to justify being picked over Daly Cherry-Evans for Australia's utility bench spot in a few weeks time.
8. Jesse Bromwich (Storm)
In his most dominant performance of the season, Bromwich produced a huge 259 metres, seven tackle busts and 33 tackles in the Storm's four-point win over Canberra.
9. Cameron Smith (Storm)
A steadying influence in the middle of the park, Smith's 55 tackles and line break assist paid off massively against a strong Raiders outfit.
10. Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
When he wasn't involved in a memorable tussle with opposite prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Thaiday was busy punching holes in the Roosters defence and finished the game with 127 metres and 37 tackles.
11. Tyrone Peachey (Panthers)
A constant threat for the Panthers, Peachey produced a try assist, 116 metres and 26 tackles in a beautiful effort off the bench.
12. Wade Graham (Sharks)
A never ending threat on the Sharks left-edge, Graham pulled numbers more accustomed from his captain Paul Gallen after finishing the game with 139 metres, 35 tackles and six tackle breaks.
13. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
187 metres, 29 tackles and six tackle busts sums up Jason Taumalolo's rock solid performance against the Rabbitohs. The man was simply on a mission and didn't let any man or bunny get in his way.
Interchange:
14. Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Benji Marshall should consider himself very unlucky not to be in this round's Team of the Week but it's hard to deny Thurston's place in the team. Easily the best player in the world currently, Thurston scored twice, set up another for teammate Justin O'Neill and gave the Rabbitohs hell all night long.
15. Nate Myles (Titans)
A big reason behind the Titans' second win of the season, their captain Myles held his own in the middle of the park and finished proceedings with 92 metres and 22 tackles – including a huge try-saving hit which kept the Eels at bay.
16. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)
Looking at his performance against Newcastle where he finished the game with 239 metres, five tackle busts and 29 tackles it makes sense why Fifita collapsed at fulltime, with the Sharks medicos putting it down to hypoglycaemia, more commonly known as low glucose level.
17. Gavin Cooper (Cowboys)
South Sydney coach Michael Maguire labelled Cooper's huge line break and try assist just 30 seconds into the second half of his team's loss to the Cowboys as the turning point in the game. It's not hard to see why, and considering Cooper also produced a further 157 metres and 34 tackles, he easily deserves a spot in this week's best 17.
