Rookies showcase their potential, veterans turn back the clock and one Bronco declared the best broken-field runner in the Telstra Premiership in the Round 24 Team of the Week.
1. Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)
All but sealed the Dally M Top Try-Scorer award with a spectacular hat-trick against the Warriors that took him to 22 for the season.
2. Josh Mansour (Panthers)
Starting to play a really pivotal role in the Panthers' charge into September, busting an astonishing 12 Canberra tackles, scoring a try, making two line breaks and running for 154m.
3. Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
Was the beneficiary of a Bulldogs team that finally found an attacking spark, scoring a try and providing the pass for one of brother Brett's two tries.
4. Waqa Blake (Panthers)
A starring display from the giant Panthers centre who set up one try, scored one of his own and had six tackle busts and two line breaks.
5. Blake Ferguson (Roosters)
The shift back to the wing is working for both Ferguson and the Roosters with the NSW Origin rep racking up 229 run metres, nine tackle busts, a line break and a try assist in the win over the Wests Tigers.
6. Anthony Milford (Broncos)
Shaping as the player who will take September by the scruff of the neck as he grows into his role as chief playmaker at the Broncos. Milford was superb against the Dragons, having a hand in two tries, scoring another himself, busting six tackles and running for an incredible 181m.
7. Brodie Croft (Storm)
Showed he is NRL-ready now with a starring display in the absence of Cooper Cronk. Croft scored three tries and set up another with a perfectly placed kick to the corner, proving again he is primed to take the mantle from Cronk in 2018.
8. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)
Responded to the disappointing performance against the Broncos by ripping into the young Cowboys forwards, running for 122m in a 32-minute stint in the first half before finishing with nine tackle busts and 160m.
9. Jayden Brailey (Sharks)
Straight back into the starting team after an eight-week layoff and wasted no time making an impression, scoring the opening try of the night after great lead-up work from Luke Lewis. A wonderful return for one of the rookie finds of 2017.
10. James Tamou (Panthers)
Gave his side the platform they needed to set up a lead against a desperate Canberra team, continuing on from his recent good form with 157 run metres and three tackle busts.
11. Alex Glenn (Broncos)
Defined working hard at both ends with two tries and 41 tackles in Brisbane's 24-12 win over the Dragons.
12. Boyd Cordner (Roosters)
Helped to stave off a determined Wests Tigers comeback with another classy effort on the Roosters' left edge, running for 179m with five tackle busts.
13. Dale Finucane (Storm)
Put his membership of the middle forwards union in jeopardy by taking the conversion of the final Storm try of the game but was his no-frills self for the preceding 62 minutes, making 38 tackles, running for 144m and scoring the try that gave the Storm the lead for the first time with a determined run.
Interchange
14. Will Smith (Eels)
When Bevan French left the field late in the first half the Eels looked short on attacking spark but Smith came on and showed great strength and fancy footwork to score two second half tries in the 30-8 rout.
15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
With a spirited Knights team taking it to the Storm early Asofa-Solomona came on and helped to turn the tide the way of his side, running for 171 metres including 56m after contact.
16. Simon Mannering (Warriors)
Looked to have put his team on the path to a much-needed win with an early try and try assist and was his typically industrious self from then on, making 41 tackles and running for 149m.
17. Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
Showed that there is an exciting young crop emerging at Redfern with a breakout performance filling in for Sam Burgess. Showed impressive toe to score a crucial try, busted five tackles, ran for 122m and made 47 tackles.
