Following each week of the NRL season, nswrl.com.au selects the round’s best 13 of New South Wales eligible players. These selections are based on the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSWRL or the selection process for the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues. Captaincy is awarded based on that week's on-field performance and is not based on club captaincy or leadership qualities.
1. James Tedesco. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 16. TOTW selections: 4.
The ever-consistent Tedesco produced strong figures again in Round 10, this time against an in-form Parramatta Eels outfit. Along with a 12th-minute try and three tackle busts, the Roosters’ fullback had the most runs of anyone on the park (24) for 263 metres including 111 from kick returns and 83 post-contact.
2. Alex Johnston. Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
It’s not the first time Johnston has found himself on the scoresheet in a Rabbitohs win, but his four-pointer was all the more important as South Sydney secured a narrow yet much-needed victory.
He also managed a try assist, three line-breaks, seven tackles busts and 153 run metres with no errors to his name.
3. Izack Tago. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
A two-try effort by Tago, in just his 16th NRL game against defensive powerhouse Melbourne Storm, was another reminder of the Penrith strike centre’s talent.
His double headlined a performance including two line-breaks, seven tackle busts, 198 run metres with 76 post-contact, one forced drop-out and 14 tackles with no misses.
4. Moses Suli. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Suli was one of the standouts for St George Illawarra in the Dragons’ Golden Point defeat against the Titans. He scored a late four-pointer with a line-break, produced a try assist and line-break assist, had four tackle busts, ran for 164 metres including 53 post-contact and made 14 tackles with none missed, as well as zero errors.
5. Joseph Suaalii. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Making his first TOTW appearance after five tries from his past three games, Suaalii is beginning to find his stride at NRL level. The 18-year-old scored a brace in Sunday’s win with a leap to the air for his second, had a try assist and line-break assist, ran for 116 metres including 50 post-contact, threw two offloads and made eight tackles with just the one miss.
6. Jarome Luai (c). Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 2.
Luai gets rewarded with TOTW captaincy after his stellar performance against Melbourne and opposite No.6 Cameron Munster.
The two-time NSW representative scored a try and set up two others, had a line-break, line-break assist and four tackle busts, threw three offloads, ran for 77 metres and made 10 tackles.
7. Adam Reynolds. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 2.
Reynolds has skyrocketed up the Dally M leader-board with another outstanding display for Kevin Walters’ side.
The crafty half manufactured a brilliant solo try from a chip-and-chase, had two try assists, kicked seven goals with a 100 percent conversion rate, totalled 438 kick metres including a forced drop-out, and made 14 tackles with one miss.
8. David Klemmer. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 14. TOTW selections: 3.
Klemmer had a delayed start to the season due to a knee injury but turned in his best performance to date against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to keep the Knights off the bottom of the NRL table.
He ran for 202 metres – the most by any Newcastle player – including 85 post-contact. He also had two tackles busts, two offloads and made 33 tackles without missing one.
9. Reece Robson. Club: North Queensland Cowboys. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Cowboys’ hooker has played a key role in the club’s success this season and was strong again in the win over Wests Tigers. He ran for 75 metres to help keep his side on the front foot, had a line-break assist, two tackle busts, two offloads and bent his back for 48 tackles with only one miss.
10. Payne Haas. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 7. TOTW selections: 7.
Haas has been a mainstay in the NSW TOTW this season and made a welcome return from a shoulder injury against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He punched out 178 metres, including 74 post-contact, had two tackles busts, an offload and made 24 tackles without any misses.
11. Ryan Matterson. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4.
The Eels’ back-rower has been doing a great job off the bench for his team and kept up his high work-rate despite being on the wrong end of the scoreboard against the Sydney Roosters.
From his 55 minutes on the field, he scored a crucial try underneath the posts to help close the gap to 25-24, ran for 172 metres including 51 post-contact, had a line-break, 10 tackle busts, two offloads and 33 tackles.
12. Mitchell Barnett. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The tough-as-teak back-rower was making his return from a six-week suspension for dangerous contact on Penrith forward Chris Smith and turned in a solid 80-minute performance. He ran for 146 metres including 60 post-contact, had seven tackle busts, three offloads and made 30 tackles with only one miss.
13. Isaah Yeo. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 5. TOTW selections: 4.
Yeo is another familiar face in the NSW TOTW and was on song to help the premiers turn in an impressive performance against the Melbourne Storm.
In sodden conditions, Yeo still managed to run for 178 metres including 61 post-contact, had a tackle break, an offload and made 26 tackles before getting a well-earned rest with six minutes to go.
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