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. Latrell Mitchell. Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. SOO appearances: 7. TOTW selections: 3.
Mitchell’s impact on the South Sydney attack remains better than ever since his return from injury, and he stood out again – although in a losing side – in the Thursday night blockbuster against Penrith.
His first of two try assists was a slick offload for five-eighth Cody Walker, which came along with four line-break assists, five tackle busts, two offloads, a forced drop-out and 92 run metres.
2. David Nofoaluma. Club: Melbourne Storm. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
If Nofoaluma’s performance on Friday night was any indication, the veteran winger is certainly enjoying the new surroundings in Melbourne ahead of his first NRL Finals campaign in a few weeks’ time.
Against the Broncos he scored a double and made one line-break, had 10 tackle busts, ran for 188 metres including 108 from kick returns, completed six tackles with just one miss and had no errors to his name.
3. Will Penisini. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
The recent form of Penisini earns him a second TOTW nomination in three weeks after starring in the Eels’ backline in Round 23.
Not only did Penisini score the opening try in the 42-6 victory, but he showed his sleight of hand with two try assists and line-break assists. He also had one line-break and a pair of tackle busts, threw two offloads, ran for 96 metres and made 11 tackles.
4. Zac Lomax. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Lomax was back to his best in the Dragons’ 46-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.
The St George Illawarra No.4 set up two tries, had a line-break, line-break assist, eight tackle busts and two offloads, ran for 131 metres and made 10 tackles.
5. Matt Ikuvalu. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
A late inclusion on the Sharks’ wing in Round 23, the experienced Ikuvalu is a valuable asset in any back five with his ball carries and finishing ability – reiterating that fact on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old scored two tries on the right edge and assisted another, made two line-breaks and amassed 235 run metres with 73 post-contact.
6. Luke Keary. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 2.
After an injury-disrupted off-season the Roosters’ five-eighth is hitting his straps at the right time of the year.
He produced three try assists, four line-break assists, a forced drop-out and 10 tackles at the SCG on Saturday, and his signature running game was on show with 108 metres.
7. Nicho Hynes. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 7.
Hynes has become a TOTW staple with his remarkable consistency in his first season as an NRL halfback.
In the Sharks’ dominant victory against the Sea Eagles he recorded two tries, six from seven conversions, two try assists, one line-break, 392 kick metres and 20 tackles.
8. David Klemmer. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 14. TOTW selections: 5.
It hasn’t been the happiest of times lately for Klemmer’s Knights, but he has put it all behind him to continue his never-say-die form for Newcastle on Sunday. This is his fifth appearance in TOTW for the team coming 14th with just six wins.
It was another stake-through-the-heart loss (28-22 against the Raiders) for the Knights, but Klemmer punched out 70 minutes from the front row, making 18 hit-ups for 175 metres with 82 of those post-contact. He also had three offloads and made 35 tackles without missing any.
9. Apisai Koroisau. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 3. TOTW selections: 1.
With four NSW-eligible hookers in the top five for most tackles in the NRL in 2022, it’s no wonder Koroisau has had a fight on his hands for TOTW selection – but he finally did it with his usual energetic performance in the 26-22 win over South Sydney.
Koroisau came off the bench for Mitch Kenny and in his 57 minutes had a line-break assist, two try assists, five dummy-half runs, two offloads, and made 31 tackles – missing just one.
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 3.
Campbell-Gillard has been an ever-reliable member of the Eels pack this year and wasted no time in his 49 minutes in Saturday’s 42-6 win over the Bulldogs.
He made 60 post-contact metres in his 12 runs for 128 total metres, while busting through a tackle, flicking an off-load and making 24 tackles. Next to winger Maika Sivo, Campbell-Gillard had the highest kick-return metres for his team with 31.
11. Angus Crichton (c). Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 3.
Crichton and Roosters second row teammate Nat Butcher were a two-man point-scoring machine in Saturday’s epic 72-6 win over the Wests Tigers, collecting six tries between them.
Two of those were Crichton’s with the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blue making a game-high three line-breaks, eight tackle-busts, four offloads, a try assist and 22 tackles.
His 21 runs for 203 metres made him the third Rooster to crack the 200 mark on the night and the only forward to do so.
12. Nat Butcher. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
Butcher only scored two tries in the 2021 season but he’s up to double digits (10) this year with his career-high haul of four against the Wests Tigers.
It was an 80-minute performance by him that also netted two line-breaks and three tackle busts in his 11 runs for 136 metres. He also missed none of his 31 tackles.
13. Jack Bird. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 5. TOTW selections: 1.
Another TOTW debutant this week, you couldn’t blame True Blue Bird for not getting onto this list earlier having played four positions (second row, lock, centre, five-eighth) for the Dragons this year – yet effective in all of them.
But his performance at lock in the 46-26 win over the Titans had touches of class everywhere. He scored two tries, had 17 runs for 151 metres, a line-break, two line-break assists, a try assist, five dummy-half runs for over 50 metres and broke out of 10 tackles.
