During the 2023 season, nswrl.com.au selects the round’s best 13 of New South Wales eligible players. These selections are based on the writers’ opinions and do not reflect the views of the NSWRL or the selection process for the Westpac NSW Blues.
1. Tolutau Koula. Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Shifting to fullback for his team's win over the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs proved to be a masterstroke, with Koula having a standout performance.
Koula was at his attacking best, running for 312 metres off 21 runs, having three try assists, three line breaks and one line break.
2. Daniel Tupou. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 10. TOTW selections: 3.
Tupou has found himself back in TOTW with an impressive performance against the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
The skilled winger scored a try, had a line break, and ran for 186 metres off 17 runs – with 76 post-contact metres.
3. Kotoni Staggs. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 6.
Staggs continued his impressive form this season with yet another clinical performance against the Canberra Raisers, which helped the Broncos climb to top spot on the NRL ladder.
The centre scored a four-pointer, set up a try, along with having a line break and line-break assist.
4. Bradman Best. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 4.
With the Knights currently on a high as they head into the finals, Best continues to be one of their best on the field each week.
Best scored his second double of the season – taking his tally to 13 tries for the year – had two line breaks and ran for 130 metres off 11 runs.
5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4
Another clinical performance from Suaalii has seen the winger earn back-to-back team of the week selections.
Starting on the wing before moving to fullback on Saturday afternoon, Suaalii scored 16 points scoring a try and kicking all five conversions along with a penalty goal, with two line breaks, two line-break assists and ran for 248 metres – 82 post contact.
6. Luke Keary. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 3.
Like his Roosters teammate, Keary has found himself back in the team of the week for his third time this year.
Keary helped steer his side to their fourth straight win, keeping their season alive with two try assists and two line break assists.
7. Adam Clune. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Filling in for the injured Jackson Hastings, Clune stepped up and was one of the standout players for the Knights win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Sunday afternoon.
Playing off the back of the platform that his forwards created, the halfback had three try assists, three line-break assists and three tackle busts.
8. Blake Lawrie. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
The Dragons prop earned his third TOTW nomination with another rugged performance even if on the losing side against the Warriors in Auckland.
The determined front rower played 70 minutes, made 23 runs for 201 metres – 70 of those post-contact – along with four tackle breaks and 44 tackles.
9. Lachlan Croker. Cub: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
Croker was industrious in his 57 minutes on the field against the Bulldogs on Sunday. He scored a try, had a try assist, a line break and a line-break assist.
He also made 26 tackles and kicked a 40/20.
10. Payne Haas. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 13.
With Haas’ 13th TOTW nomination this week, he tops his tally from 2022 (12) to underline his consistency and class as a NRL front rower.
In the 29-18 win over the Raiders, Haas made 15 runs for 157 metres, 66 post-contact, alongside four tackle busts and an off-load. He also made 27 tackles and had no handling errors in his 62 minutes on the field.
11. Corey Waddell. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Waddell made his debut in the TOTW this week with a stirring performance against his old club, the Sea Eagles.
He ran for 180 metres off 19 runs, had a line break, a try assist, four tackle busts and scored his fourth try of the year. Waddell also made 36 tackles and was error-free.
12. Dylan Lucas. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Lucas was in just his fifth NRL game but put in an 80-minute effort in the second row with 165 metres off 16 runs.
He scored his maiden NRL try for the Knights alongside a line break, four tackle-busts, and 36 tackles.
13. Adam Elliott. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Elliott topped his Knights teammates for tackles (42) along with 20 runs for 162 metres for his 69 minutes on the field at lock against the Sharks. He becomes the fourth Knights player in TOTW for Round 26 - the club's eighth straight win.
He busted out of two tackles and had a clean sheet when it came to errors or handling mistakes.
