During the 2024 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. Players who are sin-binned, sent off, or charged by the NRL match review committee are ineligible for Team of the Week nominations.
1. Tolutau Koula. Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4.
With regular fullback Tom Trbojevic unavailable with a hamstring injury, Koula donned the No.1 jumper for the Sea Eagles and looked threatening in attack in the 13-12 loss to Brisbane. He ran for 253 metres, had a try assist, two line break assists four tackle busts and two offloads.
2. Jacob Kiraz. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 5.
The Bulldogs winger has been strong for the club this season and proved a handful in the 24-20 loss against Canberra. As well as scoring a try, Kiraz ran for 241 metres including 85 post contact, had two line breaks, six tackle busts, an offload and made nine tackles without missing one.
3. Jesse Ramien. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
The Sharks centre has been in devastating form this season and helped inspire his team to a 38-30 win over the Sydney Roosters. Ramien ran for 175 metres, had two try assists, a line break, a line break assist and one offload.
4. Stephen Crichton. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 5. TOTW selections: 1.
The Bulldogs captain always leads by example and that was the case again in the narrow loss to the Raiders. Crichton scored a try, ran for 168 metres, had a try assist, a line break, two line break assists, five tackle busts and two offloads.
5. Braidon Burns. Club: North Queensland Cowboys. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The former Rabbitohs turned Cowboys winger was a late inclusion in the side and made his old club pay after helping North Queensland to a 28-22 win. Burns scored two tries, ran for 183 metres, made two line breaks, busted four tackles and had one offload.
6. Ethan Strange. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
The NSW pathways player continues to impress in his breakout season after steering the Raiders to a hard-fought win over the Bulldogs. The 19-year-old five-eighth came up with some huge defensive plays, had two try assists, including a sublime pass for Hudson Young’s first try, and two line break assists.
7. Nicho Hynes. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 3.
The Sharks halfback made a welcome return from a calf injury with selection for the Westpac NSW Blues just around the corner. In what was arguably the best game of Magic Round against the Sydney Roosters, Hynes had a 100 per cent conversion rate from his seven shots at goal, had two try assists, three line break assists and 440 kick metres.
8. Tom Hazelton. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4.
The Sharks prop and cult hero in the Sutherland Shire is a chance to lose his license in the front rower’s club if he keeps scoring tries. He already has five for the season – including four in the past five weeks – and crossed the stripe against the Roosters in Magic Round. He also fan for 108 metres from his 36 minutes on the field, had a line break, three tackle busts and 17 tackles with misses.
9. Reece Robson. Club: North Queensland Cowboys. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 2.
The Cowboys hooker topped the tackle count (45) for both teams in the win over the Rabbitohs. He also ran for 127 metres after throwing a huge dummy and racing 50 metres upfield to put North Queensland on the front foot with Braidon Burns scoring soon after.
10. Payne Haas. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 4.
The Broncos prop turned in another powerhouse performance which is even more impressive when you consider he limped off the field at one stage with a toe injury before returning to finish the match. From his 44 minutes on the field, Haas still managed to run for 166 metres, busted six tackles, had one offload and made 18 tackles with only one miss.
11. Hudson Young. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 4.
The Raiders back-rower certainly knows his way to the try line and he bagged a double to help his team to a win over the Bulldogs. Both tries came off passes from Ethan Strange, and he also ran for 141 metres, had two line breaks, four tackle busts, an offload, and 33 tackles.
12. Haumole Olakau’atu. Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4.
The Sea Eagles wrecking ball has proven to be a handful for the defensive resolve of most teams and he threw everything he could at the Broncos. Olakau’atu ran for 135 metres including 59 post-contact, had a try assist, two line break assists, five tackles busts, two offloads and made 34 tackles.
13. Cameron McInnes. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 4.
The hard-working Sharks forward gives his all every time he takes the field and he dug deep to get his team home against the Roosters. McInnes ran for 153 metres, had an offload and a tackle break and bent his back for 33 tackles.
