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 sent-off, sin-binned, or suspended by the NRL match review committee are ineligible for Team of the Week nominations.
1. James Tedesco. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 22. TOTW selections: 3
The slippery conditions at Allianz Stadium didn’t stop Tedesco from performing at his best for the Sydney Roosters in Round 24.
On Friday night the fullback produced a 26th-minute try, try assist, two line-breaks, two line-break assists, seven tackle-busts, 219 run metres, three kicks defused and six tackles with no misses.
2. Jacob Kiraz (c). Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 7
With seven TOTW nominations already in 2024, Kiraz has earned the title of NSW Player of the Week for his efforts against the Dolphins.
The Canterbury-Bankstown outside back scored the first two of five Bulldogs tries in the 30-10 win, along with two line-breaks, four tackle-busts and a huge 297 run metres with 101 post-contact.
3. Siosifa Talakai. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 2.
Talakai made a late switch to centre before the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ golden point-win and finished with possibly his strongest outing for the season.
He had a try assist and two line-break assists, made one line-break and evaded six tackles, and ran for 224 metres with 88 post-contact against the Newcastle Knights.
4. Casey McLean. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Penrith Panthers’ youngster, and member of this year's triumphant Under 19s State of Origin team, continues to make strides in his fledging NRL career with a solid performance against ladder leaders the Melbourne Storm.
McLean scored a try and assisted one more, made two line-breaks, two tackle-busts, ran for 178 metres and made 15 tackles.
5. Jason Saab. Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
Saab scored his 10th try for the year in yet another victory at 4 Pines Park for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, as they continue their charge for the finals.
Saab found open pasture on several occasions with four line-breaks, and also took 15 carries for 162 metres in Round 24.
6. Lachlan Galvin. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Galvin steered the Wests Tigers to a memorable win – their first since Round 16 – in front of his hometown crowd at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The No.6 had a pair of try assists and line-break assists, ran for 140 metres and tallied 149 off the boot, threw two offloads and made 24 tackles.
7. Aidan Sezer. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Sezer rounds out the Tigers’ halves pairing in the Round 24 TOTW after their narrow 18-16 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The experienced halfback, who helped Canberra Raiders to the 2019 NRL Grand Final, had a try assist and ran for 70 metres, scored three goals from four attempts, made 17 tackles and chalked up 349 kick metres.
8. Josh Curran. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Is it a coincidence that since Curran was named in the starting line-up five weeks ago, the Bulldogs have strung four wins together? Most of the 25 year-old’s 21 games this year have been off the bench but he’s hitting his straps as starting prop.
Against the Dolphins he was on the field in Bundaberg for 50 minutes, made 16 runs for 140 metres – 53 post-contact – made 21 tackles without missing any, and had no handling errors.
9. Jacob Liddle. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
Liddle made 52 tackles against the Gold Coast – the most of any player on the field – and somehow had enough energy to duck under a tackle and run 35 metres before putting his back rower Toby Couchman over for a try just before halftime.
In addition to that line-break and try assist, he had three tackle-busts, and seven dummy-half runs for 112 metres.
10. Spencer Leniu. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 3. TOTW selections: 1.
The Westpac NSW Blues prop makes his TOTW debut this week after packing a lot into his 32 minutes on the field against Parramatta last Friday.
He made 10 runs for 100 metres, had 57 kick-return metres – the most of any of his teammates – made a line-break, busted out of five tackles and scored a try.
11. Lindsay Smith. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Named at prop but playing in the second row, Smith was in the thick of the action against Storm last Thursday night.
He made 50 tackles – the most of either team on the field – plus scored a try, had 15 runs for 119 metres, a line-break, a line-break assist and two tackle-busts.
12. Keaon Koloamatangi. Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 2
Scored his fifth try of the season last weekend in the two-point loss to the Wests Tigers, but his first since returning to the edge after a couple of months at lock.
The True Blue ran for 195 metres off 18 runs, 72 post-contact, a line-break, a line-break assist, six tackle-breaks, an offload, and 30 tackles.
13. Cameron Murray. Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. SOO appearances: 15. TOTW selections: 1.
It would take something to top Koloamatangi’s figures but Murray found it as he shone brightest from both the Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers players for tackles (54) and run metres (254).
He made 30 runs, and three tackle-busts, in his starring 80-minute performance where he touched the ball 43 times – blotted only by the last pass to teammate Davvy Moale being ruled forward.
