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. Ryan Papenhuyzen. Club: Melbourne Storm. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
The Melbourne fullback produced yet another impressive game on the weekend, helping his team extend their lead on the top of the ladder with a superb attacking display.
Papenhuyzen had three try assists, four-line break assists, five tackle busts along with 173 run metres off 20 carries.
2. Daniel Tupou. Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 10. TOTW selections: 2
Tupou bagged his fourth double of the season, scoring two tries in 10 minutes in the Roosters 48-22 win over the Titans, to take the experienced winger to 17 tries for 2024.
He also ran for 183 metres, made four-line breaks, three tackle breaks and defused two kicks.
3. Kotoni Staggs. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 2
Staggs reinforced his reputation as one of the game’s elite centres with yet another strong performance in the Broncos 30-24 win over the Parramatta Eels.
The No.3 scored the four pointer that proved to be the difference at full-time, along with running for 129 metres, making eight tackle breaks and one offload.
4. Dylan Lucas. Club: Newcastle Knights. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2
Making his fifth appearance at centre for the Knights this season, Lucas helped his team to a 36-16 win over the Rabbitohs to keep their finals hopes alive.
Lucas scored a try, made seven tackle breaks, a line break, and ran for 127 metres – 53 post contact.
5. Daine Laurie. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1
Despite going down to the Raiders on Saturday afternoon, Laurie was a standout for the Panthers at GIO Stadium in Round 25.
The winger ran for 203 metres – 62 post contact metres – made four line breaks and scored a try.
6. Lachlan Galvin. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3
Making back-to-back appearances in Team of the Week, the young half had yet another shining performance after steering his team to a win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Stepping up when halfback Aiden Sezer didn’t return to the field of play for the second half, the five-eighth ran for 204 metres, made three tackle breaks and kicked for 235 metres.
7. Adam Reynolds. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 2
Reynolds produced one of his best performances of the season, helping his team come back from a 16-0 deficit against the Parramatta Eels.
The halfback scored a try, had two try assists, two line-break assists, 710 kick metres and successfully converted five goals from as many attempts.
8. Harry Hayes. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The forward pack at the Bulldogs have been going about their work superbly as they charge towards the NRL Finals, and Harry Hayes was rewarded for his efforts with his first try of the season in Round 25.
In 40 minutes on the field, he also ran for 138 metres, including 40 post-contact, made a line-break, 21 tackles, and no errors.
9. Apisai Koroisau. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 4. TOTW selections: 3.
The skipper for the Tigers was just about everywhere on Thursday night as he dragged Benji Marshall’s men to a second-straight win.
Trailing 16-0, his four-pointer kicked off a run of five unanswered tries. Koroisau added to that with four tackle-busts, 77 run metres, three conversions from four attempts and 33 tackles.
10. Josh King. Club: Melbourne Storm. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
King is yet to miss a game for the Storm in 2024 and found himself on the scoresheet as Melbourne claimed their sixth Minor Premiership on Saturday.
Along with a try and line-break, the reliable middle forward had 143 run metres, including 49 post-contact, made 29 tackles and forced a drop-out.
11. Angus Crichton (c). Club: Sydney Roosters. SOO appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 4.
Crichton takes out NSW Player of the Week for Round 25 after a performance that saw him score his second career hat-trick – more than seven seasons since his first.
As well as that he had 16 runs for 156 metres (60 post-contact), a line-break five tackle-busts, a pair of offloads as well as bending his back for 27 tackles.
12. Samuela Fainu. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Fainu appears in TOTW for the second time in four matches following his efforts at Leichhardt Oval against his former club.
He finished the match with 130 run metres (70 post-contact) a line-break, five tackle-busts, 34 tackles, and powered his way over the line to score with seconds remaining to put an exclamation mark on their 34-26 victory.
13. Isaah Yeo. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 14. TOTW selections: 7.
While the Panthers may have suffered defeat at the hands of the Raiders on Saturday afternoon, it didn’t quite limit the numbers that Yeo continues to produce.
In Round 25 the Penrith lock recorded a try assist, line-break assist, four tackle-busts, 166 run metres including 52 post-contact, 40 tackles with just one miss.
