During the 2025 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, 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: 2.
Landing all seven conversions meant Papenhuyzen contributed 14 points to Storm’s total but it’s his work in securing points for teammates that was equally as valuable.
The Dundas Shamrocks junior had two line-break assists and a try assist against the Warriors on Sunday as part of his 18 runs alongside three tackle-busts, two dummy-half runs and two offloads.
2. Sam Stonestreet. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership winner with the Newtown Jets last year is right at home in the Sharks’ NRL side this year and has earned his second TOTW nomination.
His double in Perth against Manly Warringah gives him four tries in six games this season, but it was his first reaching high to pull in a Braydon Trindall pass that caught the eye. His 47 post-contact metres, a line-break and two tackle-busts also made life difficult for the Sea Eagles.
3. Moses Suli. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Suli was a hard man for the Titans to contain on Friday night in Wollongong with eight tackle-busts, two try-assists and two line-break assists.
He also had an offload in his repertoire along with 19 runs for 190 metres, which included 83 post-contact – the highest in the Dragons team.
4. Jake Averillo. Club: Dolphins. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Averillo had been averaging three tackle-busts a game but racked up six against the reigning premiers, Penrith Panthers, last Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.
He also scored his second try of the season, made 15 runs for 189 metres, two line-breaks, a try assist, a dummy-half run, two offloads and 12 tackles.
5. Tyrell Sloan. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The 22-year-old scored his second double of 2025 giving him four tries in four matches so far.
He was deceptively quick and instinctive with three tackle-busts alongside two line-breaks. Sloan also ran for 135 metres off 14 runs with 41 post-contact metres.
6. Ethan Strange. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Strange defied the tropical conditions by turning the heat up on the Parramatta Eels’ defence. He scored his first try of the year and seemed everywhere in attack.
The former NSW Under 19s centre had a line-break, a line-break assist, a try assist, a tackle-bust, had five kicks for 134 metres and made 19 tackles.
7. Lachlan Ilias. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Dragons’ new halfback this year makes his TOTW debut after superbly working the left and right attacking edge for his team to set up tries.
His pass to put rookie Dylan Egan through a hole for his first NRL try was also a highlight along with 11 kicks for 293 metres and 18 tackles.
8. Tyrell May. Club: Wests Tigers. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections 5.
It’s now five from six TOTW nominations for May as his work rate and attacking nous over the opening six rounds of the NRL season has been second to none. He earns our Player of the Week.
Against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday he played 70 minutes in the front row, ran for 192 metres off 21 runs – the highest of any forward – had four tackle-busts and five offloads along with making 31 tackles and missing none.
9. Blayke Brailey. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Another on debut in TOTW, Brailey’s never-stop style of play was on show at Optus Stadium against Manly Warringah with 50 tackles – the highest of any player on the field on Saturday.
He also had a line-break assist, put prop Tom Hazelton over for the Sharks’ fifth try, made four dummy-half runs, and sent a clearing kick 50 metres downfield.
10. Josh King. Club: Melbourne Storm. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Singleton Greyhounds junior is one of our seven TOTW debutants after Round Six.
He scored his second try of the year, made 32 kick-return metres, 36 post-contact metres, had a line-break, a line-break assist, a try assist, an offload and 29 tackles, all in 60 minutes on the field against the Warriors.
11. Dylan Egan. Club: St George Illawarra. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Crossing the try-line in just his third NRL game was impressive enough but then you see the quality of this 20-year-old Gerringong Lions junior.
He made 13 runs for 117 metres, had a line-break, a line-break assist, three tackle-breaks, an offload and made 47 tackles – the highest of any Dragon or Titan on the day.
12. Hudson Young. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances 2. TOTW selections: 2.
He is the only back-rower in the top 10 NRL try-scorers this season with five so far after his double against the Eels in Darwin on Saturday night.
He also made 48 post-contact metres from his 156 run metres, busted out of six tackles, had a dummy-half run, an offload, and made 20 tackles.
13. Jack De Belin. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 3. TOTW selections: 1.
De Belin is the sixth Dragon to make TOTW after the 38-16 win over the Titans in Wollongong.
He packed a lot into his 50 minutes on the field with 15 runs for 137 metres, 44 post-contact, a line-break and a tackle-break, four offloads and 32 tackles.
