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. Dylan Edwards. Club: Penrith Panthers. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 1.
This electric fullback not only makes his TOTW debut this week, after battling injury earlier this year, he was in devastating form in the 40-12 win over the Sydney Roosters on Friday night and earns our Player of the Week.
Edwards set up Paul Alamoti for his double, then scored himself in the 66th minute and made a try-saving tackle on opposite No.1 James Tedesco. It was all part of Edwards’ 27 runs for 242 metres, including 123 kick-return metres and nine tackle-busts.
2. Tyrell Sloan. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Sloan’s two tries against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at home give him six in five games so far for 2025.
He made 15 runs for 210 metres at 4 Pines Park – the most of any Dragon – along with two line-breaks, 39 post-contact metres and even put in a kick for 22 metres.
3. Bronson Xerri. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
Xerri’s strength, anticipation and speed earn him a third TOTW nomination after the Bulldogs commanding 32-0 Good Friday result over South Sydney.
He scored his team’s last try of the afternoon and his fourth for the year off the back of 23 runs for 184 metres – 66 of those post-contact – along with three tackle-busts.
4. Kotoni Staggs. Club: Brisbane Broncos. SOO appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 2.
On a wet and windy night in Auckland, Staggs was the only outside back from the Broncos to crack 100 metres with 169 metres off 16 runs in the golden-point loss to the Warriors (20-18).
He made a line-break on his way to breaking out of 11 tackles, had 54 post-contact metres, an off-load and made 17 tackles.
5. Josh Addo-Carr. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 15. TOTW selections: 1.
This True Blue makes his first TOTW appearance for 2025 after a two-try effort against the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday.
He now has five tries in five NRL matches and against the Tigers he made two line-breaks in his 10 runs for 134 metres, alongside a try assist with a wonderful inside pass for his fullback Isaiah Longi coming at speed, and four tackle-busts.
6. Ethan Strange. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.
This former NSW Under 19s State of Origin centre is all class at five-eighth for the Raiders.
His cut-out ball for winger Savelio Tamale to open the Green Machine’s scoring was backed up with his own try 13 minutes later. Strange also had a line-break and a line-break assist, broke out of three tackles, made 16 of his own and didn’t miss any.
7. Mitch Moses. Club: Parramatta Eels. SOO appearances: 5. TOTW selections: 1.
The Westpac NSW Blues half made a stunning first NRL appearance for 2025 at CommBank Stadium after missing the opening six weeks with a foot injury.
He had two line-break assists, three try assists, 13 kicks for 381 metres and kicked a conversion in the Eels win over the Wests Tigers.
8. Toby Couchman. Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Couchman’s work ethic was on display in the 20-18 win over the Sea Eagles last Thursday night.
He was on the field for 66 minutes but made 14 runs for 151 metres – 54 post-contact – a line-break, a tackle-bust, two off-loads and 56 tackles, missing just one.
9. Blake Brailey. Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.
Another workhorse in the NRL makes it back-to-back TOTW nominations after a sparkling 80-minutes in the middle against the Newcastle Knights on Easter Sunday.
He had a line-break assist and two try assists in the 20-point win, alongside 14 dummy-half runs for 59 metres, an off-load, tackle-bust and making 37 tackles.
10. Max King. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
Scoring his first try in his fourth season with the Bulldogs is good cause for celebration and a TOTW nomination.
But this West Maitland Wallaroos junior did much more. He topped the run metres for both the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs with 232, made 99 post-contact metres, three tackle-busts, two off-loads and 34 tackles without missing any.
11. Jacob Preston. Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW nominations: 2.
He joins King in being amongst the try scorers for the Bulldogs against South Sydney, and was as formidable in attack – a line-break, a line-break assist – as well as defence with 41 tackles and missing none.
12. Hudson Young. Club: Canberra Raiders. SOO appearances: 2. TOTW selections: 3.
That’s now three games in a row where Young has scored a double for the Green Machine giving him seven for the season after seven rounds.
He’s not only the man on the spot, who can run a great line with his two line-busts against the Titans, he’s not shy taking on the defence with 23 runs for 184 metres, 51 post-contact metres, five tackle-busts, three dummy-half runs, two off-loads, and 27 tackles.
13. Ray Stone. Club: Dolphins. SOO appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.
The Southern Highlands product was as rock solid as his surname in the come-from-behind 42-22 win over Melbourne Storm on Good Friday.
He came off the bench for the injured Felise Kaufusi for a 55-minute stint which included two tries, 12 runs for 124 metres, three tackle-busts and 25 tackles without missing any.
