Super League Team of the Week: Round Nine
There were some excellent performances in round nine of Super League, but who made our latest Team of the Week?
Craig Hall (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Aside from a comical slip at kick-off late in the second period, everything seemed to go right for Hall on Thursday evening. He made a season-high 213m across a season-high 23 tackles, while his 10 tackle busts more than doubled his previous best in 2019. Hall did manage to pick up an assist, but a try of his own was the only thing that was missing from an otherwise superb showing.
Tom Lineham (Warrington Wolves)
Backed up his superb return to the side against former club Hull FC with a sublime hat-trick against London. Lineham showcased his trademark agility for the first, while his strength and determination came to the fore to complete his treble. With performances like this, you wonder how Jake Mamo will get back into the team.
Konrad Hurrell (Leeds Rhinos)
Second time in three games that a Leeds player has scored three or more tries and still ended up on the losing side. Hurrell showed pace and strength for two of his tries, while his first-half finish in the corner was impressive for a man of his size and stature. He ran a whopping 235m, but it still wasn’t enough for victory.
Josh Griffin (Hull FC)
Notched a treble against former club Salford, taking his tally for the season to seven tries in nine games. Griffin broke the line seven times and showed strength, resilience and sleight of hand for each of his three tries.
Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)
His side may have been on the wrong end of an agonising defeat, but McGillvary still managed to pick up his 200th career try with a well-taken score in the first-half. He made a further five tackle busts and looks to be rediscovering the form that earned him several NRL suitors not too long ago.
Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons)
If St Helens’ unbeaten run was going to be ended, the former Wigan Warrior would inevitably be heavily involved. Tomkins scored 10 of the Dragons 18 points, crossing in the corner and setting up Fouad Yaha for the hosts’ first score. The 30-year-old also kicked a decisive extra two points when the pitch became heavier in the second half.
Danny McGuire (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Opened the scoring for KR, showing true ‘Danny McGuire tenacity’ to react first to a loose ball. The former Rhinos star orchestrated the play as every good half should – providing 4 attacking kicks over the 80 minutes – and produced an elegant grubber for Ben Crooks to round off the scoring in the final minute.
David Fifita (Wakefield Trinity)
Fifita makes the team of the week once again, but with another two tries, season-high 13 tackle busts and 134m, who can argue against leaving him out? Fifita almost spearheaded Wakefield to victory over Warrington last month, but his contribution with ball-in-hand against local rivals Huddersfield certainly laid the platform for Danny Brough to haunt his former side at the death.
Brad Dwyer (Leeds Rhinos)
Despite being on the wrong end of the result, Dwyer showed once again how indispensable he is for David Furner’s side in 2019. His superb dummy-and-break laid the foundations for Hurrell’s opener, and the hooker made 129m, breaking the line five times. Despite there being a multitude of issues at the Rhinos, Dwyer most certainly isn’t one of them.
Liam Watts (Castleford Tigers)
Watts was one of a number of the Tigers forwards in fine form on Friday night, and is more than showcasing exactly why he has been called up to the latest England Elite Performance Squad. The Tigers prop made 150m from his 10 carries, while also breaking the line on three occasions. He bullied the Warriors pack throughout his time on the field and did exactly what a good front-rower should.
Matty Gee (London Broncos)
Despite their heavy defeat against Warrington, one of the major positives was the performance of Matty Gee. The 24-year old showed good improvisation to cross in the second period, while his yardage (77m) was bettered only by his opening day appearance against Wakefield.
Matt Cook (Castleford Tigers)
Cook provided an inspirational cameo from the bench to aid the Tigers in their quest for victory over Wigan. He ran 126m for a season-high average gain of 11m, broke the line on three occasions and even managed to muscle his way over from close-range as the hosts produced a stirring second-half comeback.
George Lawler (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Was Rovers’ top tackler (30) and enjoyed a night to remember at KCOM Craven Park. Lawler went under the radar for the majority of the game while the backs strutted their stuff. Nevertheless, he Is growing by the week and isn’t showing any signs of weakness despite his tender years.