Team of the Week
Love Rugby League have picked their Team of the Week following an entertaining round of action at the weekend.
Fullback – Lewis Tierney (Catalans Dragons)
The 22-year-old, who is on loan from Wigan Warriors, has impressed ever since he joined the French outfit back in July.
But his performance in Million Pound Game victory over Leigh Centurions was arguably his best yet.
He scored two tries as well as making 127 metres.
Wing – Mahe Fonua (Hull FC)
The Wests Tigers bound star gave his all in his final game for Hull FC before a move to the NRL next season.
He made eight tackles from the wing and certainly got involved going forward, helping his forwards out and taking 17 drives in.
Fonua, 24, also made 168 metres and broke the Leeds defence on three occasions.
Centre – Jake Connor (Hull FC)
Jake Connor has had a great debut season at Hull FC following his move from Huddersfield Giants in the off-season.
What must please head coach Lee Radford is his versatility to play a number of positions and he made the centre role his own against Leeds Rhinos on Friday night.
He came up with a great assist for Fonua and came up with nine passes in the game as well.
Centre – Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
The England international has been a regular for Brian McDermott’s side for a number of years now and on Friday night against Hull, you could see why.
He covered every blade of grass throughout his 80 minutes, making 34 tackles, 96 metres and coming up with 15 carries.
Watkins, 26, is expected to be one of the first names on Wayne Bennett’s England teamsheet for the 2017 World Cup.
Winger – Garry Lo (Sheffield Eagles)
Garry Lo has had a fantastic season in the Kingstone Press Championship, with Castleford Tigers snapping him up on a two-year deal from 2018 following his remarkable displays.
The Papua New Guinea star had scored 44 tries in 45 games before the play-offs and he added three more to the list after scoring a hat-trick in Sheffield Eagles’ 44-14 defeat at Toulouse Olympique in the Championship Shield Final on Saturday.
He is a big winger and Eagles boss Mark Aston has tipped him to set the Super League alight next year.
Stand-off – Danny McGuire (Leeds Rhinos)
The 34-year-old was instrumental for Leeds Rhinos in his final game at Headingley Carnegie, with the former Great Britain and England international making the switch to newly-promoted Hull Kingston Rovers for 2018.
He didn’t do anything that will go on his highlight reel but he controlled the game and supplied the level head that Leeds needed.
McGuire made 24 tackles, put in 17 kicks and made 39 passes in the semi-final.
Scrum-half – Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)
The Steve Prescott Man of Steel nominee returned to action just 16 days after having his appendix removed.
But not only did he return, but he really turned on the heat against Leeds. He ultimately sent the Tigers to the Grand Final with a drop-goal to seal a 23-22 victory for his side.
The 29-year-old’s attacking play was as crisp as ever, making 14 in-play kicks as well as 51 passes.
Prop – Brad Singleton (Leeds Rhinos)
The 24-year-old had one of his best ever games in a Blue and Amber jersey against Hull FC on Friday night.
He won the man of the match award and got through a lot of work through the middle, making 23 tackles as well as taking in 11 carries.
The Cumbrian is set to represent Ireland at the World Cup and he will be a solid addition to Mark Aston’s squad.
Hooker – James Roby (St Helens)
James Roby’s performances in the last couple of months of the season in particular have been outstanding and perhaps they are making Wayne Bennett re-think his options for the hooker role at the World Cup.
The 31-year-old made a whopping 57 tackles and played the full 80 minutes. He also took in 13 carries and made 128 metres going forward in Saints’ semi-final loss at Castleford Tigers.
He could well be worth taking to the World Cup as a back-up for Josh Hodgson.
Prop – Adam Cuthbertson (Leeds Rhinos)
The 32-year-old has had a good year for the Rhinos. He caused Hull FC all sorts of problems, especially going forward.
Cuthberston is well-known for his offloads and he produced 10 of them while he also made 31 tackles.
The Australian also made 157 metres from 24 carries. Leeds will be hoping he has another big game in the Betfred Super League Grand Final this Saturday.
Second-row – Gareth Ellis (Hull FC)
It was sad that Gareth Ellis ended his dazzling career with a semi-final defeat. He has always remained a true professional and has been a great captain for Hull FC in recent years.
At 36, he shows no sign of slowing down. He made 48 tackles at Headingley, broke the line twice and took 13 drives in.
It looks as though he could easily do another year in the game but he will take on the role of Football Manager at the KCOM Stadium in 2018.
Second-row – Glenn Stewart (Leigh Centurions)
The Australia international tried everything he could for Leigh in their Million Pound Game defeat to his former club Catalans Dragons but he couldn’t help the Centurions avoid relegation.
Stewart has been one of Leigh’s stand-out performers this season put in a very hard-working display for Neil Jukes’ men on Saturday.
The 33-year-old made a staggering 50 tackles and a clean break in his 80 minutes on the field.
Loose forward – Adam Milner (Castleford Tigers)
Adam Milner used to interchange with Paul McShane in the hooker position and Castleford Tigers but Daryl Powell has moved him to play at loose forward for most of this season.
And what a decision it has proved to be. He made 34 tackles for the Tigers as well as taking 12 drives in. He is a classic ball playing forward who has been an unsung hero at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle this season.
He showed great maturity in Castleford’s win over St Helens on Thursday night.