NSW Team of the Week Rd 13: Keary and Cleary dominate

NSWRL

The NSW Team of the Week is back! Each week of the NRL season, NSWRL.com.au staff writers will have their say on the round's best performing New South Welshmen. These are based entirely on the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSWRL or the selection process for the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues. Captaincy is awarded based on that week’s on-field performance and is not based on club captaincy or leadership qualities.

  1. Latrell Mitchell

Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. NSW Origin appearances: 4. TOTW selections: 2.

 Mitchell put together his most complete performance in the No.1 jersey on Friday night, producing a try-assist and line-break assist, making one line-break and four tackle-breaks, and running for 204 metres including 54 post-contact and 88 from kick returns.

  1. Josh Mansour

Club: Penrith Panthers. NSW Origin appearances: 3. TOTW selections: 3.

Mansour was difficult to defend for the visiting Canberra Raiders with plenty of attacking involvement throughout the contest. Penrith’s veteran winger made one line-break and six tackle-breaks, running for 161 metres including 45 post-contact.

  1. Brian Kelly

Club: Gold Coast Titans. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.

Kelly was on top of his game in Sunday’s clash against the North Queensland Cowboys. The Titans’ centre scored a try in 42nd minute, produced one try-assist, had two line-breaks and seven tackle-breaks, ran for 163 metres including 60 post-contact and made 12 tackles.

  1. Zac Lomax

Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.

Lomax was again the standout performer for St George Illawarra despite the Red V suffering an eight-point loss to the Roosters. Lomax scored a double in the opening half and the first of two conversions for a 10-all score after 40 minutes, finishing the match with one line-break, three tackle-breaks, two offloads, 120 run metres and 25 tackles with zero missed.

  1. Josh Addo-Carr

Club: Melbourne Storm. NSW Origin appearances: 6. TOTW selections: 4.

Saturday’s matchup between the Storm and Bulldogs was bookended by two long range tries from Addo-Carr – a 90-metre intercept in the 9th minute and a midfield kick-chase from a scrum in the final play. Addo-Carr also made four tackle-breaks and ran for 238 metres.

  1. Luke Keary (c)

Club: Sydney Roosters. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 8.

Keary needed to stand up for his injury-hit Sydney Roosters side on Thursday and that’s exactly what he did. Keary scored a try with a line-break in the 75th minute, produced one try-assist, forced two dropouts, threw three offloads, ran for 158 metres and made 16 tackles. 

  1. Nathan Cleary

Club: Penrith Panthers. NSW Origin appearances: 5. TOTW selections: 8.

As long as the Panthers are setting the pace atop the NRL ladder, Cleary will continue to stamp his authority on every performance. In Saturday’s win against the Raiders, Cleary produced one try-assist and line-break assist, kicked six goals, forced three dropouts, recorded 569 kick metres and made 21 tackles.

  1. David Klemmer

Club: Newcastle Knights. NSW Origin appearances: 14. TOTW selections: 7. 

Klemmer was dominant in the middle of the park in Round 13 as Newcastle recorded a huge 40-point victory over the Tigers. The Knights’ enforcer ran for 182 metres including 90 post-contact, threw four offloads and made 27 tackles with zero missed. 

  1. Cameron McInnes

Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 5.

McInnes retained his starting hooker role against the Roosters and again did his job with aplomb on both sides of the ball. The St George Illawarra captain ran for 136 metres including 52 post-contact, had three tackle-breaks and made 62 tackles with just one missed.

  1. Payne Haas

Club: Brisbane Broncos. NSW Origin appearances: 1. TOTW selections: 9.

It didn’t surprise anyone to see Haas producing enormous numbers in what was another poor display from the collective Broncos side. From 80 minutes played, Haas ran for 238 metres including 125 post-contact, had three tackle-breaks and made 50 tackles.

  1. Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Club: Newcastle Knights. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.

Fitzgibbon had a superb performance for Newcastle as the sole back-rower to play the full 80 minutes in the Knights’ 44-4 win. Fitzgibbon ran for 122 metres including 81 post-contact, had three tackle-breaks and made 33 tackles.

  1. Tyson Frizell

Club: St George Illawarra Dragons. NSW Origin appearances: 11. TOTW selections: 3.

Frizell was unlucky not score from a last-minute line-break on Thursday night to cap off an otherwise strong display for the second row forward. Frizell also recorded 142 run metres including 45 post-contact, had three tackle-breaks and made 34 tackles. 

  1. Nathan Brown

Club: Parramatta Eels. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 3.

Brown seemed to relish the dreadful conditions on Sunday at Kogarah with a solid individual showing against the Sharks. The Parramatta lock ran for 213 metres including 95 post-contact and made 40 tackles.

  1. Nicho Hynes

Club: Melbourne Storm. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.

The production line of fullbacks at the Melbourne Storm has continued to impress after Nico Hynes played a starring role in their Round 13 win. Hynes scored a try, kicked three from three off the boot, produced one line-break assist, made a line-break and four tackle-breaks, and ran for 169 metres.

  1. Jacob Saifiti

Club: Newcastle Knights. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 1.

Saifiti has kept improving with every opportunity in the starting front row and Saturday’s game was no different. From just 45 minutes played, Saifiti scored a try with a line-break, had two tackle-breaks, ran for 174 metres including 75 post-contact and made 25 tackles.

  1. Jake Trbojevic

Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. NSW Origin appearances: 9. TOTW selections: 6.

Trbojevic was best on field among a Sea Eagles side that came up short against the Warriors on Friday night. Trbojevic ran for 193 metres including 72 post-contact and made 44 tackles with zero missed.

  1. Toby Rudolf

Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. NSW Origin appearances: 0. TOTW selections: 2.

Rudolf has wasted no time to prove he is made for first grade after another week of strong output in jersey 13. The South Sydney junior played 56 minutes on Sunday, running for 160 metres including 72 post-contact and making 34 tackles.