It may have been a shortened round, but there was no shortage of great performances in Round 9 of the Intrust Super Cup.
Take a look below at which players QRL Media's Nathan Jones thought made some outstanding contributions for your favourite teams last weekend.
>> Each round, QRL Media recognise the 17 best performers and name the Intrust Super Cup ‘Team of the Week’*. These team selections will be based not only on statistical data, but will also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games, with the standout performer of the week to be named captain.
Round 9 Intrust Super Cup Team of the Week
- Scott Drinkwater (Easts Tigers)
Returning from injury after spending four weeks on the sideline, Drinkwater continued his good form with the ball; scoring a try, setting up another and breaking a huge 11 tackles. - Jake Ainsworth (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
By far the form winger in Round 9 of the Intrust Super Cup, Ainsworth was at his try-scoring best, bagging two tries and running for 105m in a dominant performance. - Gehamat Shibasaki (Norths Devils)
A strong performer in a losing side, Shibasaki was at his damaging best running for a massive 264m and busting six tackles. - Marion Seve (Souths Logan Magpies)
One of the most damaging centres in the competition with his size and speed, he was at his best again in Round 9, scoring a try, busting 7 tackles and running for 169m. - Kalifa Faifai Loa (Townsville Blackhawks)
The experienced back lead from the front with a high work rate and a number of strong carries out of his own half. He ran for 158m and made four offloads in the Blackhawks win over the Bears in Townsville. - Jahrome Hughes (Sunshine Coast Falcons) (c)
Hughes was instrumental in the Falcons 38-0 imposing win over the Capras, setting up 2 tries and scoring 2 for himself. The highlights speak for themselves (see below)
Intrust Super Cup Rd 9 Highlights: Falcons vs Capras
- Nicho Hynes (Mackay Cutters)
Hynes proved to be the point of difference for the Capras, having a strong all-round performance with both boot and ball in his Hastings Deering Man of the Match performance. He kicked for nearly 300m and scored the final try to seal the victory for the Cutters at Bishop Park. - Jacob Hind (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
A standout performer from the Falcons dominant forward pack, taking a number of big carries to put his team on the front foot. Hind ran for 173m, scored a try and made 36 tackles. - Travis Waddell (Souths Logan Magpies)
The Souths Logan hooker showed his experience, playing a pivotal role in the Magpies win over the Tigers at Davies Park. Waddell was solid in both attack and defence, setting up a try, scoring one himself and making 36 tackles. - Sam Hoare (Mackay Cutters)
The Cowboys contracted prop forward has his biggest game of the season running for 173m, making 38 tackles, a line break and he even had a hand in setting up a try. - Sam Lavea (Souths Logan Magpies)
The big forward changed the momentum of the game for Souths with his strong running game, busting eighth tackles and running for 112m in just 39 mins. - Darcy Cox (Mackay Cutters)
He troubled the Devils edge defence with his strong running game, scoring a try late in the game to put a Norths comeback to bed. - Nick Brown (Mackay Cutters)
The lock forward laid the platform for his team with his high work rate through the middle, running for 173m and scoring a try. - Zach Clay (Townsville Blackhawks)
The crafty half played a pivotal role in the Blackhawks seven-point victory over competition front runners Burleigh, scoring a try and kicking a field goal to put the game out of reach. - Toby McIntosh (Burleigh Bears)
A shining light in a beaten side, the Burleigh fullback was hard to contain with his strong running game and tackle busting ability, running for a huge 224m and busting seven tackles. - Francis Molo (Townsville Blackhawks)
He has been pressing for a NRL call up for the Cowboys in recent weeks and further pushed his claims with another huge performance for the Blackhawks, running 178m, making 20 tackles, setting up a try and scoring one for himself. - Johnny Faletagoa’i (Mackay Cutters)
The most damaging ball runner in the competition with his size and speed, he continued his form, running for a casual 201m and busting five tackles in just 15 carries. With this performance, Faletagoa’i has taken his average running metres to 174m a game.
Note: Round 9 saw the PNG Hunters, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Redcliffe Dolphins, Tweed Heads Seagulls, Ipswich Jets and Northern Pride have the bye.
*The team selections are the opinions of QRL Media only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the QRL.
