Round 11 Team of the Week: 'Air Jordan' takes flight

Dangerous Souths Logan Magpies winger Jordan Pereira has taken out dual honours of the Round 11 Hastings Deering player of the match and Hostplus Cup Team of the Week captain.

While a number of players stood up to put in huge performances during the weekend, as the competition moved into the midway point of the season, Pereira's devastating 2023 form could not be ignored, as another stunning effort saw him help the Magpies claim their seventh win of the season.

Each round, Queensland Rugby League recognises the 17 best performers and names the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week, presented by Hostplus. These team selections are based not only on statistical data, but also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games.

Round 11 Team of the Week

1. Toby McIntosh - Burleigh Bears

The Burleigh backs had a field day against the luckless Ipswich Jets, running amok at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday. Bears No.1 McIntosh was hugely instrumental in that performance, carving up with 199 run metres, eight tackle busts, two line breaks, one line break assist and one try assist. Other standout fullbacks around the grounds in Round 11 included Wynnum Manly Seagulls' Matt Milson and Central Queensland Capras' Blake Moore, who both put in massive attacking performances.

2. Jordan Pereira - Souths Logan Magpies (C)

Pereira has been one of Souths Logan's best all season and in Round 11 he made all the difference for his team in their close battle with the Western Clydesdales on Sunday. The Brisbane Broncos affiliate - who also picked up the Hastings Deering player of the match - scored a hat-trick, ran for a jaw-dropping 281 metres, and recorded three line breaks and nine tackle busts in a stunning attacking effort. 

3. Marion Seve - Brisbane Tigers

The Tigers engaged in an arm wrestle with the Mackay Cutters on Saturday and Melbourne Storm-contracted centre Seve proved hard to contain in that win. The 28-year-old ran for 217 metres and made five tackle busts, three offloads and 17 tackles in a strong performance at BB Print Stadium.

4. Valynce Te Whare - Redcliffe Dolphins

The Redcliffe Dolphins wrecking ball was at his destructive best against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, amassing 205 run metres. He earned one try for his efforts and also made eight tackle breaks and six tackles, with zero misses. Other centres who stood up in Round 11 included Mackay's Blake Paskins, Burleigh skipper Sami Sauiluma and Te Whare's Dolphins NRL teammate and Central Queensland No. 3 Oliver Gildart.

5. Tony Francis - Burleigh Bears

It was a huge week overall for wingers and Burleigh's Tony Francis was a sensation in his Round 11 showdown with the Ipswich Jets. Like Pereira, Francis also earned himself a stunning hat-trick of tries and ran for 230 metres with seven tackle busts and three line breaks. Elsewhere, Brisbane's Kane Bradley was particularly impressive, while Brayden McGrady continued his red-hot form for the Dolphins.

6. Josh Rogers - Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Brisbane Broncos development player Rogers helped deliver his side a stunning upset victory over Tweed in the second "flockbuster" of 2023. The classy playmaker scored two tries for himself and had 100 per cent strike rate with the boot, kicking seven from seven goals. Rogers also ran for 140 metres, had nine tackle busts, two line breaks and 18 tackles, in a dominant all-round performance. Elsewhere, Burleigh's Tom Steadman, Mackay's Adam Cook, Redcliffe's Cameron Cullen and Sunshine Coast's Jayden Nikorima all had solid performances in Round 11.

7. Guy Hamilton - Burleigh Bears

Hamilton is one of the key reasons Burleigh sit atop of the ladder at the halfway point of the season. The Bears half guided his side to a convincing win over the Jets, scoring one try and setting up another two. He also clocked up 143 run metres, three tackle breaks, one line break and one line break assist.

8. Tariq Sims - Brisbane Tigers

The Melbourne Storm forward is thriving in his appearances for affiliate club, the Tigers, and in Round 11 he really stood up to the Mackay pack in their fiery clash at BB Print Stadium. Sims was huge through the middle, racking up 200 run metres, one tackle bust and 22 tackles with zero misses.

9. Wesser Tenza - PNG Hunters

PNG suffered a narrow loss to the Northern Pride in Round 11, but it was players like hooker Tenza who kept the Hunters in the game. In a massive all-round performance, Tenza scored one try, ran for 108 metres, had four tackle busts and one line break, and made an awe-inspiring 43 tackles with zero misses and only one ineffective tackle. It was a great effort in the middle from the PNG international. Kierran Moseley was also key for the Norths Devils, setting up two tries, running for 78 metres with a tackle bust, and recording two line break assists and 35 tackles. Defensively, hookers across the competition really stood up in Round 11, with Central Queensland's Trey Browne, Burleigh's Pat Politoni, Western Clydesdales' Drew Timms, Ipswich's Rhys Jacks and Brisbane's Bronson Garlick all leading from the front.

10. JJ Collins - Central Queensland Capras

The Dolphins NRL forward made a huge impact against the Norths Devils on Saturday in Rockhampton. In a 64 minute performance, Collins amassed 196 run metres - 101 post-contact. As well as proving unstoppable with the ball in hand, Collins also made 27 tackles with zero misses to help the Capras to a victory. Elsewhere, Northern Pride's Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi really stood up to an always tough PNG pack while Bears duo Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui and Thomas Mikaele set a strong platform against the Jets.

11. Jacob Alick - Burleigh Bears

Alick had a hand in everything in Burleigh's Saturday win over Ipswich. The star second rower set up two tries, ran for 161 metres, had six tackle busts, three offloads, three line breaks and one line break assist in one of the strongest overall performances from Round 11.

12. Ethan Sweet - Mackay Cutters

The young Cutters second rower Sweet - who is still eligible for Hastings Deering Colts - showed why he has earned an elevation to Cup, with a standout performance against the Brisbane Tigers on Saturday. The South African international set up one try, ran for 172 metres, had two tackle busts and one line break assist, and made 21 tackles. Elsewhere, Jacob McCudden was once again strong for the Tweed Seagulls while Chris Lewis stepped up in both attack and defence for Sunshine Coast.