Round 21 Team of the Week: Sailor sizzles as Souths Logan push for minor premiership

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 21 Team of the Week

1. Tristan Sailor – Souths Logan Magpies

Competition leaders Souths Logan made a pre-finals statement on Sunday with a high-scoring victory over the Wynnum Manly, with their first half performance particularly impressive. Fullback Tristan Sailor was one of the standouts for the Magpies. Hugely influential, Sailor not only scored the team's final try of the day in the 55th minute, but he set up another four in the lead up to his own. Dangerous whenever he had the ball in hand, Sailor also recorded four line break assists, two offloads, one line break and one tackle break, earning this week's captaincy honours. Elsewhere, young gun fullback Morea Morea was sensational against the Townsville Blackhawks, scoring one try, setting up another with a double kick and running down speedy winger Robert Derby for a huge try-saver.

2. Jordan Pereira – Souths Logan Magpies

The Brisbane Broncos affiliate has been a threat for Souths Logan all season. That red-hot 2023 form continued on Sunday with Pereira just too hard to handle as he scored two tries and set up another. He also recorded 233 run metres, a stunning 12 tackle breaks and three line breaks.

3. Lee Turner – Tweed Seagulls

Tweed's backline continues to shine week in, week out and they certainly went to another level against the luckless Ipswich Jets on Sunday. In what was a must-win match for their finals hopes, Turner was sensational. The centre bagged a hat-trick of tries, ran for 172 metres, had five tackle busts, four line breaks, two offloads, one line break assist and 10 tackles.

4. Melino Fineanganofo – Western Clydesdales

The Western Clydesdales wrecking ball may have been on the losing side, but he was an attacking threat, as always. Fineanganofo crossed the line for a try once and amassed 184 run metres against Northern Pride. He also had a jaw-dropping 14 tackle busts, four offloads, one line break and 12 tackles. Elsewhere, Burleigh veteran Sami Sauiluma and Tweed's Ioane Seiuli both bagged doubles.

5. Jack Smith – Souths Logan Magpies

With Pereira on one side and Jack Smith on the other, Souths Logan have strike power across the park. Smith added to Ipswich's misery on Sunday with a hat-trick of tries, 121 run metres, five tackle busts and three line breaks. Elsewhere, Kaleb Ngamanu was as reliable as ever for Tweed, Will Partridge amassed a massive 261 run metres for Pride and Tony Francis ran for 246 metres for Burleigh.

6. Will Brimson – Tweed Seagulls

One of Tweed's most consistent, Brimson thrived against Ipswich on Sunday to lead his team back into the top eight in the penultimate round of Hostplus Cup's regular season. One of the best performers of the entire round, not only did he score two tries but he set up another three and ran for 102 metres with three line break assists, two line breaks and two tackle busts.

7. Cameron Cullen – Redcliffe Dolphins

Proving that his return from retirement was no mistake, Cullen was on fire against Central Queensland Capras on Sunday, earning back-to-back Team of the Week appearances. Cullen scored one of the tries of the round, crossing for the Dolphins off his own charge down, and also set up another three tries for Redcliffe. The skipper also registered 83 run metres, two line break assists, one tackle break, one offload and nine tackles. Elsewhere, Lindon McGrady was strong for Tweed in the No.7 jersey with a huge four try assists in the club's record-breaking win.

8. Aaron Pene – Sunshine Coast Falcons

The Melbourne Storm-contracted forward set the standard for a clinical Sunshine Coast performance on Saturday against Norths Devils. With their finals hopes on the line, Pene ran for 152 metres and made 22 tackles in 44 minutes on the field and also recorded two tackle busts.

9. Tyran Wishart – Sunshine Coast Falcons

Alongside Pene, fellow Melbourne affiliate Wishart packed a punch on Saturday. The hooker crossed the line for the Falcons and ran for 105 metres with four tackle busts, three line breaks, two line break assists and 29 tackles, with just one missed.

10. Sam McIntyre – Townsville Blackhawks

In a losing side, Sam McIntyre put in another mammoth effort in the middle for Townsville. In an 80-minute performance, the North Queensland Cowboys forward scored one try, ran for 158 metres, had four tackle breaks, one line break, one offload and a huge 39 tackles. Elsewhere, Epel Kapinias was a standout for PNG and Paea Pua was strong for Pride.

11. Nicholas Halalilo – Central Queensland Capras

Knocking on the door for Team of the Week for the last few rounds, Halalilo earns a call-up this week for a big performance against Redcliffe Dolphins. The Central Queensland second rower scored one try, ran for 154 metres, had a massive 10 tackle busts, three offloads, one line break and 23 tackles.

12. Jackson Gibbons – Sunshine Coast Falcons

Jackson Gibbons ensured Sunshine Coast's finals hopes remain alive for another week with a strong showing against Norths. Not only did the backrower bag a try double but he had 101 run metres, three tackle busts, one line break, one line break assist and 24 tackles in a solid, all-round performance.

13. Ila Alu – PNG Hunters

There were a number of stars for the Hunters in their thrilling victory over Townsville in Port Moresby, but skipper Ila Alu was a standout as he strongly led from the front once again. Alu amassed 168 run metres and made 20 tackles and two tackle busts in just 43 minutes on the field for the home team. Elsewhere, Mason Teague stood up in defence for Redcliffe with 41 tackles.

14. Trai Fuller – Redcliffe Dolphins (VC)

A week after being named in the Dolphins' NRL squad, Fuller returned to the Cup fold with flair. Always an attacking threat, Fuller let his presence be known with two tries scored through individual brilliance. He also ran for 173 metres with 10 tackle breaks, two line breaks and one offload.

15. Sam Coster – Burleigh Bears

In another strong win for Burleigh as they continue to push for this year's minor premiership, Sam Coster delivered in attack and defence against the Cutters on Saturday. The star lock made 38 tackles through the middle and ran for 144 metres with two offloads in 74 minutes.

16. Louis Geraghty – Sunshine Coast Falcons

Bench forward Geraghty certainly did his job for the Falcons off the bench, making a huge impact with two tries, 87 run metres, one tackle bust, one line break and 20 tackles within 56 minutes.

17. Ryan Papenhuyzen – Sunshine Coast Falcons

Only two weeks back and the Melbourne Storm sensation is building nicely. Against Norths, Papenhuyzen easily bought into the Falcons' push for finals, scoring the final try of the match in the dying minutes. He had also set up another two throughout the game and had 127 run metres, six tackle breaks, two line break assists and two offloads, proving hard to handle.