Finals Week 2 Team of the Week: Collins sets standard for Capras

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Central Queensland Capras kept their 2023 finals hopes alive and strong after claiming victories in Finals Week 2.

Wynnum Manly pulled off an upset over competition heavyweights Souths Logan Magpies on Saturday with a 30-24 win while Central Queensland flexed their muscle with a commanding 38-10 effort against Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

But, win or lose, there were plenty of huge individual efforts across the weekend.

Seagulls halfback Brendan O'Hagan picked up the Hastings Deering player of the match on Saturday while Capras hooker Trey Brown earned the same honours on Sunday.

Other standout performances came from Souths Logan skipper Rory Ferguson, Sunshine Coast captain Sam Burns and Wynnum Manly hooker Oliver Pascoe.

And one of the most inspirational efforts of the weekend saw Central Queensland prop JJ Collins lay the platform for his side with an enormous attacking effort, which has seen him take the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week captaincy honours for Finals Week 2.

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.

Finals Week 2 Team of the Week

1. Blake Moore - Central Queensland Capras

The Capras fullback has been sensational all year and stepped up to the plate once again on Sunday when his team needed it most. Moore was hugely influential in attack, scoring two tries and setting up a third to help his side to victory. He also ran for 131 metres, had three tackle busts, two line breaks and one line break assist, and did this all within just 62 minutes after injuring his shoulder. Elsewhere, Souths Logan's Braden Whittaker was strong at the back for his team, amassing 221 run metres and scoring a try against Wynnum Manly.

2. Blake Anders – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Since earning his Cup debut in Round 18, Wynnum Manly young gun Anders has hardly looked out of place. Anders - who was playing Hastings Deering Colts earlier this year - proved again on Saturday why he has a promising future with 144 run metres and six tackle busts against the Magpies.

3. Joe Tomane – Souths Logan Magpies

The veteran centre has been strong for the Magpies since his return to rugby league. On Saturday, he was instrumental for Souths Logan, setting up one try during their loss to Wynnum Manly. He also ran for 131 metres, had three offloads, one tackle bust, one line break assist and 10 tackles. 

4. Stanford Talita – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

The Papua New Guinean was the match-winner for the Seagulls on Saturday, scoring the final try to break the deadlock between Wynnum Manly and Souths Logan. Talita also set up another try and ran for 127 metres, had a stunning eight tackle busts, one line break, one line break assist and 10 tackles.

5. Tom Farr – Central Queensland Capras

Farr scored the first try of the semi-final showdown between the Capras and Sunshine Coast Falcons on Sunday and the points flowed from there. Farr also ran for 109 metres and recorded one tackle break, one line break and one offload in a solid effort to help the Capras qualify for their first preliminary final in 14 years.

6. Albert Kelly – Souths Logan Magpies

The experienced playmaker did all he could to try to get Souths Logan to the next stage of finals. While the Magpies fell short, Kelly was key in keeping them in the game on Saturday, setting up two tries with a particularly strong second half. Kelly also had three line break assists and three tackle busts, as well as 79 run metres and 15 tackles. Wynnum Manly's Will Parslow is also very deserving of a special mention for a stunning Cup debut effort in a high stakes match. The Hastings Deering Colts graduate was not afraid to get involved, setting up one try for his side and making three tackle breaks, one line break, one offload, 21 tackles and 131 run metres in a strong all-round performance. Elsewhere, Luke Polselli was also a standout for Sunshine Coast, involved in absolutely everything in their loss to Central Queensland.

7. Brendan O’Hagan – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Saturday's Hastings Deering player of the match, O'Hagan stood up strongly for his team in their must-win clash with Souths Logan. With Josh Rogers and Jock Madden out on NRL duties, O'Hagan performed admirably in the place of the Brisbane Broncos duo. O'Hagan set up two tries, had three line break assists, 20 tackles and 82 run metres.

8. JJ Collins – Central Queensland Capras (C)

Coach Lionel Harbin said it best after Central Queensland's win on Sunday when he labelled Collins' performance as "brilliant". The Dolphins NRL affiliated prop set the tone for the rest of his side against the Falcons with a destructive attacking performance through the middle that has earned him captaincy honours this week. In 66 minutes, Collins scored one try, amassed a jaw-dropping 252 run metres - 100 of which were post-contact - and had five tackle busts, two offloads, one line break and 14 tackles with zero misses for 100 per cent efficiency.

9. Trey Brown – Central Queensland Capras

Bolstering the Capras' strong front row efforts was hooker and Sunday's Hastings Deering player of the match, Trey Brown. Instrumental to the victory, Brown set up three tries for his side, including a shining role in Blake Moore's first four-pointer. Brown also had two tackle breaks, two line break assists, one line break, one offload and 26 tackles in an influential 66-minute performance.

10. Bailey Butler – Central Queensland Capras

It's a Central Queensland clean sweep for the Team of the Week front row, with Butler putting in a solid performance to support Collins and Brown on Sunday. In 45 minutes, Butler amassed 137 run metres and had one tackle break and 16 tackles, with no misses.  

11. Louis Geraghty – Sunshine Coast Falcons

It was a tough loss for the Falcons on Sunday but there were a few shining lights. Geraghty was one with a mammoth effort in defence. The second rower made 38 tackles - with one miss - and also stood up in attack with one try assist, five tackle breaks and 62 run metres. 

12. Joshua Stuckey – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Stuckey was strong for Wynnum Manly on Saturday. The 25-year-old made 155 run metres and had one tackle break, one offload and 18 tackles with 100 per cent tackle efficiency. On the opposite side of the park, Tyler Coburn was solid for Souths Logan with 36 tackles.

13. Rory Ferguson – Souths Logan Magpies

Ferguson left nothing on the park on Saturday. The inspirational Souths Logan captain has had a massive 2023 season but in particular has been absolutely unstoppable over the past three weeks. A true contender for Team of the Week captaincy again, Ferguson had a sensational all-round performance that included 188 run metres, 50 tackles and three tackle breaks. This gives him a total of 640 run metres and 126 tackles, with just three misses, from his past three appearances. 

14. Sam Burns – Sunshine Coast Falcons

Only benched due to Ferguson's stunning performance, Burns is very deserving of his place in Team of the Week. The Sunshine Coast skipper led from the front in the Falcons' loss to the Capras, making a mind-blowing 61 tackles in Rockhampton. Burns also ran for 105 metres and recorded two tackle busts and one offload.

15. Oliver Pascoe – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

There was no braver performance on the weekend than that of Pascoe. The Wynnum Manly hooker dislocated his elbow the week before but after being cleared of any major damage, he took to the field in Finals Week 2 to put in a stunning 80-minute effort. Pascoe - who has been in excellent form this year - scored a try, made three tackle breaks, one line break and one line break assist. He also finished with a huge 37 tackles.

16. Kurt Donoghoe – Central Queensland Capras

Another standout forward for the Capras on Sunday was NRL Dolphins affiliate, Kurt Donoghoe. The lock set up two tries, ran for 142 metres, had three tackle busts and two line break assists, as well as one offload and 22 tackles.

17. Matt Milson – Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Key to Wynnum Manly's victory was their spine and that of course includes the efforts of Milson at the back. The Seagulls' No.1 scored a double and had 135 run metres, five tackle busts and one line break.

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