Round 1 Team of the Week: Cup returns to action with a bang

2. Jordan Lipp - Norths Devils

Lipp's career at the Devils started with a bang, stunning the Burleigh Bears with two intercept tries. The new recruit was a constant threat against last year's runners-up, with the first four-pointer coming just two minutes into the game. He finished with 216 run metres, one line break, one tackle break and one offload in a strong attacking performance.

3. Clent Lama - PNG Hunters

Clent Lama, welcome to the Hostplus Cup. A new recruit from the Mendi Muruks, Lama burst onto the scene on Saturday with a hat-trick against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. The goalkicker finished with a total of 18 points, and proved hard to stop on home turf in Port Moresby. As well as his three tries, Lama also recorded 67 run metres, four tackle busts and one offload.

4. Treymain Spry - Redcliffe Dolphins

Spry is another settling into his new club comfortably. The former Gold Coast Titans and Tweed Seagulls centre was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday, providing to be quite the handful for Souths Logan. Spry added even more attacking spark to the Dolphins' backline, crossing for a try and amassing 203 run metres, a try assist, one line break, one tackle break and two offloads. It was a big week for centres across the competition, with Northern Pride duo Rashaun Denny and Bacho Salam impressing in their win over Tweed while Cooper Marshall, Elijah Roltinga and Joseph Tomane were also strong.

5. Bob Tenza - Central Queensland Capras

The Papua New Guinean was one of many impressive Capras players on Saturday. Tenza nabbed a four-pointer, ran for 184 metres, and registered five tackle busts and one line break. Elsewhere, Fua Schwalger (Western Clydesdales), Manase Kaho (Norths Devils) and Jordan Pereira (Souths Logan Magpies) also put in massive performances.

6. Jaelen Feeney - Townsville Blackhawks

The Blackhawks showed a lot of grit to come away with the two points on Saturday after a disrupted day - their flight was delayed, their jerseys were left in Townsville after they were taken off the plane and some players had to find new boots. Wearing Ipswich's away kit, the Blackhawks rallied and Feeney was key to this success. The playmaker scored a double and set up a third try, while also running for 74 metres with two line breaks, a line break assist and seven tackle busts.

7. Josh James - Redcliffe Dolphins

There were lots of exciting contenders for halfback of the week, with Wynnum Manly's Bryce Donovan showing plenty of determination in Papua New Guinea while Norths Devils' Gerome Burns looked in red hot form. But James takes the honours for Round 1, after helping guide the Dolphins to a win over Souths Logan. The former Canberra half scored a try, had two tackle breaks, a line break and a line break assist as well as 51 run metres.

8. Jordan Pat - PNG Hunters (C)

After a year out of the Hostplus Cup, the Hunters front rower returned with a vengeance on Saturday. Coming from the Rabaul Gurias, Pat was explosive off the bench in Port Moresby, contributing greatly to his side's win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. In a tireless 44-minute performance, Pat amassed a massive 195 run metres with 10 tackle busts and one line break, and scored a try for his efforts. This performance off the bench has seen him pick up captaincy honours in Round 1.

9. Trey Brown - Central Queensland Capras

Brown picked up where he left off in 2023, with a solid performance out of dummy-half against the Western Clydesdales. Coming off his best form yet last season, Brown was instrumental in his side's victory, with one try and an assist plus one line break and one tackle bust. His defence was equally impressive, making 35 tackles with just one miss. Elsewhere, Souths Logan's Blake Mozer continued his upwards trajectory in the game with 38 tackles and a try assist, while Norths Devils veteran Kierran Moseley was a standout with 42 tackles and just one miss.

10. Caius Faatili - Sunshine Coast Falcons

The new recruits at various clubs were on fire in Round 1 and Faatili was no different. The former Wynnum Manly forward enjoyed a pre-season in Melbourne and brought his form back to the Sunshine Coast's season opener against Brisbane Tigers. Coming off the bench, Faatili nabbed a double in the first half - just nine minutes apart - and also registered 73 run metres, two line breaks, four tackle busts and an offload in a 33 minute performance.

11. Euan Aitken - Central Queensland Capras

The Dolphins NRL affiliate made quite the impact in his Capras debut. The backrower put in an outstanding all-round performance. He made 141 run metres, eight tackle breaks, three offloads and one line break in attack and made 30 tackles with zero misses in defence. He also scored a try against the Western Clydesdales to top off his first Cup game.

12. Lopeti Mafi - Western Clydesdales

In a losing side, backrower Lopeti Mafi was a shining light. He earned Team of the Week honours with a big all-round effort, similar to Aitken. Against the Capras, Mafi amassed 199 run metres and registered three tackle busts and a solid 25 tackles. Elsewhere, Josh Stuckey was strong for Wynnum Manly, bagging a double in his side's loss to PNG.3

13. Lachlan Hubner - Central Queensland Capras

Central Queensland's Mr Reliable stepped up for his pack on Saturday with a incredibly strong performance. In 77 minutes, Hubner amassed 151 run metres and made a jaw-dropping 57 tackles, as well as three tackle busts, a try assist and a line break assist. Elsewhere, Rory Ferguson (Souths Logan) made a massive 40 tackles and Sam Coster was his usual reliable self for Burleigh with 47 tackles, while Max Bailey (Sunshine Coast), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville) and Ila Alu (PNG) all lead from the front.

14. Sam Burns - Sunshine Coast Falcons

In 58 minutes, Burns scored a try and set up another, ran for 88 metres, recorded two tackle busts, one line break and one line break assist, and made 33 tackles with no misses to guide his team to a Round 1 victory.

15. Rhys Jacks - Ipswich Jets

Shockingly enough, Hubner's 57 tackles was not the leading stat for the weekend. Instead that honour went to Ipswich's hard-working hooker Rhys Jacks, who made a mind-blowing 62 tackles in the middle against the Townsville Blackhawks. 

16. Danny Heenan - Sunshine Coast Falcons

Another hooker who impressed in Round 1 was young gun, Heenan. The Falcons rake played for 55 minutes and in that time scored a try, ran for 56 metres, had two tackle busts and one line break, and made 34 tackles against the reigning premiers.

17. Treigh Stewart - Brisbane Tigers

Another new face to Cup, Treigh Stewart is a name fans and opposition teams are going to want to remember. He started quietly as he made his way into the game, but then exploded, with a particularly strong second half that saw the Tigers come back into the match. Stewart finished with a try and an assist, 205 run metres, eight tackle busts, one line break, two line break assists and two offloads. Watch this space.

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