By Dominic Brock
1. Billy Slater (Storm) - The world's best fullback produced a stunning performance at both ends of the park against Penrith, making three try-saving tackles, bringing down a bomb to score himself and rolling in a grubber kick to lay on Melbourne's final try.
2. Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs) - Scored a massive five tries against the Eels - effectively outscoring 13 of the 16 teams in action this week.
3. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) - It may be too little, too late, but the star centre is finding his old form. Ran in two tries, including a 60m special to open the scoring
4. Adam MacDougall (Knights) - The oldest player in the NRL keeps coming up with the goods for Newcastle, with the 36-year-old 'Mad Dog' finding the tryline twice and running clear to set up another four-pointer in a romping win over Canberra.
5. David Mead (Titans) - Scored a double in a rare win for the Titans, including one of the greatest pick-ups of all time off a Scott Prince kick for a try-of-the-season contender.
6. Benji Marshall (Tigers) - Let's face it, he's not a goalkicker. But it's about the only thing Benji doesn't do well. The Wests wizard set up two long-range tries - both starting 70m out from the Dragons' tryline - to help engineer a comeback win over the reigning premiers.
7. Shaun Johnson (Warriors) - The Kiwi speedster scored the best solo try of 2011, running 70 metres and beating six Broncos defenders.
8. Sam Thaiday (Broncos) - Set up Brisbane's opening try with a great offload and finished as his team's most effective forward against the Warriors with 17 carries and 32 tackles.
9. Joel Reynolds (Bulldogs) - After being switched into the halves to replace the injured Ben Roberts, Reynolds scored the Dogs' lone first-half try and set up their second to help secure a gritty win over the Cowboys.
10. Frank Pritchard (Bulldogs) - 'Cranky Franky' produced the kind of performance the Bulldogs have been waiting all year for, with some massive hits in defence plus three tackle busts and a couple of offloads in attack.
11. Chris Houston (Knights) - The classy back-rower split Canberra's defence open to set up one MacDougall try, scored another himself, and made more metres, tackle breaks and tackles than any other Newcastle forward.
12. David Taylor (Rabbitohs) - Back with a bang after a five-game suspension, running wild with two line breaks, eight tackle busts, a couple of offloads and a try assist.
13. Matt Gillett (Broncos) - Scored a runaway try, busted four attempted tackles and did the hard yards with 14 carries and 33 tackles.
Comments Please?
1. Billy Slater (Storm) - The world's best fullback produced a stunning performance at both ends of the park against Penrith, making three try-saving tackles, bringing down a bomb to score himself and rolling in a grubber kick to lay on Melbourne's final try.
2. Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs) - Scored a massive five tries against the Eels - effectively outscoring 13 of the 16 teams in action this week.
3. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) - It may be too little, too late, but the star centre is finding his old form. Ran in two tries, including a 60m special to open the scoring
4. Adam MacDougall (Knights) - The oldest player in the NRL keeps coming up with the goods for Newcastle, with the 36-year-old 'Mad Dog' finding the tryline twice and running clear to set up another four-pointer in a romping win over Canberra.
5. David Mead (Titans) - Scored a double in a rare win for the Titans, including one of the greatest pick-ups of all time off a Scott Prince kick for a try-of-the-season contender.
6. Benji Marshall (Tigers) - Let's face it, he's not a goalkicker. But it's about the only thing Benji doesn't do well. The Wests wizard set up two long-range tries - both starting 70m out from the Dragons' tryline - to help engineer a comeback win over the reigning premiers.
7. Shaun Johnson (Warriors) - The Kiwi speedster scored the best solo try of 2011, running 70 metres and beating six Broncos defenders.
8. Sam Thaiday (Broncos) - Set up Brisbane's opening try with a great offload and finished as his team's most effective forward against the Warriors with 17 carries and 32 tackles.
9. Joel Reynolds (Bulldogs) - After being switched into the halves to replace the injured Ben Roberts, Reynolds scored the Dogs' lone first-half try and set up their second to help secure a gritty win over the Cowboys.
10. Frank Pritchard (Bulldogs) - 'Cranky Franky' produced the kind of performance the Bulldogs have been waiting all year for, with some massive hits in defence plus three tackle busts and a couple of offloads in attack.
11. Chris Houston (Knights) - The classy back-rower split Canberra's defence open to set up one MacDougall try, scored another himself, and made more metres, tackle breaks and tackles than any other Newcastle forward.
12. David Taylor (Rabbitohs) - Back with a bang after a five-game suspension, running wild with two line breaks, eight tackle busts, a couple of offloads and a try assist.
13. Matt Gillett (Broncos) - Scored a runaway try, busted four attempted tackles and did the hard yards with 14 carries and 33 tackles.
Comments Please?