No Manly Players in NRL Team of the Week

[bob dylan]

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?

 

[Phantar]

Let it go.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

who's dominic brock

 

[Stevo]

Not too surprising really!

 

[firechild]

From here

1. Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs): Read 'em and weep, Eels fans. Five tries, two linebreaks, three offloads and 17 runs for 163m.

2. David Mead (Titans): OK, he's in for one reason and one reason only and that's the freakish try he scored. Amazing stuff.

3. Adam MacDougall (Knights): Life in those old legs yet with two tries, a try assist and a couple of linebreaks against the Raiders.

4. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs): Fitter than at any stage of the season and enjoying his football again. Shame he won't be around for the finals.

5. Akuila Uate (Knights): The Knights have had some fairly handy wingers over the years but none has been better than the Fijian flyer.

6. Benji Marshall (Tigers): When Benji is on, the Tigers are just about unbeatable and he was 'on' against the Dragons with a terrific kicking (463m) and passing (three offloads) game.

7. Peter Wallace (Broncos): Kicked the winning field goal to save Locky's night and made plenty of ground with some clever kicking against the Warriors.

8. Ben Ross (Rabbitohs): Hard to figure out how this bloke is on the open market with no interest being shown. Made 17 runs for 147m and 34 tackles against Parra.

9. Isaac Luke (Rabbitohs): Killed the Eels from dummy-half with 16 dashes for 167m as well as making 27 tackles and coming up with four offloads.

10. Bryan Norrie (Storm): Unfashionable type but Storm coach Craig Bellamy wouldn't swap him. Made 20 tackles on top of 15 runs against the Panthers.

11. Chris Houston (Knights): Three linebreaks, a try-assist and a try and still made 27 tackles against the Raiders.

12. Dave Taylor (Rabbitohs): Almost unstoppable running wide against the Eels with 15 runs for 136m, two linebreaks and two offloads in his first game in six weeks.

13. Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles): Mr Reliable for Manly. Scored a try, made 19 runs and two linebreaks in the win over the Roosters.

14. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles): Ditto for this bloke. Capped a fine kicking game (283m) with a try against the Roosters.

15. Sam Thaiday (Broncos): Made 17 runs for 138m with two offloads and 32 tackles against the big Warriors pack.

16. Mark Minichiello (Titans): Made a whopping 38 tackles in defence and 125m in attack against the Sharks.

17. Paul Gallen (Sharks): In a losing team but came up with 28 runs for 290m, two linebreaks, three offloads, a try-assist and 18 tackles against the Titans.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

Dont look up now. There is a radar above us.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

How can Merritt be the winger of the week from fullback ? Lol

Pritchard and thaiday would have been 2nd row as well wouldn't they

 

[MadMarcus]

I'm surprised Anasta didn't make the side on the bench.

 

[Central Coast Eagle]

Dessie would be proud! Under the radar!

 

[Brissie Kid]

Sunday was a team effort. Teams win football games.

 

[jjai]

Maybe they just didnt rate our opposition ..

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Shouldn't this topic be in the conspiracy forum?

---

Or ... are you one of those fans who wants Manly to win every game by 40-nil, and have each available player chosen every time to rep for NSW Aus City NZ Cocos Islands, etc etc ?

 

[brookiegreg]

yeah big deal...fairy floss