The Titans and Tigers recorded comprehensive victories and rightfully dominate the Round 16 Team of the Week.
Meanwhile, a pair of Roosters enforcershave been named after laying the perfect platform for their side’s victory over the Bulldogs to seriously hammer home their Premiership credentials.
Read below for the Round 9 Team of the Week!
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
FULLBACK
Keano Kini – 211 running metres, 2 tries, 9 tackle busts, 5 linebreaks, 1 try assist
Gold Coast Titans fullback Keano Kini was instrumental in his side’s 66-6 win over the Warriors on Saturday night.
Kini crossed for two tries, including one from inside his own half, and broke the line five times in the best performance of his brief NRL career.
It’s the kind of performance you could expect from a 100-game veteran, not someone 14 games into their first grade career. Des Hasler once again has a fullback selection headache to deal with when AJ Brimson is back on deck.
WINGERS
Alofiana Khan Pereira – 212 running metres, 4 tries, 3 tackle busts, 2 linebreaks
With four tries in his side’s rout of the Warriors it was impossible not include Khan-Pereira in the Team of the Week.
They say speed kills and Khan-Pereira certainly killed the Warriors right edge, who simply had no answer for the winger’s blistering pace.
Will Warbrick – 188 running metres, 1 try, 3 tackle busts, 2 try assists, 1 linebreak
Will Warbrick was great in the Storm’s close win over the Dolphins, scoring once and setting up two tries.
The big has had a rather lean year, but his display in Round 16 showcased every strength in his game – speed, aerial prowess and physicality, particularly when bringing the ball out of his own end.
CENTRES
Adam Doueihi – 200 metres, 1 try, 6 tackle busts, 57 kick metres
There simply had to be room in this side for Adam Doueihi. Returning after over 400 days out of first grade due to yet another knee reconstruction, Doueihi was excellent for the Tigers.
Marking one of rugby league’s most destructive centres, Matt Timoko, Doueihi nullified the young centre’s threat – limiting him to just one tackle bust all game.
With ball in hand, the Tigers centre looked dangerous throughout, often popping up on both sides of the field when the Tigers were on the attack.
But the crowning moment of it all came just after the 70th minute mark, when Doueihi intercepted a Jordan Rapana pass to score his first try since Round One last year.
Doueihi returns as Tigers smash Raiders | 03:30
Jacob Kiraz – 211 metres, 8 tackle busts, 1 line break, 1 line break assist, 3 offloads
Jacob Kiraz was on the losing side in Round 16 but lost no fans with his performance. Playing at right centre in place of Stephen Crichton, Kiraz hardly put a foot wrong against the Roosters, breaking eight tackles and offloading the ball three times.
The 22-year-old had a hand in Jaeman Salmon’s try, breaking free from several Chooks defenders before sending winger Jeral Skelton on his way down the sideline.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Jayden Campbell – 74 running metres, 1 try, 11 conversion, 4 tackle breaks, 3 line break assists, 3 offloads, 118 kick metres
In a few years, the NRL world could be looking back on Jayden Campbell’s Round 16 performance as the game he truly announced himself as a top line five-eighth.
Campbell was everywhere in the Titans 60 point win, scoring tries, setting them up and threatening every time he got the ball.
It was a multi-dimensional performance that highlighted Campbell as a triple threat half who can induce nightmares with a run, kick or pass. Oh, and he set a new Titans club record for points in a single match with 26. Incredible.
MORE NRL NEWS
TALKING PTS: Twist in Roosters’ call on future of star; silver lining in Munster void
TEAM TIPS: Every Origin star’s chances of backing up; Knights’ halves shake-up looms
ORIGIN DAILY: Fuse lit as Blues legend calls out DCE over ‘cheap shot’
HALFBACK
Sam Walker – 4 line break assists, 4 try assists, 1 tackle bust, 1 forced drop out, 333 kick metres
Really, both Sam Walker and Kieran Foran have a strong case for Roung 16’s Team of the Week. Statistically there wasn’t a lot to split the pair – they both created four tries and had four try assists, while Walker kicked for just 24 metres more than Foran.
What it came down to was this: The Titans would still beat the Warriors without Foran, but the Roosters’ win would’ve been less certain without Walker in the No.7.
In particular, the 22-year-old’s short kicking game was the difference in Gosford at the weekend, creating tries and building pressure when the Roosters needed it.
PROPS
Terrell May – 196 running metres, 1 try, 66 post contact metres, 3 offloads, 4 tackle busts, 35 tackles, 1 miss
Let’s get one thing out of the way: It’s absolutely ridiculous that Terrell May played the entire 80 minutes against the Bulldogs in the middle. That is some achievement.
In that time, the young Roosters prop was incredibly influential to his side’s win, running for nearly 200 metres, crossing for a try and making three offloads.
There is perhaps no better front rower in the NRL at generating momentum for their side than May, who’s leg speed and skill can be too hard to handle for most sides.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – 129 running metres, 4 tackle busts, 1 offload, 31 tackles, 3 misses
This felt like a vintage JWH performance. In 50 minutes, the veteran prop ran for 129 metres and broke four tackles, with his one-two punch with Terrell May proving too much for an undersized Bulldogs pack.
However, it was JWH’s work without the ball that really set the game alight. The 35-year-old put on several monster hits, including one which forced an error from Bulldogs winger Blake Wilson, that gave his teammates a lift and put the fear of God in his opponents.
As much as anything this performance felt like a statement from JWH that while his career may be in it’s twilight he’s definitely not slowing down.
HOOKER
Api Koroisau – 1 try, 8 conversions, 46 running metres, 3 tackle busts, 2 try assists, 2 offloads, 1 line break assist, 40 tackles, 8 misses
Returning to his natural hooker position, Tigers captain Api Koroisau was enormous in his side’s Round 16 over the Raiders. He crossed for a fortunate try after a Lachie Galvin grubber miraculous found him and had his hands in everything good about the Tigers.
For an inexperienced Tigers side, Koroisau’s leadership was invaluable. He picked his moments to run and picked the right moment to scheme out of dummy half, including when he created Stefano Utoikamanu’s try.
There is perhaps no greater creative hooker in the NRL at the moment, and Koroisau showed this against Canberra.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘BAD ONE’: Roosters flyer SENT OFF after ugly ‘swinging arm’
HIS IDEA: Bulldogs coach explains shock late Burton switch
‘DISGRACEFUL’: Ricky BLOWS UP at Blues selectors after Raiders backrower snub
‘NO ONE BETTER’: Bolter in Parramatta’s coach hunt earns big Bennett backing
‘I’LL BE HONEST’: Bellamy’s big admission after Papenhuyzen’s epic moment
DRUGS, DEPRESSION, SAND DUNES: Inside Bronson Xerri’s ‘crazy’ comeback
BACK ROWERS
David Fifita – 183 running metres, 8 tackle busts, 2 offloads, 1 line break, 1 line break assist, 17 tackles, 1 miss
If there’s one knock on David Fifita’s game, it’s that the Titans edge forward often shirks the grinding duties required of him.
Against the Warriors this wasn’t the case. Fifita was involved regularly and early, taking tough carries out of his own end, bending the defensive line and helping the Titans get on the front foot.
And while he didn’t score, Fifita’s excellence cannot be understated. All good back rowers have an ability to influence the scoreboard even when they don’t do it directly. Fifita did this against the Warriors, running strong lines and distracting defenders to create time and space for those around him.
Samuela Fainu – 103 running metres, 4 tackle busts, 3 offloads, line break assist, 38 tackles, 2 misses
Hasn’t this kid gone from strength to strength in recent weeks? Against the Raiders, Samuela Fainu was incredibly damaging down the Tigers’ left edge, with his combination with young gun Lachlan Galvin proving particularly painful for Canberra.
Fainu finished the game with a tick over 100 running metres and three offloads, while defensivly he was rock solid, making 38 tackles and hardly missing any.
Young guns fire for Tigers early! | 01:19
LOCK
Keaon Koloamatangi – 209 metres, 1 try, 3 tackle busts, 1 line break assist, 34 tackles, 3 misses
After years on the South Sydney right edge, has Keaon Koloamatangi found a new home in the middle of the field? If performances like his one in Round 16 are to go off then the answer is yes.
Koloamatangi ran for more than 200 metres for the first time this season, and scored the game clinching try of a Damien Cook grubber.
The Rabbitohs lock was absolutely industrious, with his blend of size and speed perfect for the middle of the park, particularly given how great South’s spine is at playing off momentum.
Skipper Cameron Murray has a mortgage on the Rabbitohs No.13 jersey but there needs to be a way for him and Keaon to co-exist in the middle of the park.