With Round 25 of Super League now complete, here is who impressed to make this week’s Team of the Week.
The action started on Thursday, with an emotional Wigan Warriors overcoming a rotated Hull KR side in what was a very underwhelming Grand Final rematch.
Friday saw wins for Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants and Catalans Dragons, with those three toppling St Helens, Leigh Leopards and Castleford Tigers respectively.
Warrington Wolves travelled to Hull FC on Saturday and came away with the two points, whilst Wakefield Trinity emerged as victors in a tight game against York Knights.
Toulouse Olympique and Bradford Bulls rounded out the weekend, with the French side picking up another win in what has been an incredible return to the top flight.
St Helens’ new coach, World Cup fail and Hull KR’s top six chances – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Super League Round 25 Team of the Week
Full-back: Jai Field (Wigan Warriors)
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Perhaps the Wigan speedsters’ biggest flaw during his time in Super League was his inability to perform in horrible conditions, but he overcame that on Thursday in a brilliant display in biblical weather down at the Brick Community Stadium.
Scoring a try and setting up two more, Field ran for 160 metres in an effort that was unlucky not to win him Man of the Match.
Wingers: Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors) and Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors)
On a night that Wigan remembered their most iconic and best winger in their history – Sir Billy Boston – the Warriors’ current edge pairing did the great man proud, and crossed for five of the side’s eight tries, with Eckersley scoring two and Marshall crossing for a hat-trick. Eckersley also bagged an assist, knocking the ball back to Adam Keighran for a score.
Centres: Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos) and Tom Briscoe (Hull FC)
Scoring a try and assisting another, the Leeds captain was back on top form this week, whilst his former teammate Briscoe had a stellar showing in his final appearance at the MKM Stadium – albeit in defeat.
The Hull man scored a try to put his side back in the game, whilst his great offload continued the play, allowing Ethan O’Neill to go over on the left edge.
Halves: Toby Sexton (Catalans Dragons) and Jake Connor (Leeds Rhinos)
The Dragons man scored a double in a bizzare night in Castleford that saw a half-an-hour stoppage due to a power outage. He assisted another, showing that when the Dragons do click, they can be a very consistent side.
It was a toss-up between Connor and Harry Smith for the ‘7’ spot, but Connor gets in based on the level of opponent and the fact he assisted three of six tries, kicked five goals and a crucial 20/40.
Props: Cameron Smith (Leeds Rhinos) and Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield Trinity)
These two will be teammates next year, which is quite a frightening prospect given the form both players are in.
Smith scored an incredible 40-metre try and again provided power off the bench, whilst Hamlin-Uele was handed a rare start and made 34 tackles and 120 metres.
Hooker: Cole Geyer (Huddersfield Giants)
Both of Huddersfield’s nines stood out, with Zac Woolford picking up two assists across the evening. However, Geyer is selected due to his two tries coming a crucial times in the game, and without his scores, the Giants potentially don’t win the game.
Back rowers: Edenn Rogers-Smith (Catalans Dragons) and Mathieu Jussaume (Toulouse Olympique)
We head to France for the back row selections, with Dragons’ mid-season signing Rogers-Smith having a stand-out game against the Tigers that included a try and 105 metres.
Jussaume took his season try total to 16, putting him level with Jai Field in =9th in Super League.
Loose forward: Harry Rushton (Huddersfield Giants)
The Huddersfield skipper is arguably the best player outside the top seven at the minute, and continues to prove how he got an NRL chance so early in his career.
Scoring a try, running for 153 metres and making 36 tackles, his efforts in the middle of the field gave the Giants a huge boost on Friday night.
