The Super League Team of the Week is in for round 23, and Wigan Warriors dominate once again after a clinical effort over Bradford Bulls.
The Warriors were comfortable winners over the Odsal outfit, on a day that also saw a huge St Helens victory over Wakefield Trinity, as Tristan Sailor’s excellence helped them mount a second-half comeback.
At the beginning of the round, Leigh Leopards pulled off a huge win over Leeds Rhinos, ending their 100% home record this season, whilst Hull KR and Warrington Wolves emerged with the two points ahead of their meeting on Tuesday night.
Castleford Tigers stunned Hull FC at the MKM stadium in the only game on Friday, in what was a week where Super League’s scheduling issues were on show once again.
With the results now in, here is who has made this week’s selections, with Sailor a non-negotiable after his efforts at Belle Vue.
Super League Round 23 Team of the Week
Full-back: Jack Broadbent (Hull KR)
Scoring two tries and making 151 metres in the win over Les Dracs, Broadbent continues to show up in the absence of Arthur Mourgue.
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Wingers: Sam Halsall (Huddersfield Giants) and Tristan Sailor (St Helens)
Halsall scored the Giants’ two opening tries in their win over Toulouse, and he is one of a few players that have been vital to their improvment since returning from injury.
As mentioned, Sailor needed to be in the team, but figuring out where to put him was a different issue. Having played all across the back-line on Saturday, he slots in on the wing, where he played for just under half an hour after Lewis Murphy’s injury.
Overall, he scored a hat-trick, got an assist and made a huge 197 metres from 19 carries. Sensational.
Centres: Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors) and Umyla Hanley (Leigh Leopards)
Wardle returned to the Wigan side with a bang against Bradford, scoring two tries, one in each half, and making over 100 metres.
Hanley can fight with Sailor to be crowned the best player of the round, with his try, assist and a game-winning tackle that took Ryan Hall into touch all part of an incredible night’s work for the England hopeful.
Halves: Ewan Irwin (Warrington Wolves) and Tyrone May (Hull KR)
George Williams took the headlines on his return to action, but again it was wonderkid Ewan Irwin who pulled the strings in Wire’s victory over York with a try and five goals.
May only lasted around 65 minutes before being withdrawn due to injury, but with a try and an assist against his former club, he did enough to help get the two points.
Props: Daniel Suluka-Fifita (St Helens) and George Lawler (Castleford Tigers)
Joe Ofahengaue is very unlucky to miss out on selection, but with Saints prop Suluka-Fifita running for a huge 163 metres from 19 carries, he couldn’t be denied his first inclusion since joining.
Similarly, George Lawler couldn’t be overlooked either, as the Castleford prop was one of many pack members to have stellar games in the win over Hull FC. He made 42 tackles and ran for 124 metres off 12 carries.
Hooker: Taylor Kerr (Wigan Warriors)
Filling in for the suspended Brad O’Neill, the youngster made his first start at hooker for the Warriors, and played well enough to earn the Sky Sports Man of the Match.
Scoring a try and running for 80 metres, he made 35 tackles with just two misses, a stat O’Neill himself would have been proud of.
Back Row: Sam Stone (Warrington Wolves) and Jake Davies (St Helens)
Scoring a try on his return to the side, Stone joined Williams and Arron Lindop in returning to the squad, and all three performed well.
Davies scored two tries in Saints’ victory over Wakefield, with his double coming at the end when Wakefield’s defence was certainly questionable. He also made 116 metres from 12 carries.
Loose forward – Kaide Ellis (Wigan Warriors)
In reality, any Wigan forward could have been selected, with Kian McDermott, Shea O’Connor and Patrick Mago all being standouts.
Ellis was praised by boss Matt Peet post-match, and after fans questioned whether he was good enough to remain at 13, he certainly proved them wrong on Saturday.
