This article first appeared on NRL.com
Some try-scoring sensations, tactical geniuses and big blokes with skill highlight the Round 17 Team of the Week.
1. Jarryd Hayne (Titans)
When touches of class were required against two teams desperate for a win it was Hayne who came to the fore, coming up with two sublime passes for Anthony Don's second and third tries as well as handling the bomb barrage launched by the Dragons.
2. Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)
Almost not even the best winger in his team after scintillating performances by both he and Suliasi Vunivalu against the Broncos where they both scored two tries. Addo-Carr's ability to hit Billy Slater for his try at full tilt tipping him over the edge.
3. Curtis Scott (Storm)
A second straight TOTW appearance for Scott who scored two tries himself, laid on another for Vunivalu, had three line breaks and seven tackle breaks to stamp himself as a star of the future.
4. Ricky Leutele (Sharks)
The finest performance of Leutele's career, the 27-year-old terrorising the Roosters' right edge with two tries, a try assist, two line-break assists and 203 run metres.
5. Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)
His 90-metre opportunist's try sparked a Rabbitohs revival and by the time he had finished with the Panthers he had become the ninth player in South Sydney history to score five tries in a single game.
6. Cameron Munster (Storm)
A brilliant display that may have been the clincher in earning a maiden Origin debut. Put in a perfect left-foot kick for Vunivalu's second try, had a line break and a line-break assist in a performance that troubled the Broncos defence all night.
7. Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)
The finest performance of his season by far paved the way for a dominant South Sydney victory. Officially credited with two try assists but had his hand in almost all of them, his kicking game repeatedly keeping the Panthers under pressure.
8. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)
Up against Waerea-Hargreaves and Napa it was Fifita who gave the Sharks much of their forward momentum, running for 106m in the first half alone and providing the late offload that led to Gerard Beale's try in the second half.
9. Cameron Smith (Storm)
Looking lively after a week on the Gold Coast, Smith pulled the normally resolute Broncos defence apart from the inside, creating the space for his outside men to cause havoc. Even snuck across for a try of his own.
10. Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
Set the tone early, two of his four offloads leading to line breaks as he racked up 157 run metres and 24 tackles.
11. Angus Crichton (Rabbitohs)
Another starring role from the Rabbitohs tyro, sparking a try for Johnston with a line break and finishing with 144 run metres with six tackle busts.
12. Wade Graham (Sharks)
Sparked the try for Sosaia Feki that gave the Sharks a handy buffer at the break and then hit Ricky Leutele on the chest for the first try of the second half to put Cronulla on their path to a big win over the Roosters.
13. Nathan Brown (Eels)
Inspirational performance in the middle for the Eels in their dour win over the Bulldogs. Played all 82 minutes and finished with 246m from 28 carries along with 41 tackles.
Interchange
14. Michael Morgan (Cowboys)
Owning the Cowboys' playmaking responsibilities in the absence of Johnathan Thurston, scoring two tries himself in the space of four minutes to swing the match his side's way along with two further try assists, five tackle busts and two offloads.
15. Ryan James (Titans)
It's been a somewhat quiet year for the Titans skipper but he and Jarrod Wallace stood up against the big Dragons forwards, James registering 155m and 32 tackles.
16. Luke Lewis (Sharks)
Because when a soon-to-be 34-year-old back-rower can outrun a 20-year-old centre over 90 metres he is an automatic TOTW selection.
17. Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs)
Although he spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin Burgess again inspired his teammates that was as wholehearted in the closing minutes as it was at the start of the game. Scored a try himself, provided the final pass for one of Johnston's five tries and sparked the winger's second with an offload to Cody Walker in centre-field.
