Round 12 of the Hostplus Cup produced some of the best football seen so far this year, with two top four battles and a few major upsets headlining the weekend.
The PNG Hunters kicked off the round with a shock 34-18 victory over the Tweed Seagulls at PNG Football Stadium and the Mackay Cutters then followed it up later on Saturday with their first win of the season over competition heavyweights, Sunshine Coast.
Meanwhile, Souths Logan and Burleigh clashed in a battle of the top two – with the Magpies triumphing – while three v four saw the Brisbane Tigers overcome the Central Queensland Capras.
With a number of thrilling clashes, players across the round put in standout performances in one of the toughest rounds so far.
Trai Fuller and Cody Hunter were huge for the Redcliffe Dolphins while Harry Freebairn led the Northern Pride pack strongly to guide them to a win over the Ipswich Jets and pick up the Hastings Deering player of the match award.
But it was Tigers hooker Tristan Hope’s all-round performance against the Capras that saw him pick up captaincy honours for the Round 12 Team of the Week, as the No.9 made a jaw-dropping 51 tackles through the middle.
Each round, Queensland Rugby League recognises the 17 best performers and names the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week, presented by Hostplus. These team selections are based not only on statistical data, but also take on board live and broadcast viewings of the games.
Round 12 Team of the Week
1. Trai Fuller – Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe sensation was at his red-hot best in Round 12, helping to steer the Dolphins to a convincing win over the Western Clydesdales at Kayo Stadium. Fuller nabbed a double and set up another try, ran for 188 metres, had one line break assist and two line breaks, and 11 tackle busts in a sizzling performance.
2. Brandon Roberts – Central Queensland Capras
In one of the best games of the round, Roberts did what he could to keep the Capras in the tight battle against the Brisbane Tigers on Sunday. Not only did he score two tries – one of which brought Central Queensland within winning distance of the Tigers – but Roberts also ran for 180 metres, had seven tackle breaks and two line breaks.
3. Solomona Faataape – Brisbane Tigers
While Roberts’ stunning efforts didn’t get his side the two points, Faataape celebrated a victory with the Tigers following yet another strong performance in Round 12. The centre scored a try, recorded eight tackle busts and a huge 191 run metres, and also had one line break and one offload.
4. Josh Smith – Mackay Cutters
Smith must be a hero in Mackay this week. The Cutters claimed their first win of the season in a stunning upset over the Sunshine Coast Falcons, with Smith’s try – set up by debutant Dario Takitaki – sealing the deal for the underdogs at Sunshine Coast Stadium. On top of scoring the matchwinner, Smith also notched up a massive 210 run metres and made four tackle breaks, one line break assist, one offload and 13 tackles. Elsewhere, Robert Jennings impressed alongside the rest of the Dolphins backline, scoring one try, running for 195 metres, making two tackle busts and 10 tackles.
5. Will Partridge – Northern Pride
The 26-year-old winger helped his team stave off an Ipswich Jets comeback on Sunday. Partridge scored two tries and kicked five from five conversions to get the 30-18 victory. He also ran for an impressive 192 metres and made three tackle busts and two line breaks. Other standout wingers in Round 12 included Central Queensland’s Edrick Lee and Burleigh’s Ken Maumalo, who both earned a double.
6. Gerome Burns – Ipswich Jets
A number of five-eighths stood up in Round 12 to shine for their teams. But Ipswich No.6 Gerome Burns was particularly inspirational in the Jets’ narrow loss to the Northern Pride on Sunday. Burns sparked his team’s comeback against the Pride, dazzling with his footwork and ball skills. He was extremely dangerous with the ball in hand as he scored a try, ran for 211 metres, had a jaw-dropping 10 tackle busts, three offloads, three line breaks and one line break assist, as well as 19 tackles with only one missed. Elsewhere, Redcliffe’s Cameron Cullen and Wynnum Manly’s Josh Rogers also impressed. Cullen scored a try, ran for 144 metres and had four tackle breaks while Rogers also earned a four-pointer and set up another two tries in his side’s win over Townsville.
7. Cody Hunter – Redcliffe Dolphins
The Dolphins’ backline was on fire against the Western Clydesdales on Saturday and Hunter was a key part of this performance. The Dolphins NRL-affiliated playmaker scored two tries and kicked six from eight conversions. Hunter also ran for 101 metres, had three tackle busts, two line breaks and 18 tackles.
8. Bailey Butler – Central Queensland Capras
The Capras wrecking ball was at it again in Round 12, putting in a destructive performance against the Tigers pack at Totally Workwear Stadium. Butler amassed 226 run metres – 109 post-contact metres – and had three tackle busts and 18 tackles in an influential 57-minute stint.
9. Tristan Hope – Brisbane Tigers (C)
The forward battle between the Capras and Tigers was one of the most entertaining aspects of Sunday’s Round 12 clash and Hope was an integral part of the Brisbane pack. In a week where a number of hookers starred, Hope put in an inspirational all-round performance to not only help the Tigers get the two points but to earn Team of the Week captaincy honours. Hope scored one of the tries of the round – picking up a Jack Miers kick that hit the goalposts – and made an incredible 51 tackles through the middle. He also ran for 113 metres and had two tackle busts. Elsewhere, Rhys Jacks made 56 tackles as he tried to do all he could to get Ipswich the two points against the Pride.
10. JJ Collins – Central Queensland Capras
The Butler and Collins combination at the Capras is one of the most devastating front rows in the competition this season. Backing up Butler’s efforts against the Tigers, Dolphins NRL-affiliate Collins also notched up just over 200 run metres and made two tackle breaks, one offload and 21 tackles in a 63-minute performance. Elsewhere in Round 12, Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi continued his breakout season for the Northern Pride with 190 run metres while Sam McIntyre aimed up against Wynnum Manly, scoring a try and running for 196 metres for Townsville. PNG’s Junior Rop was also key in their upset over Tweed, scoring the final try of the match.
11. Ewan Moore – Northern Pride
Moore played a hand in nearly everything the Pride did against the Jets on Sunday. Not only did the backrower score a try but he set up another two for his team. He ran for 122 metres, had two line break assists, two offloads and one tackle bust, and made 20 tackles.
12. Poasa Faamausili – Redcliffe Dolphins
Faamausili troubled the Western Clydesdales on Saturday, with a strong performance on the edge. The NRL affiliate finished with 172 run metres, two tackle busts and 20 tackles under his belt in another big week for Redcliffe. Elsewhere, PNG’s Epel Kapinias ran for 130 metres and made three tackle busts and 19 tackles against the Tweed Seagulls on Saturday.
13. Rory Ferguson – Souths Logan Magpies
The Souths Logan skipper was inspirational for his side in one of their toughest battles yet, as the Magpies beat the Burleigh Bears to take home the two points and leapfrog them into top spot on the Hostplus Cup ladder. Ferguson led from the front in a captain’s knock, running for 172 metres, recording three tackle busts and making 33 tackles. Elsewhere in Round 12, Tariq Sims and Lachlan Hubner stood up strongly for the Brisbane Tigers and Central Queensland Capras respectively while Sam Coster was huge on the opposite side of the park to Ferguson, making 43 tackles for the Bears.
14. Harry Freebairn – Northern Pride (VC)
Freebairn shone in difficult conditions in the Pride’s road trip to Ipswich. The hooker controlled the game through the middle, made a team-high 24 tackles and showed plenty of leadership steering the side around to earn Hastings Deering player of the match honours.
15. Gideon Gela-Mosby – Wynnum Manly Seagulls
The winger could not be stopped in a monstrous performance to help Wynnum Manly continue on its winning streak. Gela-Mosby had a try, 256 metres gained – including a team-high 74 metres post-contact – four tackle breaks and an intercept in the victory.
16. Sean Mullany – Mackay Cutters
Mullany has been one of the Cutters’ best all season and it’s no surprise he played a significant role in their first win of the season over Sunshine Coast. The lock had 163 metres gained, three tackle breaks, one offload and 37 tackles in the breakthrough win.
17. Blake Mozer – Souths Logan Magpies
The crafty No.9 continues to grow in stature for Souths Logan and was instrumental in setting the tone for the win over Burleigh. Brisbane Broncos-contracted Mozer scored two tries in the opening nine minutes, made two line breaks, had one line break assist, one try assist, four tackle breaks and 26 tackles in another standout effort.