1. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos – last week: 1st)
v Parramatta – 66 minutes, 16 runs, 134 metres, 39 post contact, 4 tackle breaks, 3 offloads, 37 tackles, 3 missed, 3 ineffective
Haas bounced back from one of his quieter performances last week with a strong outing in Brisbane’s loss to Parramatta. Haas, who averages 165.2 metres and has a 91.3% tackle efficiency, will miss Origin 2 through injury.
2. Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks – 2nd)
v Canberra – 80 minutes, 8 runs, 66 metres, 5 tackle breaks, 1 offload, 33 tackles, 2 missed, 3 errors
Nikora’s running metres were slightly down in Cronulla’s loss to the Raiders, although the back rower still made 33 tackles and broke five. He has been named to make his Test debut for New Zealand this weekend.
3. Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels – 3rd)
v Brisbane – 1 try, 17 runs, 159 metres, 49 post contact, 1 line break, 4 tackle breaks, 1 offload, 2 tackles, 0 missed, 1 error
Sivo was back to his best in Parramatta’s big win over the Broncos at Bankwest. He scored his 12th try of the year and ran for 159 metres. He will make his Test debut for Fiji this weekend against Lebanon.
4. Jack Williams (Cronulla Sharks – 5th)
v Canberra – 43 minutes, 10 runs, 110 metres, 32 post contact, 1 tackle break, 20 tackles, 0 missed, 1 penalty conceded
Williams was a workhorse off the bench for Cronulla once again in their loss to Canberra. In 43 minutes, he ran for 110 metres and made 20 tackles without a miss. His tackle efficiency is at 91% for the season.
5. Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla Sharks – 6th)
v Canberra – 34 minutes, 1 try, 11 runs, 115 metres, 25 post contact, 1 line break, 5 tackle breaks, 1 offload, 16 tackles, 0 missed, 1 error
Hamlin-Uele continues to rise up the rankings with another blockbusting performance off the interchange for Cronulla. He scored his third try of the year and ran for 115 metres, breaking five tackles.
6. Bronson Xerri (Cronulla Sharks – 4th)
v Canberra – 25 minutes, 3 runs, 33 metres, 2 tackles, 0 missed, 1 ineffective
Xerri drops a few places in the rankings, although through no fault of his own. The 18-year old centre left the field in the 25th minute for a HIA and did not return.
7. Cade Cust (Manly Sea Eagles – 10th)
v St George Illawarra – 1 try, 12 runs, 83 metres, 29 post contact, 1 line break, 1 try assist, 3 tackle breaks, 19 tackles, 3 missed, 2 ineffective, 5 kicks, 91 metres, 1 penalty conceded
Cust scored his third try in three games in Manly’s dominant win over the Dragons on Saturday afternoon. He added 83 metres and a try assist in another promising performance.
8. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers – 9th)
v South Sydney – 1 try, 21 runs, 129 metres, 31 post contact, 2 line breaks, 6 tackle breaks, 5 tackles, 0 missed, 1 error
To’o crossed for his first NRL try in Penrith’s one-point win over South Sydney. He has proven to be a reliable metre-eater and tackle breaker in his short career so far, averaging 165.5 metres and 4.4 per game.
9. Thomas Mikaele (Wests Tigers – not ranked)
v North Queensland – 34 minutes, 9 runs, 122 metres, 53 post contact, 1 tackle break, 20 tackles, 1 missed, 2 ineffective
Mikaele returns to the rankings after a great performance off the bench in the Tigers’ golden point win over the Cowboys. The Ipswich junior ran for 122 metres and made 20 tackles in 34 minutes.
10. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers – not ranked)
v South Sydney – 80 minutes, 18 runs, 120 metres, 46 post contact, 1 tackle break, 2 offloads, 43 tackles, 6 missed, 3 errors
Martin has made the #13 jersey his own in the last few weeks for the Panthers. In their win over the Rabbitohs, he played the full 80 minutes, running for 120 metres and making 43 tackles.
Honourable mentions:
- Blayke Brailey started at hooker for the first time in his career in Cronulla’s loss to Canberra. He played the full 80, making 45 tackles for just one miss.
- Jai Whitbread ran for 74 metres off the bench in the Titans’ loss to the Warriors. The South Tweed junior averages 84.7 per game.
- Reuben Garrick has proven to be an astute buy for the Sea Eagles in 2019. He scored a try, kicked five goals and ran for 146 metres in their win over the Dragons.
- Marion Seve, who will make his Test debut for Samoa this weekend, was strong in Melbourne’s win over Newcastle, scoring a try and running for 154 metres.
- Sitili Tupouniua continues to add energy off the bench for the Roosters, scoring his first NRL try in their big win over Canterbury.
The 18th Man’s Rookie Rankings, released after each round, take into account a player’s previous round performance and their season as a whole.
We are using the NRL’s criteria for Dally M Rookie of the Year; the player must not have played more than four NRL games prior to the current season to qualify. Unlike the NRL, a player won’t be taken off the rankings if he becomes ineligible through suspension.
18TH MAN 