Magic Round has been and gone, and there were some truly terrific performances in front of the raucous rugby league fans at Suncorp Stadium.
A Knights rookie delivered a sensational hat-trick, while a Cowboys flyer came back to haunt his former club.
Meanwhile, several players put their case forward for Origin selection, including a Raiders back rower who was dropped in 2023.
Read below for the full Magic Round Team of the Week!
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FULLBACK
David Armstrong — 3 tries, 228 running metres, 6 tackle busts
No Kalyn Ponga, no worries for the Knights with this rising star stealing the show against the Titans.
He’d scored two tries inside 10 minutes and was damaging through the whole contest in his most complete NRL performance to date.
WINGERS
Xavier Coates — 1 try, 212 running metres, 2 try assists, 1 line break, 3 tackle busts
Coates all-but secured an Origin spot with this display against the Eels.
The barnstorming winger was in everything, scoring one try and assisting two more in an outside backs masterclass.
Braidon Burns — 2 tries, 172 running metres, 3 tackle busts, 1 line break
Who better to make your Cowboys debut against then your old club?
A huge double and a complete performance to help the Cowboys down the Rabbitohs, having only been at the club for a matter of days.
CENTRES
Stephen Crichton — 1 try, 133 running metres, 1 try assist, 5 tackle busts
Despite going down to the Raiders, Crichton was excellent in Round 11.
He scored, ran for 133 metres and carried his side forward whilst also assisting another four-pointer in an impressive display.
Jesse Ramien — 149 running metres, 2 try assists, 1 line break, 2 tackle busts
He’s here yet again. Ramien’s become a regular figure in the Team of the Week and once again deserves his spot with a huge performance.
Ramien is putting together a very strong case for Origin selection and was a huge factor in Cronulla’s win over the Roosters.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad — 134 running metres, 1 try assist, 3 line break assists, 1 line break
The Warriors star was excellent out-of-position in New Zealand’s big win over the Panthers.
He assisted one try and orchestrated three more line breaks in a stellar display alongside Te Maire Martin.
HALFBACK
Te Maire Martin — 3 try assists, 4 line break assists, 597 kicking metres
A complete performance from the Warriors halfback.
He tallied an impressive 3 try assists ad 4 line break assists to go with almost 600 kicking metres, being the mastermind behind his side’s upset win.
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PROPS
Payne Haas — 160 running metres, 6 tackle busts, 1 line break assist, 16 tackles
Has he ever had a bad game?
A barnstorming display from one of the NRL’s best forwards, delivering with the ball in hand to steer the Broncos within striking distance against the Sea Eagles for Jock Madden to kick a field goal.
Jacob Saifiti — 1 try, 140 running metres, 1 try assist, 24 tackles
Saifit’s best game of the season so far for the Knights.
He was able to slice through the line and assists a David Armstrong try, whilst also doing a mountain of work in the middle of the park.
HOOKER
Harry Grant — 2 tries, 1 try assist, 1 line break, 31 tackles, 4 tackle busts
Grant was in everything against the Eels and had a hand in three tries, scoring two of his own.
He delivered without Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and also losing Cameron Munster during the game.
BACK ROWERS
Eliesa Katoa — 1 try, 157 running metres, 2 line breaks, 3 offloads
Katoa has been an attacking weapon for the Storm this season.
He scored a try from a kick, sailing high to put the finishing touches on Melbourne’s win and also ran for 157 running metres.
Hudson Young — 2 tries, 6 tackle busts, 2 line breaks, 33 tackles
He scored a matchwinning try in the 60th minute, only nine minutes after he scored his first.
Young was damaging on the left edge and his performance comes just in time with Michael Maguire’s Origin selection decisions looming.
LOCK
Pat Carrigan — 206 running metres, 27 tackles, 2 tackle busts
As tireless as ever from the Broncos skipper.
He consistely carries the Brisbane outfit forward and never takes a backward step. An automatic selection in the No.13 for Billy Slater and the Maroons.
Source Agencies
