LU Team of the Week - Round 9

As chosen by our Live Updaters, we reveal our best 17 of the ninth round of the 2016 NRL Season, together with a full list of LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points.

Fullback - Cameron Munster (Storm)
Dominant at fullback. Billy who? Two outstanding line breaks, two try assists and 158 running metres.

Wing - Jordan Rankin (Wests Tigers) and Clinton Gutherson (Eels)
With two tries and a host of good runs filling in for fullback James Tedesco, the former Titan showed plenty of promise for the visitors. Meanwhile at halftime Michael Gordon was taken off injured for Parramatta, pushing Gutherson to fullback - and just before halftime he'd run 50m off a controversial pass and stepped Hopoate to score! Finished with 194 metres and 2 line breaks.

Centres - Blake Ferguson (Roosters) and Tohu Harris (Storm)
I know it's cliche to award points to someone who scored a triple, but Ferguson really did tear the Knights apart. 120 metres, 3 tries, offloads, line breaks - the massive defensive read mistake in the first half was his only blight on a strong performance. Harris deputised at centre again as injuries impacted the Storm before kickoff against the Titans, hitting and spinning over the line for a try of his own, plus another five tackle breaks throughout the game.

Halves - Jackson Hastings (Roosters) and Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Hastings kicked everything he had the opportunity to, made line breaks, and just looked the part every time he touched the ball. Hastings alone had better stats than most of the Knights put together. JT's leadership and ball work controlled the game to keep the Sea Eagles at bay. His hands crafted two four-pointers and his kicking game gave the hosts no room to move.

Front Rowers - James Graham (Bulldogs) and Jacob Lillyman (Warriors)
The Bulldogs prop was tireless as usual in his side's 8-point loss to the Eels - 167 metres and a mammoth 48 tackles in a beaten side is nothing to scoff at. With a number of his forwards out, Lillyman was asked to step up and play big minutes. Step up he did. Running for almost 100 metres in the first half alone, Lillyman led from the front in a young side.

Hooker - Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
Coming up with a strong performance when his club needed it, the Tigers' veteran toiled away to help break the six game losing run. Chiming in with 46 tackles and two try-assists, the battle for the NSW hooker position looks set to be an intriguing one.

Second Rowers - Bryce Cartwright (Panthers) and Aidan Guerra (Roosters)
Cartwright had a dominant first half performance in attack and defence which paved the way for Penrith to hold on. Cartwright boasts a try, try assist, 195 running metres, 30 tackles and a bucket load of offloads in what was a particularly pleasing defensive effort. Guerra? He just kept popping up in the right places. As well as running for almost 150 metres, he broke several tackles and made half-breaks that kept the Knights on their toes all game.

Lock - Dale Finucane (Storm)
Big shift from the Storm lock, putting in a team-high 32 tackles and equalling Munster's 158 running metres in nine less minutes on the park.

Interchange
James Maloney (Sharks)
Shaun Johnson (Warriors)
Corey Norman (Eels)
Michael Morgan (Cowboys)

Honourable mentions: Corey Parker (Broncos), Cooper Cronk (Storm), Ben Barba (Sharks), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year Points - NRL Round 9

Wests Tigers 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 22
Judge: Robert Crosby
3 points - Robbie Farah
2 points - Jordan Rankin
1 point - Nathan Brown

Parramatta Eels 20 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12
Judge: Jamie Mancini
3 points - Clinton Gutherson
2 points - Corey Norman
1 point - Nathan Peats

Penrith Panthers 19 Canberra Raiders 18
Judge: Andrew Jackson
3 points - Bryce Cartwright
2 points - Tyrone Peachey
1 point - Jack Wighton

Sydney Roosters 38 Newcastle Knights 0
Judge: Coby Delaney
3 points - Jackson Hastings
2 points - Blake Ferguson
1 point - Aidan Guerra

North Queensland Cowboys 34 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18
Judge: Aaron Thomas
3 points - Johnathan Thurston
2 points - Michael Morgan
1 point - Jason Taumalolo

Warriors 26 St George Illawarra Dragons 10
Judge: Coby Delaney
3 points - Shaun Johnson
2 points - Jacob Lillyman
1 point - Jeff Robson

Melbourne Storm 38 Gold Coast Titans 0
Judge: Tim Costello
3 points - Cameron Munster
2 points - Cooper Cronk
1 point - Dale Finucane

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30 Brisbane Broncos 28
Judge: Coby Delaney
3 points - James Maloney
2 points - Ben Barba
1 point - Corey Parker

2016 LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year Leaderboard - after Round 9

13 points - Cooper Cronk

12 points - Johnathan Thurston

11 points - Ben Barba

10 points - Anthony Milford, Gareth Widdop, Shaun Johnson

9 points - Moses Mbye

8 points - James Tedesco, Josh Dugan, Josh Hodgson, Jackson Hastings, Cameron Munster, Bryce Cartwright

7 points - Michael Ennis, Jesse Bromwich, Jason Taumalolo

6 points - Ethan Lowe, Ryan James, Jamie Lyon, Michael Morgan

5 points - Mitchell Moses, Ben Hunt, Corey Oates, Lachlan Coote, Tyrone Peachey, Corey Norman

4 points - Ken Edwards, Greg Inglis, Zeb Taia, Josh Papalii, Ashley Taylor, Michael Gordon, Apisai Koroisau, Kyle Feldt, Kerrod Holland, Chad Townsend, Jack de Belin, Tom Trbojevic, Will Hopoate, Corey Parker, James Maloney

3 points - Josh Reynolds, Shaun Fensom, Darius Boyd, Sam Burgess, Semi Radradra, Iosia Soliola, Matt Parcell, James Graham, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, James Roberts, Manu Ma'u, Cameron McInnes, Jordan Kahu, Andrew Fifita, Dylan Napa, Steve Matai, Trent Hodkinson, Latrell Mitchell, Michael Jennings, Jamie Soward, Paul Gallen, Cameron Smith, Jordan Rankin, Robbie Farah, Clinton Gutherson

2 points - Sam Kasiano, Aidan Sezer, Sauaso Sue, Adam Reynolds, Tyrone Roberts, Sam McKendry, Aaron Gray, Will Chambers, Aiden Tolman, Jarrod Mullen, Te Maire Martin, Junior Paulo, Solomone Kata, Jason Nightingale, Josh Mansour, Sam Thaiday, Robbie Rochow, Valentine Holmes, Jarrod Croker, Beau Scott, Isaac De Gois, Suliasi Vunivalu, Matt Moylan, Josh Jackson, Jordan Rapana, Gavin Cooper, James Fisher-Harris, Nathan Peats, Tyrone Peachey, Blake Ferguson, Jacob Lillyman

1 point - Trent Merrin, James Gavet, Joe Burgess, Agnatius Paasi, Luke Brooks, Young Tonumaipea, David Fifita, Cody Walker, Sam Williams, Bodene Thompson, Elliot Whitehead, Kevin Naiqama, Mitch Rein, Aaron Woods, David Shillington, Josh Morris, Josh McGuire, Blake Green, Issac Luke, Jake Friend, Jake Granville, Nathan Ross, Sam Perrett, Addin Fonua-Blake, Tuimoala Lolohea, Kodi Nikorima, Greg Bird, Paul Vaughan, Kieran Foran, Jake Trbojevic, Ryan Matterson, Nathan Brown, Jack Wighton, Aidan Guerra, Jeff Robson, Dale Finucane