Round 26 Team of the Week

The sweet smell of September is in the air and with it finals footy. But before we launch into the McIntyre 8 it?s worth noting that the final week of the regular season was an absolute bell-ringer with some tight results and burgeoning crowds across the board. So here?s the Round 26 League Unlimited Team of the Week and the final one for this season.

Fullback: Justin Hodges (Broncos) ? Still in outstanding touch at the back and Benny would be crazy to move him right now. Hodges carries the ball back exceptionally well and has been pitching in with tries lately, scoring two against the Warriors and holding some other well performed fullbacks out.

Wing: Amos Roberts (Roosters) ? Mossy was the only light for the Roosters as they started fast but died just as quickly against the Dragons. He scored two tries, one a brilliant effort from a kick and he?s been a very exciting player all year.

Centre: Phillip Graham (Raiders) ? The Canberra speedster was in fine touch at Shark Park, carving up out wide on several occasions. He worked well with five-eighth Carney and I?m sure he?ll be up for some more action this week.

Centre: Greg Inglis (Storm) ? A great centre pairing here with young gun Inglis getting a run. He?s in devastating form at the moment and will be a key player in the Storm?s surge for the 2006 title.

Wing: Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs) ? This nuggetty little winger proved that goal-kicking is still a valuable art. With both sides scoring five tries, El Magic?s perfect record with the boot separated the two clubs and got the Doggies home.

Five-eighth: Darren Lockyer (Broncos) ? Locky had another solid game and has been finding good form recently. He?ll need to take another step up and looks capable of doing so given the current purple patch Brisbane are going through. Todd Carney?s a little hard done by here as well.

Halfback: Scott Prince (Tigers) ? In his last game for the club Prince put on a great show for the locals at Leichhardt. He controlled the game from whoa-to-go, setting up several tries and adding seven goals just for good measure.

Lock: Alan Tongue (Raiders) ? A typical workhorse routine from Tongue who?s now made more tackles in a year than anyone else ever has. He snapped up a nice try and just kept plugging away to keep the Raiders in front.

Second-row: Michael Crocker (Storm) ? The Angry Calf has been slowly easing his way back into first grade and his performance against Manly was a good ?un. He crossed the stripe and with all the time he?s spent on the sidelines this year he should be pretty fresh for the finals.

Second-row: Chris Heighington (Tigers) ? Quite an amazing performance from this Tiger, who finds himself in the Team of the Week for the first time. Completed a brace against the Bunnies as Wests went nuts in their final game of the season.

Prop: Shane Tronc (Cowboys) ? We?ve got to pay tribute to Tronc this week after rediscovering some of his best form. He?s struggled for most of the season but hit back with a vengeance against in front of a great home crowd.

Hooker: Cameron Smith (Storm) ? Our Player of the Year for 2006. Smith was also awarded something pretty fancy by the NRL on Tuesday night and it?s no surprise to see him putting his noggin between two blockheads in our Team of the Week.

Prop: John Skandalis (Tigers) ? A bit sentimental, but deserved nonetheless. Skando played his last game in the NRL on Sunday and he?ll join us one more time as well. He?s been a great warhorse for us over the years and we?ll miss you dearly big fella.

Interchange: Matt Bowen (Cowboys), Luke Patten (Bulldogs), Shaun Berrigan (Broncos), Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles).

An unusual bench here with three fullbacks and a hooker come centre who?s playing halfback at the moment. All four players have been in great touch a the moment and warrant selection in the team based on their performances.

Merkin of the Week Award for Stupidity: I have to give the Merkin to the Sharkies this week. 10 losses in a row is just terrible and it couldn?t have been summed up any better by Luke Covell?s failed penalty goal in the 78th minute. Take your sleeping bags down to Northies boys!