Panthers v Broncos preview
7 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
The weekly column here at Leagueunlimited is to highlight what we here on the site think are the best players in each round of the 2004 NRL competition. Based on the opinion received from the Leagueunlimited.com live updaters, we have put together what we think is the team of the Round 13.
Once again representative honours were up for grabs as the second State of Origin match looms up on the horizon, and a lot of players looking for that honour played out of their skins. Unlucky for some, Round 13 dished up its fair share of surprises as the results on the field show.
Leagueunlimited Team of the Week - Round 13:
1. Brett Hodgson - Although his team lost to the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night, they gave the home side a fright when they came back hard in the latter stages of the match. Hodgson once again carved up the defence, getting involved in everything. A good night for him with the boot as well netting 4/4.
2. Nathan Merritt - The move from the Rabbitohs has proven fruitful for Nathan Merritt. The Sharks speedster showed his worth in the game against the Broncos on Sunday in Brisbane. Looking for work, he was finally rewarded late in the game with a four pointer.
3. Timana Tahu - Returning from injury once Tahu settled into the game, he looked as though he hadn't been away. A try early in the match settled him in nicely although his side went down to an Eels side that made a late charge. Tahu has also been named in the NSW Origin side for the next game in Brisbane.
4. Willie Tonga - Willie Tonga was electrifying in the Bulldogs big win over the competition leaders the Roosters on Friday night. The Bulldogs centre was at his best, causing plenty of problems for the Roosters and helping himself to a hat-trick of tries in the process.
5. Jamaal Lolesi - Lolesi was wise to stick with his team-mate on Friday night when the Bulldogs took to the Roosters and regained a bit of pride. With Tonga on fire, between the two of them they caused havoc amongst the Roosters' defence. Lolesi rewarded with a try late in the match.
6. Jason Croker - A fired up Warriors outfit in Auckland was more than a match for the losing Raiders side on Sunday. Croker with his experience tried to put players through holes that closed up pretty quickly. It was his defence that stood out, the score could easily have been higher if not for his solid tackling.
7. Stacey Jones - Although the NZ Warriors will be fined for Jones not playing in the number 6 jersey where he was originally named, finally Stacey Jones played like the Stacey Jones everyone has been looking for. The little general was back to his best on Sunday, guiding the Warriors to a win over the Canberra Raiders.
8. Paul Rauhihi - Rauhihi has been consistently good for the Cowboys in 2004. He produced yet another strong game for the North Queensland side on Saturday night to help get them past the Dragons and into the top eight.
9. Michael Sullivan - Sullivan carves up the defence running from dummy half, and is improving with each match he plays. Allowing the Sharks attack the go forward needed against the Broncos, the job was made easier with the little runs Sullivan produced in the game.
10. Mark O'Meley - Cementing his place for the second SOO match in Brisbane, O'Meley was on fire in the game against the Roosters on Friday night. In a complete performance by the Bulldogs for the whole 80 minutes, O'Meley seemed at times to be unstoppable as he piled over the Roosters players like a steam roller.
11. Nathan Hindmarsh - Hindmarsh would be one of the top workhorses in the game and showed this with his performance against Newcastle on Saturday night. An absolute workaholic in the Eels back row, he helped pave the way, and lifted his side, for the Eels narrow win over the Knights.
12. Andrew Ryan - Ryan was another Bulldogs forward to earn a spot in the second Origin game. His defence is as solid as a rock, and his strength saw him bust through the Roosters defence on a number of ocassions on Friday night.
13. Luke Williamson - Originally named on the bench for the Sea Eagles match against the Panthers, Williamson not only was sound on defence, he scored 2 tries against an injury ravaged Panthers side and scored them well.
Interchange:
14. Matt Orford - Orford was instrumental in his side's close win over the Tigers on Saturday night in Melbourne. His kicking was sound as he took over the duties from Smith. His 70 metre run to set up Johnson's try late in the first half lifted the side as they went on to tough out the win.
15. Monty Beetham - The Warriors captain led from the front against Canberra in a typically aggressive fashion. His second match back from a broken arm, and Beetham looked in control of his side and his confrontations with the ref.
16. David Kidwell - Kidwell had a fine game against the Tigers on Saturday night in Melbourne. His try early in the second half leading the way for a 14 point buffer which helped secure their win at against a Tigers side coming back strong late in the game.
17. Paul Bowman - In a close game for the Cowboys over the Dragons at WIN Stadium on Saturday night, Bowman was one of the more experienced players that stepped up for the visitors. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he is set to start for the Maroons in the second Origin match in Brisbane.