Our NRL Team of the Week — Round 1: Ageless DCE, vintage Yeo

Footy is finally back for 2025 (or at least, with points on the line in Australia), and some players have come back with a stunning bang, including the ageless Daly Cherry-Evans — farewell tour, anyone? — backline machines Robert Toia and Jack Howarth, and a vintage Isaah Yeo.

Here’s the standout NRL players from Round 1, as selected by The Sporting Base team.

NRL Team of the Week: Round 1

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1. Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

Was the key to the Knights getting one over the rebuilding Wests Tigers in week one. Fullback spot could have very, very easily gone to Ryan Papenhyuzen or Tom Trbojevic but I’d argue their teams win without them. Newcastle doesn’t get it done without Ponga.

2. Jesse Arthars (Broncos)

Toweled up Dominic Young on the way to two assists and three line breaks in the Broncos’ 36-point victory.

3. Robert Toia (Roosters)

Sydney was soundly beaten 50-14 in Vegas but debutant Toia was mighty in the losing side; two assists, five tackle breaks, a line break, 141 running metres, and a bucketload of NRL Fantasy points, for anyone that tracks that.

4. Jack Howarth (Storm)

We’ve been waiting for this Jack Howarth. Two assists, seven tackle busts, two line breaks, and a bumper 249 run metres. Melbourne blew Parramatta away and Howarth was one of the biggest bombs that landed at AAMI Park.

5. Xavier Savage (Raiders)

Was among the best in Vegas with a double against the New Zealand Warriors in the biggest game of the away weekend.

6. Fletcher Sharpe (Knights)

Electric in the halves once the Knights got going. Considering how many doubted his positional swap — or rather his move back to his juniors role — Sharpe was the goods. Seven tackle busts, two line breaks, 128 metres.

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7. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)

The biggest reason why we left “Turbo” out at number one — it was the “DCE” show at Brookvale as the NRL’s oldest star showed exactly what he’s considering playing on beyond 2025. Set up three against the hapless Cowboys and even got on the scoreboard in the 54th minute.

8. Payne Haas (Broncos)

We can just rattle off Haas’ stats in his 49 minutes: Nine tackle breaks, 67 post contact metres from 15 runs, four offloads, 22 tackles (zero missed), 167 running metres, and all that in one of his shortest spells in ages.

9. Harry Grant (Storm)

Kept it simple out of dummy half, was right in the middle of the Sunday’s Eels bloodbath.

10. Moses Leota (Panthers)

Easily slotted into the lead role for the Panthers with James Fisher Harris now at the Warriors. Made 27 tackles, missed zero.

11. Dylan Lucas (Knights)

You won’t see Lucas outside the Knights starting thirteen for some time now. All over the park against the Tigers, ran for 150 metres.

12. Sitili Topouniua (Bulldogs)

Sydney would have been watching on Saturday, kicking themselves; the Bulldogs and Dragons were in a tight armwrestle until Topouniua took the game by the scruff. Early smokey for signing of the season here.

13. Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

At his usual imperious best, added a solid linebreak try in his Vegas outing. Maybe the best 13 we’ve ever seen.