Our NRL Team of the Week: Round 18 — Tedesco goes huge, Hughes brilliance

In another week chock full of golden point battles and vital State of Origin auditions, footy fans were treated to some absolutely stellar footy, helped on by thirteen of the best for the week.

Here’s the standout NRL players from Round 18, as selected by The Sporting Base team.

NRL Team of the Week: Round 18

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1. James Tedesco (Roosters)

A wild 14 tackle busts against the Dragons. The Sunday scoreline eventually blew out to a 30-point margin and Tedesco’s 293 metres and four try involvements played a huge role.

2. Jason Saab (Sea Eagles)

He’s under an injury cloud now, but before he went down Saab managed to score a hat-trick against the Cowboys in what eventually turned into a field goal shootout. Three line breaks and six tackle busts only helped his cause.

3. Dane Gagai (Knights)

Did enough to earn a Queensland recall. Blasted the Raiders with two tries in his audition.

4. Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles)

Kicked four from four to keep Manly level with North Queensland long enough for Daly Cherry-Evans to (eventually) ice the game. Nearly ticked up 200 metres pushing the Sea Eagles out on sets for 90 minutes.

5. Brian To’o (Panthers)

Ran for 172 metres and grabbed a try, a line break, and four massive tackle busts. The prototype modern winger.

6. Tyran Wishart (Storm)

May have played second fiddle to Dally M contender Hughes on Saturday, but still dominated in his own right with a try in the 68th minute and six goals. Three tackle breaks and a stint at hooker only made his Round 18 run look better.

7. Jahrome Hughes (Storm)

This Sporting Base writer would be giving Hughes the Dally M this season—and that can’t be that controversial. Melbourne lead the ladder and a big part of that minor premiership charge comes down to the Storm halfback. Laid on three more try assists, made four tackle busts against the Tigers, and even made 14 tackles with zero misses. He can do it all.

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8. Max King (Bulldogs)

Made 58 tackles without missing one, and that was in 68 minutes in the middle. Battled Mitchell Barnett (who pops up later) and Addin Fonua-Blake and made it look easy.

9. Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

Was the difference in the Bulldogs vs. Warriors battle when he charged down a field goal attempt that definitely would have landed home. All guts to pull something like that off more than 80 minutes into any match.

10. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

In his final game before a Blues callup, Barnett proved why he must play Origin. Five offloads, 208 metres, and a whopping 51 tackles.

11. Angus Crichton (Roosters)

While some players relax a little after bagging a big extension, Crichton just seems to be getting better and better after re-signing with the Roosters. Will go into the Blues’ Origin decider mile-high on confidence after carving up the Dragons. Six tackle busts against the Red V set the stage for his key try and 165 metres.

12. Eliesa Katoa (Storm)

There may not be any player in our game better at scoring trys at short range. Did it again on Saturday.

13. Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

Koloamatangi has found his position in lock; Ben Hornby has got this one very, very right. Build the platform for the Bunnies’ victory.