NRL 2019: Round 9 Team of the Week

James Pavey

NRL 2019: Round 9 Team of the Week image

Magic Round has been run and won, and still, the gap between the top and bottom teams is widening.

The battle for Sydney supremacy is still firmly on, with the Roosters and Rabbitohs separated by points difference at the top.

However, Melbourne woke from their slumber to send a statement with an almighty 64-10 drubbing of Parramatta.

Newcastle kept on their merry way, while Brisbane found theirs over an injury-ravaged Manly.

The Sharks, Tigers and Warriors also jumped on the winners' list at Suncorp Stadium.

Check out Sporting News' team of the week from the ninth round of the 2019 NRL season.

FULLBACK

The Roosters sealed their eighth win on the bounce, and they had James Tedesco largely to thank. The dynamo cut apart the Raiders down the left, scoring a try, setting up three, running for 199 metres and making two line breaks. Handshakes.

James Tedesco

WINGERS

When a team wins 64-10, you'd think their wingers would get amongst it. Josh Addo-Carr did, scoring two tries and running for 180 metres as Melbourne annihilated Parramatta. Corey Oates also kept his foot on the throat, again proving his worth to the Broncos faithful with a try and 256 run metres against Manly.

Josh Addo-Carr

CENTRES

It was unfair to see Curtis Scott leave the field with a broken foot. In 59 minutes, Scott posted a whopping 262 run metres and also put his hand up for try of the season, running from end to end, dodging Eels players like he was in a minefield. A man over 11 years his senior, Josh Morris, wound back the clock for Cronulla to score the Sharks' first two tries in their win over the Titans.

Curtis Scott

HALVES

How many more superlatives can you slap on Cameron Munster? The Storm five-eighth walked all over the Eels, scoring two tries and laying on another, and even posting some big run metres. Mitchell Pearce steered Newcastle to a third win on the bounce and scored a try over the Gold Coast, just pipping Chad Townsend in our team of the week.

Cameron Munster

PROPS

He's having a big 2019, and it got bigger for Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho against the Raiders. The Tonga international ran for 263 metres from just 23 runs, and also made 28 tackles. Two days earlier, Brisbane's teenage sensation Payne Haas lit up Suncorp with 202 run metres in just 61 minutes, and also made 32 tackles.

Payne Haas

HOOKER

The consistency of Damien Cook will be keeping Brad Fittler in a great mood. The Bunnies rake tore the Cowboys to shreds in the first half on Sunday. All up, he scored a try, made two line breaks, two line break assists, three try assists and topped it off with 51 tackles. Huge.

Damien Cook

SECOND ROW

Wests Tigers knew what they'd get from Ryan Matterson when they signed him, and against Penrith, they got another good look. Matterson turned it on, running for 155 metres, making a line break, line break assist and two try assists. Meanwhile, Souths skipper Sam Burgess was again solid, running for 156 metres and scoring a pie in a smart 80-minute showing.

Ryan Matterson

LOCK

A serious Origin bolter, Cameron Murray made 31 tackles in a contest that ebbed and flowed as the Cowboys worked themselves into the game. With a try and 113 run metres, Murray again proved his status as one of the game's brightest young talents.

Cameron Murray

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo