The Mole's round 16 Team of the Week: One Bulldogs player putting 'tackle shy' teammates to 'shame'

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Round 16 team of the week's sole Dog​

Despite being hammered by the Sharks, one Bulldogs player put up such a brave effort he was named in The Mole's round 16 Team of the Week.

1. Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)​

Had a fine game at the back and scored the match-winning golden point try against the Panthers.

2. Will Warbrick (Storm)​

Bagged four tries as the Storm ran over the top of the Tigers at Campbelltown.

3. Bailey Simonsson (Eels)​

Scored two tries and had more running metres than anyone on the field as the Eels humbled the Sea Eagles.

4. Dane Gagai (Knights)​

Outstanding in a beaten side, setting up a try, making 10 tackle breaks and a line break in the narrow loss to the Roosters.

5. Daniel Tupou (Roosters)​

Made nearly 300 metres and scored a vital try as the Roosters out-lasted the Knights.

6. Tom Dearden (Cowboys)​

Came up with some massive plays in attack and defence as the Cowboys edged out the Panthers in Townsville.

7. Jahrome Hughes (Storm)​

With several big names missing, took control as only he can as the Storm outclassed the Tigers at Campbelltown.

8. Alex Twal (Tigers)​

Gets a spot for scoring his much-awaited first career try after 100 plus games for the Tigers in one of the season's memorable moments at Campbelltown.

9. Blayke Brailey (Sharks)​

Scheming and probing at dummyhalf, he cut the Bulldogs defence to pieces with his clever work.

10. Nat Butcher (Roosters)​

Moved to the middle and stood out, scoring his team's opening try and making a mountain of tackles against the Knights.

11. Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)​

Put some of his fellow tackle-shy Bulldogs forwards to shame with his big hitting, topping the team's tackle count in the big loss to the Sharks.

12. Briton Nikora (Sharks)​

Celebrated his 100th game by scoring a try, topping the Sharks tackle count and running for over 100 metres against the Bulldogs.

13. J'maine Hopgood (Eels)​

Scored a smart try, made plenty of hard yards and troubled Manly with his offloads in another fine all-round display.

 

[BomberBurton]

How many decades have we signed Preston for?

 

[Captain Ibis]

At least till the end of 2027.

You know a kid is genuine when he could have easily held out and watched the offers pour in!

 

[spiritofaslan]

Can someone explain why we don't play Okunbor and Waddell (or even Alamoti) in the second row, with Preston at lock?

He's an 80 minute player, and would toughen up our soft defence up the middle.

By moving Alamoti to second row, it gives us other centre options too (or someone like Burns / Perham at centre, with Skelton on the wing.