RLPA.com.au will be providing a new weekly feature article on the performances of NRL rookies each round and highlighting who is in contention for the end-of-season Rookie of the Year award at the Players’ Champion.
Every Monday, RLPA.com.au will look at which rookies made a considerable impact in the weekend’s matches and provide their notable statistics.
So far this season, 26 players have made their first grade debut and are in contention for the honour which was taken out by Rabbitohs’ utility Cody Walker in 2016.
Other recent winners of the RLPA Rookie of the Year honour include Cameron Munster, Luke Brooks and George Burgess.
Three players debuted in Round 6, with Malakai Watene-Zelezniak from the Penrith Panthers, Hame Sele from the Dragons and Morgan Boyle from the Gold Coast Titans making their way into the NRL.
Bulldogs duo Marcelo Montoya and Matt Frawley were among the standout performers from the weekend, with Montoya scoring a double and Frawley making a huge impact in the halves against Newcastle.
Corey Harawira-Naera and Nick Cotric continued their strong run of form early in the season.
NRL – ROUND 6
Broncos vs Roosters
No rookies played.
Knights vs Bulldogs
Luke Yates (Newcastle) – 27 minutes, 41 metres, 17 tackles.
Brad Abbey (Bulldogs) – 26 minutes, 49 metres.
Marcelo Montoya (Bulldogs) – 78 minutes, 88 metres, 2 tries, 3 line-breaks
Matt Frawley (Bulldogs) – 55 minutes, 79 metres, 10 tackles, 1 line-break, 1 try-assist
Panthers vs Rabbitohs
Malakai Watene-Zelezniak* (Panthers) – 80 minutes, 117 metres, 1 try-assist
Corey Harawira-Naera (Panthers) – 60 minutes, 88 metres, 24 tackles, 1 line-break, 1 try
Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs) – 80 minutes, 108 metres, 7 tackles
Sea Eagles vs Dragons
Brian Kelly (Sea Eagles) – 80 minutes, 137 metres, 8 tackles
Hame Sele* (Dragons) – 29 minutes, 77 metres, 16 tackles
Titans vs Raiders
Tyronne Roberts-Davis (Titans) – 80 minutes, 126 metres, 7 tackles
Max King (Titans) – 44 minutes, 48 metres, 26 tackles
Morgan Boyle* (Titans) – 30 minutes, 92 metres, 20 tackles
Nick Cotric (Raiders) – 80 minutes, 138 metres, 1 try
Cowboys vs Wests Tigers
Gideon Gela-Mosby (Cowboys) – 79 minutes, 86 metres, 15 tackles
Moses Suli (Wests Tigers) – 80 minutes, 109 metres, 16 tackles
Warriors vs Eels
No rookies played.
Storm vs Sharks
Ryley Jacks (Storm) – 80 minutes, 55 metres, 28 tackles, 1 line-break
Joe Stimson (Storm) – 20 minutes, 30 metres, 9 tackles
Jayden Brailey (Sharks) – 52 minutes, 38 tackles
*NRL debut in Round 6
