Round five of Super League was jam-packed full of special individual displays as the Super League table continues to take shape.
Hull FC were the big winners on Thursday night, while St Helens, Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR picked up two points on Friday.
The weekend was finished off with wins for Huddersfield Giants and Catalans Dragons, with the French side nilling the previously unbeaten Wigan Warriors.
Here’s a look at some of the best performances from round five.
Full-back: Jake Connor - Hull FC
Absolutely ran the show in Hull’s win at Headingley, scoring two tries, setting up Adam Swift’s score and generally causing the Rhinos’ defence problems all night. Even had time to give the suspended Luke Gale a cheeky wave up on the commentary gantry.
Wing: Tommy Makinson - St Helens
It was a performance we’ve come to expect from the England and Great Britain international in Saints’ victory over Warrington, with a brace of excellent finishes adding to his two conversions and 145 metres gained.
Centre: Ricky Leutele - Huddersfield Giants
The powerful centre scored a hat-trick against Castleford in the last 20 minutes to rescue a win for the Giants after they relinquished an 18-0 lead earlier in the game.
Centre: Leroy Cudjoe - Huddersfield Giants
The Huddersfield veteran showed the kind of touches that made him one of Super League’s top outside backs several years ago, including a well-timed pass to set up Jermaine McGillvary’s try. After a tough few years with injury it’s great to see him playing consistently once again.
Wing: Tom Johnstone - Wakefield Trinity
For the first time this season, Johnstone didn’t get on the scoresheet himself but was still influential in Wakefield’s win over Toulouse, with numerous yardage carries contributing to total of 143m gained on the night, as well as an acrobatic assist for Corey Hall’s late try.
Stand-off: Mitchell Pearce - Catalans Dragons
Perhaps his best performance in a Catalans jersey so far, the former New South Wales Origin representative is starting to show exactly why the Dragons were so keen on signing him, putting in a commanding display with two tries and a kicking game that helped keep Wigan at bay.
Scrum-half: Mikey Lewis - Hull KR
It was another trademark performance from the livewire halfback in the Robins’ win over Salford, with two tries including a scintillating chip-and-chase effort which he is becoming renowned for.
Prop: Chris Satae - Hull FC
The explosive prop is proving to be one of Super League’s most consistent performers and was a workhorse in centre-field on Thursday, getting through 196m from 19 carries and helping set the platform for the likes of Connor and Ben McNamara to work their magic.
Hooker: Micky McIlorum - Catalans Dragons
The ex-Wigan hooker was a constant source of frustration for Matt Peet’s side, causing confusion in defence with several runs from dummy half as well as laying on two tries. Had some part to play in the tussles late on after clearly getting under the skin of his opposition.
Prop: Mickael Goudemand - Catalans Dragons
Goudemand stood up and led from the front all afternoon in the absence of several senior Dragons front-rowers, making 24 tackles, 83 metres and being rewarded with an opportunistic try.
Second-row: Frankie Halton - Hull KR
The towering back-rower again showed why he’s being touted as one of the shrewdest pieces of business this year. He missed a tackle for the first time this campaign in the win over Salford, but still made 30 successful ones to take his season total to 185, as well as making 129m and assisting Mikey Lewis’ second try.
Second-row: Benjamin Jullien - Catalans Dragons
Did a lot of unnoticed work down the right edge in the Dragons’ win, leading the tackling stats with 41, as well as making a 117m from 15 carries in offence.
Loose-forward: Morgan Knowles - St Helens
The Cumbrian had a quiet night with ball-in-hand but proved to be rock in Saints’ defence, making 37 tackles to ensure Warrington had nothing more than a penalty goal to show for their efforts.
