Fox Sports commentator Matt Russell looks at the Toyota Cup team of the year and the exciting last week heading into the finals.Fast facts
Congratulations to the 2011 Team of the Year listed below.
It represents the best of Generation Next and throws up any number of talking points. Here are 10.
1. The Warriors dominate with three selections plus the coach.
2. Five clubs have two selections – Brisbane, Melbourne, Canterbury, North Queensland and St George Illawarra.
3. Ten of the 16 clubs are represented. Missing out are Parramatta, Penrith, Manly, Gold Coast, Canberra and Newcastle.
4. Eight members of the team have played NRL this season – Gagai, Roberts, Miller, Baptiste, Taumalolo, McKinnon, Lafai, De Belin – three backs, four forwards.
5. Two players were in the 2010 Team of the Year – Gagai and Finucane.
6. Kenny Bromwich and Jesse Bromwich (2009) become the first brothers to make the team.
7. There are some good bloodlines in the team with famous links for Tyrone Peachey (David Peachey), Mahe Fonua (Taniela Tuiaki), Carlos Tuimavave (Evarn Tuimavave) and Jack De Belin (Fred De Belin – 1946 Balmain premiership winner).
8. Team members are also studying carpentry, engineering, podiatry, physical education, teaching, public speaking and machine operations.
9. They have big shoes to fill. This was the bench in 2009: Gareth Widdop, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Joel Romelo!
10. Fullback Omar Slaimankhel did more interviews in one hour than he’s done in his life! The son of Afghan refugees, who has scored 26 tries in 23 games this season, is a great advertisement for the Toyota Cup.
2011 Team of the Year
1 Omar Slaimankhel (Warriors), 2 Dane Gagai (Brisbane), 3 Konrad Hurrell (Warriors), 4 Mahe Fonua (Melbourne), 5 Tyrone Roberts (South Sydney), 6 Carlos Tuimavave (Warriors), 7 Jacob Miller (Wests Tigers), 8 Kane Evans (Roosters), 9 Kurt Baptiste (Brisbane), 10 Dale Finucane (Canterbury), 11 Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland), 12 Alex McKinnon (St George Illawarra), 13 Tyrone Peachey (Cronulla), 14 Kenny Bromwich (Melbourne), 15 Tim Lafai (Canterbury), 16 Jack De Belin (St George Illawarra), Kyle Feldt (North Queensland).
