BEST ON GROUND

RUGBY LEAGUE’S TOP FIVE:

ALAN WHITE

When Helensvale was in the grind in the first half it came largely off the back of White’s good work. His move from Ormeau Shearers looks a pivotal signing for the Hornets, who now have one of the best ball playing halves in the competition. All of Helensvale’s attacking raids ran through White, and his kicking game will earn them plenty of points this season.

LOCHLYN SHELDON

Burleigh’s back-rower has eyes on an Intrust Super Cup berth and he did his chances no harm with a quality performance on Sunday. Sheldon racked up the tackles in the first half when the game was on the line and regularly made metres coming out of defence for Matt Foster’s side. Sheldon is the plug-and-play forward that a coach loves, because he’ll always do his job.

SHALLIN FULLER

“Did I get a hat-trick? I didn’t know.” Burleigh’s fleet of foot five-eight was easily best on ground at Pizzey Park, running in two first-half tries and completing his hat-trick just five minutes after returning for the second half. Already a damaging ball player, Fuller’s gift is the threat he poses with his legs - teams have to respect every part of his game. Photos: Richard Gosling

JORDAN SCOTT

The Bears’ starting rake was already quietly playing a quality game when he was forced to shift to lock following an injury to skipper Reece Summer. As a ball-playing forward Scott did his job perfectly and Burleigh lost no go-forward with Summer out. Reece McKenzie-O’Brien deputised well at dummy half in Scott’s stead, crossing for a try in the second half.

BAILEY COURT

Court knows Pizzey Park well, having played HDC U20s for Burleigh previously. In his first A-Grade game for his boyhood club, Court was a constant threat around the ruck and a physical presence in the tackle. He and halfback Alan White were the main architects of any Hornets attacking raid and, though the second half got away from them, Court toiled for the full 80.