Samu Kerevi, Andrew Kellaway and more — Sean Maloney names his Thursday night NRC dream team

IT’S the players who aimed up under the bright lights of the TV cameras - Fox Sports commentator Sean Maloney names his Thursday night NRC dream team.

THE National Rugby Championship enters its final week, with Brisbane City to host Perth Spirit in the inaugural grand final on Saturday night at Ballymore.

The first edition of the NRC has seen tries by the truckload, big hits, running rugby and the odd head-scratching moment.

Commentator Sean Maloney has called all the matches broadcast live on Fox Sports on Thursday nights throughout the season, which kicked off back when Brisbane City hosted Sydney Stars on August 21.

To celebrate NRC grand final week, Maloney has named his best 15 from those televised matches. It’s the players who aimed up under the bright lights of the TV cameras, it’s the Thursday night NRC dream team.

THURSDAY NIGHT NRC DREAM TEAM

1. Les Makin (UC Vikings) — The first player in the NRC to gain a full-time Super Rugby contract off the back of his work in the Championship. He’s on board with the Brumbies next year, a handy pick-up for Stephen Larkham.

2. Lala Lam (UC Vikings) — This guy is a bona-fide bonecrusher. When he hit blokes in defence they generally required a complete rib realignment. Line-out throwing needs plenty of work but was great around the field and at scrum-time.

3. Mitch Lewis (North Harbour Rays) — Scored world rugby’s first ever “own try” and dominated in general play. Held his own against a number of far more experienced props, and can play both sides of the scrum. An NRC success story.

4. Jarred Barry (Greater Sydney Rams) — This bloke is still quite raw but under the guidance of a Super Rugby set-up, could be anything. Giant unit, has silky offloading skills, gives punch in tight and out wide too.

5. Dave McDuling (captain, Brisbane City) — Has led his team to the ‘Big Dance’ beautifully. Exceptional work-rate, durable and extremely fit. Captains our TNF Dream XV to boot.

6. Tala Gray (NSW Country Eagles) — Has just one Super-Rugby cap to his name with the Waratahs but expect that to become many more in years to come. Another guy who dominated in the rough stuff, explosive with the ball, classy.

Tala Gray on the charge for NSW Country Eagles.

7. Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rising) — Buildcorp NRC Player of the year. He’s a machine in every sense of the word and has been rewarded with a Wallabies Spring Tour spot. No-nonsense kid who just got it done.

8. Sam Ward (North Harbour Rays) — One of the shining lights out of the Warringah club. Fearless trucking the ball up, just as game when tackling. Jagged a hat-trick of tries in match v grand finalists Perth Spirit.

9. Nick Frisby (Brisbane City) — Turned the NRC into his own playground, dummying here, goose stepping there … flick passing at will. Key to Brisbane City’s charge to the GF.

10. Jack Debreczeni (Melbourne Rising) — All but assured himself the starting flyhalf position for the Melbourne Rebels next year. Mixed his game up superbly, unleashed his dangerous backline at will and also kicked smartly. Bright future for Jack.

Jack Debreczeni had a big season for Melbourne Rising.

11. Andrew Kellaway (NSW Country Eagles) — The 19-year-old we dubbed ‘The Fire’ back in round three finished as the top-try scorer in the Championship. There’s still a bit to learn, but his balance at full-tilt was beautiful to watch.

12. Samu Kerevi (Brisbane City) — Had himself a party in the inaugural match of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship and he just kept charging. Always broke the first-up tackle, offloaded well in contact and was unstoppable at times.

Samu Kerevi was unstoppable at times for Brisbane City.

13. Ed Stubbs (NSW Country Eagles) — Lethal in defence and rock solid in attack. Always looking to pump up his teammates, rounded out one of the tries of the year v North Harbour Rays.

14. Chris Kuridrani (Brisbane City) — Appears to have spent hours studying tapes of Henry Speight because the similarities are uncanny. Spins into and out of tackles with ease, has great feet and can offload out of the darkest corners. Will have Reds coach Richard Graham smiling in the pre-season.

15. Dave Feltscheer (North Harbour Rays) — The fullback from Sydney’s Northern Beaches is built like a matchstick and can spark things just as well. He excelled in the broken field, is deceptively strong and proved to be a top finisher.

North Harbour Rays fullback Dave Feltscheer on the charge.

AROUND THE NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

CHARACTER OF THE YEAR: Wallabies and Sydney Stars prop Paddy Ryan who wholeheartedly embraced the NRC at every turn. Offered up one of the great post-game interviews back in round one when he talked about ‘shooting the boot’ and ‘having a beer with Brisbane City because it was a great game of footy.’

CAN I SEE SOME I. D: Campbell Magnay, the rangy outside centre from QLD Country made his NRC debut at 17 years of age. SEVENTEEN! He handled himself well and is a bright prospect for Queensland rugby.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: North Harbour Rays prop Mitch Lewis scored world rugby’s first ever “own try”, crossing the stripe for Sydney Stars at Leichardt Oval. The calamitous TMO decision has now had over 350,000 hits on YouTube. Mitch has officially “gone viral”.

OFF TO A FLYER: Brisbane City and Sydney Stars got the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship off to the perfect start back in Round 1 in horrendous conditions at Ballymore. Credit has to go to coaches Chris Malone, Nick Stiles and their men for providing a 10-try Thursday night shootout that set the tone for the rest of the comp.

STEAKS ARE HIGH: Viking Park was a clear winner on the game-day food front offering up the best steak sandwich in Australian rugby. The meat was so tender, the bread so soft, the onions so well cooked, it was like eating a cloud.

Originally published as Samu Kerevi, Andrew Kellaway and more — Sean Maloney names his Thursday night NRC dream team