Warringah finally broke through for their first win of the season, while West Harbour and Hunter both scored late to take the chocolates in tight matches on Saturday.

Here’s our team of the week from round five.

1) Martin Mulhall – Warringah

Warringah’s scrum was one of the big positives in a disappointing opening month of the season and it continued on Saturday, largely because of Irish prop Martin Mulhall. At a crucial point of the match, Mulhall dominated his opponent at scrum time, then broke a tackle to score an important try all within a minute. 

2) James Margan – Norths

Hookers everywhere have been watching James Margan’s match defining try from a short line on Saturday as they put themselves to sleep. Margan got the ball back near the touchline, then broke four tackles to score against rivals Gordon. It was pretty to watch. 

3) Michael Scott – Norths

Margan’s teammate Michael Scott was equally impressive in another big 80 minute stint. The Norths scrum was solid, and Scott and fellow prop Jack Brewer both made more than 20 tackles in the local derby. 

4) Toby Adlington – West Harbour

English lock Toby Adlington has been one of the Pirate’s best forwards all season. He made 15 tackles in the tight win over Manly and helped set up the match winning try with a well constructed and patient driving maul. Coach Cam Treloar, himself a lineout specialist, would have had tears in his eyes watching the Pirates edge towards the try line. 

5) Paula Waqa – Western Sydney

Possibly the most improved player in the competition so far this year, young Two Blues lock Paula Waqa has come into his own this season. A product of the Two Blues improving colts program, Waqa used his big body to get over the line in the narrow loss to Hunter. 

6) Nick Russell – Eastwood

21-year old Woodies backrower Nick Russell is getting better week by week after working his way into the Eastwood starting side. Russell claimed four pilfers against the Rebels, including two that swung the momentum of the match back to the home side on either side of the half time break.

7) Zac Barnabas – Manly

Another three pilfers in another super impressive 80 minute stint. Barnabas is odds on to win this year’s Shute Shield rookie of the year award, but could even be in the race for the Catchpole Medal if he keeps up this form. 

8) Michael Icely – Eastwood

After earning his Super Rugby debut with the Waratahs a few weeks back, Icely returned to TG Millner and scored two crucial tries in the second half to secure the points for the Woodies. 

9) Roan Frostwick – Warringah

Things finally went right for Warringah on Saturday and former Scotland U20s scrumhalf Roan Frostwick was a big reason why. Frostwick played his best game in the Shute Shield so far, controlling the match nicely in wet and tight conditions. 

10) Hunter Hannaford – West Harbour

Another in line for the Shute Shield rookie of the year award, Hannaford also seems to be getting better and better each week. The young flyhalf is playing with maturity well beyond his years. He quicks well and threw a lovely pass to set up the Pirates first try of the afternoon. 

11) Maui Wallace – Southern Districts

While his Junior Wallabies teammate Jackson Ropata has been stealing most limelight in the opening month, young Rebels winger Maul Wallace got a chance to shine on Saturday and ran for 141 metres in a losing side. He’s a serious handful with any space around him. 

12) Tom Watson – Hunter

Against a massive Two Blues wide, Wildfires centre Tom Watson tackled and tackled and talked and that’s exactly what coach Scott Coleman would have wanted from him. Watson and teammate Conor Winchester were rewarded for their early season form with an invite to join Waratahs training for a session last month. 

13) Josh Brown – West Harbour

Showed great speed to beat his defender on the outside in the first half against Manly, then even better strength and class to break tackles and score a crucial try for the Pirates. 

14) Esera Chee Kam – Warringah

After a slow start to the season Rats winger Esera Chee Kam was back to his brilliant best, making three line breaks and running for over 100 metres in Warringah’s morale boosting win over Easts. 

15) Max Burey – Norths

Back at North Sydney Oval after a stint in Perth with the Western Force, Burey showed quickly why he is arguably one of the most dangerous attacking backs in the competition with a strong performance against the Stags.