VB Hard Earned: Rookies earn plaudits as Knights dominate

Newcastle's impressive win over Canberra elevated three of their players into the VB Hard Earned team of the week, which celebrates the true toilers of the game who don't always get the credit.

As usual middle forwards dominated the list but there were some impressive efforts from backline players in round four.

To recap what the VB Hard Earned award is all about, each round players receive a VB Hard Earned index score that is calculated by doubling their total runs and adding a point for every tackle, offload, decoy, support, charge down and tackle break.

Negative plays lower the index score. One point is taken off per missed tackle, while errors and penalties cost four points. Being sin-binned results in eight points being subtracted.

Warriors lock Tohu Harris continues to thrive after switching from an edge to the middle, with the best score of the week – a Hard Earned index rating of 111 thanks to 224 run metres and 56 tackles.

In the same game, James Fisher-Harris made 257 metres with 44 tackles (three misses) and four offloads to register a Hard Earned score of 11.

Joint ladder-leader Payne Haas (53 tackles, four busts, six offloads and 103 metres) moved ahead of previous No.1 Isaah Yeo while Dragons hooker Cam McInnes (54 tackles, five busts and 122 metres) also performed valiantly in a losing cause.

Dragons debutant Adam Clune was the surprise entrant on the round four list after his club's loss to the Bulldogs and despite not getting many chances with the ball, he made 25 tackles and almost 100 metres with a line break.

Knights rookie Bradman Best made 24 tackles out wide to go with his two tries, two try assists and 166 run metres but it was Bulldogs fullback Will Hopoate who was the best of the backs for his 262 metres, five kick defusals and one try assist.