VB Hard Earned: Dragons skipper leads from the front in new role

The VB Hard Earned player of the week for round five is Dragons captain Cameron McInnes, who showed that no matter where you put him he is the heart and soul of the Red V.

The VB Hard Earned team of the week celebrates the true toilers of the game who don't always get the credit.

A regular hooker, McInnes spent most of the game at lock after half Ben Hunt was moved to dummy-half but it did nothing to diminish his contribution.

McInnes capped his towering performance with a match-winning try. His 80-minute contribution also including 52 tackles (one missed), four busts and 136 metres from 16 runs.

His Hard Earned index score of 119 was the best of the round, edging Broncos workhorse Payne Haas (113) for his typically busy 45 tackles and 191 metres.

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.

Another team of the week entrant, Eels back-rower Ryan Matterson, produced arguably his best and busiest game since returning to his junior club. He scored a try to go with his 44 tackles, 154 meters and three offloads for an index score of 96.

Wests Tigers lock Alex Twal also breached the 100-point index barrier after an incredible 80 minutes based off 66 tackles with just one miss, to go with 116 run metres.

Both Sharks halves found their way into the Hard Earned team of the week despite a loss, with Johnson racking up stats in plenty of categories, while Tigers rookie Tommy Talau earned a spot in his first appearance of the year.