Nearly 80 props and hookers took to the field in round three, with the headline data point being a monument 91 per cent tackle success rate, compared to the round average 86 per cent success rate.
The front rows pulled together for a combined 11 of the round’s 63 tries in all matches, including some truly game-winning moments.
All in all, props and hookers made 570 tackles, making up 30 per cent of all tackles completed in round three. Bear in mind, the front row makes up just 20 per cent of the players on the field.
Here are the individual outliers from Front Row Round:
- Bay of Plenty’s Benet Kumeroa was a standout performer, with two tries and 20 tackles – missing none – in his side’s narrow loss to Canterbury in their Shield defence. Kumeroa is joint-sixth for tackles completed in the Hilux NPC this season, with 53.
- Similarly, Paula Latu would have been the headliner for the Stags, but for Jimmy Taylor’s match-winning conversion after the hooter against Waikato. Latu scored twice, including the try after the hooter to allow Taylor’s heroics.
- Also for the Stags, hooker Jayden Henderson made a staggering 71 metres in the Waikato match – the most for any front rower in the round.
- Daniel Lienert-Brown’s draw and pass for Toby Bell to run onto and score, retaining the Ranfurly Shield for Canterbury was a thing of beauty to watch in real time.