TWO of the best performances from round one came from the number twos.
Penrith's Josh Mansour and Parramatta's Semi Radradra electrified the crowds with their speed, power and agility as they scored five tries between them in big home wins for their respective teams.
The left wingers made the right start to 2014.
After an injury-ravaged 2013, Mansour, 23, hit the ground running against the Newcastle Knights with a typical blockbusting display, scoring two tries, running a game-high 181 metres, and making two line breaks in the Panthers' 30-8 win.
His barnstorming effort just after half time to beat five defenders could easily lay claim to being the try of the opening round and gave the Panthers the lead for the first time: one they never gave up.
Semi Radradra gave the Eels the lead after four minutes with a 50-metre effort to open the scoring — and it only got better from there.
The Fijian flyer backed up his five tries in the Auckland Nines, with three tries to open 2014 and also turned provider to set up Jarryd Hayne for a try.
Radradra has now scored eight tries in his first eight NRL games confirming his status as one of the most exciting talents in the NRL.
His combination with Willie Tonga was a standout as he he made 10 tackle breaks and ran for 149 metres in a powerhouse display.
Eels coach Brad Arthur said he was pleased to see the likes of Radradra and fellow hat-trick winger Vai Toutai do their thing because it meant one thing: the forwards are doing their job.
"You've got to get the timing right and earn the right to get the ball to the wing, and I think our forwards really paved the day there, and the wingers' job is to score tries and finish off," he said.
After dominating in week one, Mansour and Radradra face tough assignments in round two.
Mansour will face with one of the most improved players in the game in Melbourne's Sisa Waqa, while Radradra has a mouth-watering battle with Roosters' premiership winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
