Round 5 MVPs: The Players Shaping the Game

Round 5 delivered a fresh look for ahm NPL 2026. It was the first round back from the Mid-Season Festival, the first round with the new freeze rule in play, and the first chance for new rosters to settle into their rhythm. Across Pro and Division 2, several players stepped up with huge performances and decisive rubbers.

Pro Division

NSW Conference

Brian Tran (Dinkers) was the Male MVP in NSW. He went five from six rubbers and was the difference in Dinkers’ 3-2 upset of conference leaders Heat. Tran won all three of his rubbers against Heat — Men’s Doubles, Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles — and his Men’s Singles finisher half helped close the team rubber 15-6. His only loss on the day came in Men’s Doubles against Comets, a 21-23 freeze-zone defeat.

Selina Turulja (Heat) claimed the Female MVP honours. She also went five from six and was perfect in the rubbers that mattered most. Both of her Women’s Singles wins were closed as the finisher, including a 7-4 half against Dinkers and a 7-3 half against Stingers. She also partnered to wins in both Women’s Doubles rubbers as Heat split their round 1-1.

VIC Conference

Liam Jesperson (Adders) took the Male MVP in VIC. In his first NPLeague round after the Mid-Season draft, Jesperson impressed with a five-from-six return. He started both Men’s Singles rubbers, building strong leads before handing over, and also partnered in both Men’s Doubles wins. Adders went 2-0 and moved to the top of the conference.

Katherine Westbury (Adders) was the Female MVP. She delivered two clinical finishes in Women’s Singles, coming in at 8-7 against Roos before closing her half 7-0, then coming in at 8-3 against Tide before finishing 7-1. She also partnered in both Mixed Doubles wins as Adders completed a perfect round.

QLD Conference

Harrison Brown (Outback) earned the Male MVP nod. Brown went five from six and produced one of the biggest singles swings of the round. Against Reef, he came in down 5-8 in Men’s Singles and won his half 10-5 to flip the rubber 15-13. He backed that up with a clean 7-0 finish against Brumbies as Outback held first place in the conference.

Nicola Schoeman (Opals) was the standout Female MVP in Pro Division. She was the only Pro player to go a perfect 6-0. Schoeman closed both Women’s Singles rubbers as finisher — 7-4 against Brumbies and 7-0 against Reef — and also won both Women’s Doubles and both Mixed Doubles rubbers. It was a complete performance from start to finish.

Division 2

VIC Conference

Chanchai Sookton-Eng (Rangers) was the Male MVP in VIC. He went five from six and played a major role in both Rangers wins. In Men’s Singles against Adders, he came in down 5-8 and won his half 10-3 to flip the rubber. He then repeated the rescue act against Sharks, again coming in down 5-8 and closing 10-9 to complete a 17-15 win.

Natalie Fisher (Rangers) took the Female MVP. Fisher also finished five from six, and her two Women’s Singles rubbers were both important for Rangers. She came in leading 8-2 against Adders and held on despite a tough 7-10 finisher half, then followed it up with a 7-4 close against Sharks after starting from an 8-7 lead. Rangers won both ties.

NSW Conference

Ryan Morris (Stingers) was the Male MVP in NSW. Morris went five from six and was especially strong in Men’s Singles, closing 7-3 against Heat and 7-0 against Dinkers. He also partnered in both Mixed Doubles wins as Stingers - D2 finished the round 2-0.

Monique Burton (Comets) claimed the Female MVP honours. She also went five from six, but her standout moment came in Women’s Singles against Heat. Burton came in down 2-8 in the team rubber and delivered a remarkable 13-0 finisher half to flip the match and seal a 15-8 win. She also closed 7-0 against Aggies as Comets - D2 held first place.

QLD Conference

Jon Kubler (Burras) was the Male MVP in QLD. He delivered the only perfect round in Division 2 for the men, going 6-0. Kubler closed both Men’s Singles rubbers 7-3 after coming in at 8-5, and also helped Burras with wins in both Men’s Doubles and both Mixed Doubles rubbers.

Indiana Heather-Pereira (Setters) took the Female MVP. She also went 6-0, with an unusual profile as a starter MVP. In both of her Women’s Singles rubbers, Heather-Pereira built the lead as the starter, going to 8-3 against Reef and 8-1 against Outback before handing over. Setters’ Women’s bloc remained unbeaten across both matches.

NZ Conference

Semisi Fanguna (Taika) was the Male MVP in NZ. He went five from six and delivered strong closing work in both Men’s Singles rubbers. Against Moa, he came in at 8-6 and closed his half 8-8 to seal the 16-14 team rubber, then followed with a 7-0 finish against Tuatara. Taika stayed clear at the top of the NZ conference.

Sarah Hawkes (Taniwha) earned the Female MVP award. She was another Division 2 player to go 6-0, and her impact came from the start of the rubbers rather than the finish. Hawkes built 8-0 and 8-5 leads in her Women’s Singles starts, showing complete control before the swap in both matches.

This round highlighted both individual quality and the growing impact of refreshed line-ups. Several mid-season additions made an immediate impression, while established players delivered in key moments across both divisions. The MVPs were not only winning rubbers — they were shaping results.