During a game in which SFGG didn’t play its best rugby, Brendan Daly emerged in a hugely influential way to not only lead his team to a victory but also earn Samurai PRP Player of the Week honors.

The team captain and second row—and recently capped national team player—took control when SFGG needed it most in a 43-17 win over Santa Monica this past Saturday at the PRP Midseason Clash in San Francisco.

He didn’t do it alone: SFGG’s center pairing of Moto Filikitonga and Eakalafi Okusi were imposing in the midfield, No. 8 Akuila Uaisele scored two tries, and lock Nick Grass had an excellent day in the lineout.

But if you rewatch the game, you’ll see time and again Daly pick up his team and move it forward. He was one of the main reasons the SFGG scrum dominated. He was excellent on interior defense and pushing ahead in traffic. 

He scored two superb tries—and it was almost four. Some might argue he was onside when he intercepted a pass that would have been a try if it wasn't called back. 

Those two tries both came in the second half when Santa Monica threatened to rally. Daly's first try was a well-taken line coupled with a dummy that would make a center proud; the second was a nice piece of communication between Daly and scrumhalf Colby Stevens to loft a box kick into space so the lock could chase and take it under the posts.

Both tries were important, as was everything else the SFGG captain did Saturday.