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With 26 rounds of NRL action now in the books only eight teams remain, while the other eight plan their Mad Monday celebrations.
The Roosters have secured a second straight minor premiership, the Broncos return to the finals, the Bunnies continue to tease fans that this may be their year and the Cowboys continue to send messages to the Sydney sides that they’re going to be tough to beat.
With the end of the regular rounds, I can now name my NRL team of the year. Please let me know if you agree or disagree with some, or all of the below in the comments section.
Fullback: Jarryd Hayne – Eels
The Eels and NSW fullback almost reproduced his amazing Dally M winning form of 2009 and went within a game of carrying the Eels to a finals birth. He was the man of the series for the Blues as they ended a near decade long dominance from Queensland at State of Origin level.
Hayne beats out Greg Inglis and Anthony Milford to the top fullback in 2014. He tops the try-scoring charts with 20, and finished atop the line breaks tally with 23. Amazing.
Wing: Josh Mansour – Panthers
Desperately unlucky not to play Origin this series after a barnstorming start to the year. Based on form you’d have to say he’ll be there or there abouts for next year’s series. Mansour has been a rock out wide for the highflying Panthers, and at times seems to score tries for fun.
Although an injury robbed him of the chance to top the try-scoring chart, his carries out of his own danger end were worth their weight in gold.
Centre: Steve Matai – Eagles
For years the centre of the year went to a different Manly player, but this year Matai is the man. His left side partnership with Jorge Taufua was lethal early in the campaign and although his partner’s form faulted, Matai remained in great nick.
Linked with a huge money move away from the club in 2015, despite being the wrong side of 30, Matai is still among the elite.
Centre: Dylan Walker – Rabbitohs
I almost picked Jarrod Croker for this position, however Walker just edges the Canberra centre. Walker has had a breakout season and has been among the Rabbitohs’ best all year. His importance to the side goes far beyond the 11 tries he registered throughout the year.
He played a hand in many more, and more than held up his end in defence. Croker also had a brilliant year, however the young Rabbitoh’s defence earns him the nod.
Wing: Semi Radradra – Eels
The flying Fijian would have topped the try-scoring charts if not for the superman efforts in the Round 26 fixture by his fullback Jarryd Hayne. His haul of 19 tries was amazing considering his relative inexperience.
An absolute monster for just 22 years of age, Radradra’s best footy is still ahead of him. He will give plenty of opposition wingers nightmares in the future, as I’m sure he did this season.
Five-Eighth: Jamie Soward – Panthers
I fully admit I did not foresee myself typing the above at the beginning of 2014, but Soward has had a brilliant campaign. Often unfairly criticised due to his theatrics, such as the double-barrel solute, Soward’s kicking game has been absolutely key to the Panthers top-four finish.
Soward posted seven tries and a bag of assists, and landed conversions from all angles for fun. Edges out James Maloney, who himself had another brilliant year.
Halfback: Johnathan Thurston – Cowboys
The Cowboy superstar posted an incredible 208 points this season, the most of anyone in the competition, and won multiple games on his own back throughout 2014. It’s no coincidence that his amazing form has propelled the Cowboys to an incredible fifth place finish.
That’s something that looked impossible early in the year. He’s probably only a premiership away from being the next Immortal. Edges out Ben Hunt, Mitchell Pearce and Cooper Cronk.
Prop: James Graham – Bulldogs
I think it is fair to say James Graham is the Bulldog’s most important and best player. He registered an Ironman-like 344 hit ups for the regular season, and made over 3400 metres. Graham has been the model of consistency in what has been an inconsistent year for his Bulldogs side.
He seems to have minimised the niggle that in previous years held him back slightly, and if the Dogs are to beat the Storm, it will have to be on the back of the Englishman’s efforts.
Hooker: James Segeyaro – Panthers
I never thought I’d type a different name other than Cameron Smith, and I almost didn’t, but it was just too hard to ignore the brilliant number nine’s amazing 2014. He will be locked in a battle with Soward and Matt Moylan for the Panther’s player of the season.
Segeyaro has been magic at times this year and posted 10 tries and made a multitude of breaks from dummy half. Absolute key for the Panthers come finals time.
Prop: Jesse Bromwich – Storm
The Kiwi prop was a priority re-signing for the club early in the campaign and it is easy to see why. Bromwich led the line for his Storm side, and laid the platform throughout 2014 for the likes of Cronk, Billy Slater and Smith.
Almost 300 hit ups and more than 3300 metres gained make him Melbourne’s main man up front. Still only 25 years of age, it’s conceivable he still has improvement left in him. A scary thought.
Second Row: Sam Burgess – Rabbitohs
Despite the perceived broadcaster love-in, Sam Burgess is without a doubt one of the elite forwards in the game right now, if not the elite. He will be a huge loss to the Rabbitohs in 2015 when he crosses codes, but not before leading his side towards a possible premiership shake.
Burgess is capable of the flashy play when needed, however he is just as adept when called upon to take part in the hard graft. Ten tries, almost 800 tackles and more than 3800 metres made. The stats do not lie.
Second Row: Aidan Guerra – Roosters
It says something about Guerra’s form that he has outshone international backrow partners Boyd Cordner and one Sonny Bill Williams. He may not attract the headlines of the bigger name players, but make no mistake, Guerra has been absolutely outstanding throughout 2014.
His form earned him a Maroon Origin jumper, and if he can continue to play like he has this season he will become a mainstay in the Queensland pack.
Lock: Corey Parker – Broncos
Parker may not have registered the unhuman-like stats he has produced in seasons gone by, however a shift to prop at times this time round certainly had something to do with that. Parker, for both Brisbane and Queensland, was brilliant.
He once again led the way for hit ups and metres for his club side, despite moving into the middle at times. At 32, Parker remains a vital player in the Broncos line-up, and will be looked to perform once again in 2015 under the returning Wayne Bennett.
Bench: Matt Scott – Cowboys
Such has been the form of Matt Scott for so long that I’m running out of superlatives to throw his way. His barnstorming runs for club, state and country lay the platform for his superstar half Thurston, and his defence is tireless.
More than 500 tackles, just under 3000 metres gained, despite only playing 18 games for the Cowboys this season, really says it all. Capable of huge minutes if needed, Scott is once again one of the top props of the modern era.
Bench: Josh Jackson – Bulldogs
The young Bulldog well and truly announced himself in 2014 after a breakout season in 2013. Having represented Country Origin twice in his young career, his name will surely pop up come Origin selection next series.
Jackson doesn’t have the reputation of some of the bigger name stars in the Dogs pack, but his input has been just as important. At 23 years of age, he is approaching his physical peak, which could be scary if he continues to develop and improve the way he has.
Bench: Simon Mannering – Warriors
A sad end to the Warriors Jekyll and Hyde season should not take away from the superhuman efforts of the Warriors captain. Playing in all 24 games for his club, Mannering made more than 700 tackles, more than 2200 metres and contributed nine tries.
You never quite know what to expect from the Warriors, however you always know you can count on the 28-year-old club legend. Although the Warriors missed the finals, it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort from their captain.
Bench: Ben Hunt – Broncos
Pre-season, all the talk in Brisbane was about a huge bid for Daly Cherry-Evans. Fast forward to September 2014, and I’m not sure they need him, such has been the form of their brilliant number seven.
Hunt has probably been the Broncos best player in 2014, bagging 13 tries, a stack of try assists, 20 line breaks and even kicking goals when called upon. At only 24 years of age, Hunt has scary potential and will be a lynchpin for Wayne Bennett next season.
Coach: Ivan Cleary – Panthers
To sum up the influence of Ivan Cleary on his players this campaign, you only need to look at the return to form of Jamie Soward. Cleary has been able to get the most out of a team that did not contribute one single Origin player in 2014, something that may change in 2015 and beyond.
Multiple club players such as Brent Kite, Jamal Idris and Sika Manu are playing brilliant football, while players such as Moylan and Mansour are improving dramatically under his tutelage.
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