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If they had a Dally M award for buy-of-the-season it would be a toughie for the judges.
There are a number of standout candidates spread across the NRL, with Ricky Stuart and the Canberra Raiders perhaps recruiting better than their rivals.
At a family gathering last weekend, my brother-in-law declared Raiders’ five-eighth Blake Austin a runaway winner in the ‘best buy’ category, but his insistence merely lit the fuse to a very lively debate.
I thought The Roar might be the best place settle my (friendly) family argument and today I am inviting our army of league fans to fire in their nominations.
It’s incredibly hard to split Austin, Blake Ferguson (Roosters) and Michael Ennis (Sharks) for the fictitious gong. Each has had a resounding effect on his new club with excellent contributions in his own, inimitable way.
The goatee-bearded Austin has been playing like a state five-eighth all year, sparking the Canberra attack with his astonishing speed and brilliant sidestep.
He has 13 tries to his name and has become the Canberra player most talked about in pre-game discussions about danger men.
Ferguson has made an enormous impact since he was cleared to play for the Roosters and if they are to go deep into the finals series, you can bet he’ll be in the thick of the action.
His powerful try out wide sunk the resurgent Bulldogs last week and his defence is up there with the best centres in the game.
I wasn’t sure if Ennis would be the right fit for the Sharks, but he has added a tremendous dimension to the rugged Cronulla pack in a terrific season. He has provided direction and dash from dummy half and his 16 try assists suggests he is doing plenty right for a team on the improve.
Ennis, of course, can be a menace with his niggly, in-your-face antics but there is no doubting he has been a fabulous buy for the Sharks.
I’ve run my eyes through the NRL ranks and come up with some players who have been really good for their new clubs in 2015. Is the ‘buy of the season’ here or can you provide another?
Broncos: Anthony Milford, Darius Boyd
Bulldogs: Brett Morris, Curtis Rona, Michael Lichaa
Cowboys: Jake Granville
Dragons: George Rose
Eels: Reece Robinson, Danny Wicks
Knights: Tariq Sims
Panthers: Apisai Korosau
Rabbitohs: Glenn Stewart, Tim Grant
Raiders: Blake Austin, Iosia Soliola, Josh Hodgson, Frank Paul Nu’ausala, Sam Williams
Roosters: Blake Ferguson
Sea Eagles: Willie Mason
Sharks: Michael Ennis, Jack Bird, Ben Barba
Storm: Dale Finucane, Marika Koroibete, Blake Green
Tigers: Kevin Naiqama
Titans: Kierran Moseley, Eddy Pettybourne
Warriors: Ryan Hoffman
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