I simply couldn’t wait until the end of the season for an awards night, so I have donned the tuxedo, drank two bottles of champagne, and come up with the ten NRL players I feel have had the biggest impact on the competition so far this season.
Blues gamble on 19 year old half
It should be noted in compiling my list that I decided it could be perhaps best be entitled ‘The 10 best surprises of 2008 … so far’, as I’ve tried to look at players who perhaps weren’t expected to perform with such diligence or brillance at the start of the season.
I can’t see much fun in pointing out that Cameron Smith has had a good year or predicting that Greg Inglis has a big future.
Many will no doubt see this list as a rival to the Dally M’s, for some it may be a career highlight to have made it. So, without any further hesitation let me unveil my half-term Big 10.
10. Jesse Royal (Newcastle) The Knights have proved plenty of people wrong with an excellent first half of the season. Nearly every young player they have brought through has done well, but Jesse Royal has been one of the best. A young forward who can seemingly unload at will while also doing plenty of the tough stuff in the middle. Maybe, just maybe, Brian Smith is onto something.
9. Ben Te’o (Wests Tigers) Big and strong, Te’o has really given the Tigers pack some muscle while also fitting into their freewheeling style. He gets bonus points for not having an agent and will probably get himself a nice deal for next year on the back of some great form.
8. Ian Henderson (Warriors) A high work rate is not something that many forwards from across the Tasman can be accused of, but Ian Henderson has shone in a pack that has been incredibly disappointing. Great dummy half runner and an excellent defender. And what’s more, he plays for Scotland!
7. Jason Nightingale (Dragons) A horror match on Friday nearly saw him slip off the list, but the Dragons winger stills hold his spot thanks to some other starring roles. The Kiwi has been an excellent finisher for Nathan Brown’s men and his work under the high ball has been nothing short of outstanding.
6. Terry Campese (Raiders) The much maligned five-eighth has been at the heart of yet another over-achieving season for the Raiders. The big unit seems to have finally worked out how to use his bulk to his advantage when hitting the line, while his guile gives away his heritage. An unsung hero behind Todd Carney.
5. Mark Minchello (Titans) The Titans pack has won plenty of plaudits but few have highlighted Minichello. What he lacks in class in comparison to the likes of Luke Bailey he looks to makes up for with good old fashion effort. His hard line running shows plenty of heart which fans always appreciate.
4. Mitchell Pearce (Roosters) Looked well out of his depth last year, but to his credit has really struck up an excellent partnership with Braith Anasta. His short kicking game is now close to the best in the game.
3. Brett Seymour (Sharks) ‘Buster’ looked all washed up when Ricky Stuart dropped him to park football, but Seymour is now starting to fulfil the potential he showed at the Broncos. The Sharks have plenty of grunt but Seymour has partnered with Kimmorley to lead them around the park with aplomb.
2. Chris Bailey (Knights) Perhaps the best discovery of the NRL season, a virtual no-name at the beginning of the season, but by round six he had clubs queuing up for his signature. Bailey looks dangerous literally nearly every time he touches the ball and is one of those rare players that look just as comfortable at five-eighth as he does in the second row.
1. Feleti Mateo (Eels) Mateo’s last two months have been phenomenal. The Tongan looks like the best five-eighth at Parramatta since Brett Kenny even though he is only there because of Tim Smith’s personal dramas. If the player of the year award was given out at the half-way mark (which it isn’t), Mateo would be a shoe-in. What a pity he can’t play for NSW and Tonga in the same year.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Canberra forward Josh Papali'i will miss next week's clash with the Sydney Roosters after he was banned for a week for his part in…
Canberra raised a few eyebrows when they re-signed Ricky Stuart earlier this week to a long-term contract extension but perhaps they know what they're…
After inking a four-year contract extension, Ricky Stuart says he wants to change every Canberra player's life by sharing the feeling of winning a…
How many weeks are left until we stop caring about the NRL again? This is the golden period of the season, with every team…
Canberra have pulled off one of the great comebacks to steal a 26-24 victory over Manly at 4 Pines Park with Hudson Young touching…
Anzac Round is done and another NRL touchpoint is ticked off amid the onward march of the 2024 season. It helps to see things…
