The NRL has reached its mid-year summit, and as the game continues down that long slope towards the finals, it’s time to look at the players who are putting their hand up for Dally M Rookie of the Year honours.
Based on past winners, the Rookie of the Year award is often a poisoned chalice.
Among great winners such as Steve Menzies, Mat Rogers and Jarryd Hayne, there have been many that have fallen off the radar after a great first season; Tim Smith and Jack Elsegood ring any bells?
Here are my top four picks to take over from reigning champion Matt Gillett as Dally M Rookie of the Year.
The Favourite
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
Two rookie halfbacks in two years seems a huge gamble for a team that should be challenging for the title, but after Trent Hodkinson left for the Bulldogs, Cherry-Evans has stepped into the playmakers role and led Manly to equal first place on the ladder.
He put in inspired performances in big wins over the Broncos, North Queensland and the Bulldogs, and has led the Sea Eagles to a 100 percent win record at Brookvale Oval.
Cherry-Evans has shown the maturity to lead a team of seasoned representative players around the park, and his blossoming relationships with both Kieran Foran and Brett Stewart should give Manly fans plenty of hope for the coming seasons.
The Contenders
Jack Reed (Brisbane Broncos)
Queensland and Australian representative Israel Folau’s departure at the end of last season didn’t evoke anguish amongst Broncos fans, as his supposed replacement, Greg Inglis, had quite a decent resume.
But when Inglis bailed who was the big-name signing to fill that void?
A rednut brickie from Bribie Island with zero NRL games under his belt?
Fourteen games and six tries later, everyone is asking where Reed has been for the past two seasons.
He has shored up Brisbane’s leaky left-edge defence, turning in big performances against the likes of Jamal Idris and Willie Tonga.
He’s also been a handful in attack, his tackle-busts and one-hand offloads setting up his winger for many a run down the sideline.
Tariq Sims (North Queensland Cowboys)
Sims has been immense in the past two months; bone-jarring defence and barnstorming runs have made him the hottest forward prospect in the NRL, some already linking him with a move to one of the big Sydney clubs.
The Cowboys resurgence this season has no doubt benefited from Sims’ aggression and he has turned into a bona fide third attacking option for the Cowboys after Jonathan Thurston and Matty Bowen.
He has made well over 1000 run metres for the year, topped off by four barnstorming tries.
Ricky Stuart included him in Origin preparations for the second game this year, no doubt a sign that Sims has a massive future in the NRL.
The Outsider
Elijah Taylor (New Zealand Warriors)
After scoring two tries in last year’s Toyota Cup Grand Final, Taylor was earmarked for greatness by the Warriors.
However like all Warriors players, Taylor tends to fly under the radar in Australia.
Since his debut in their round four win over the Sharks he has proved an indispensible part of Ivan Cleary’s side, turning in 80-minute performances in the last two rounds.
Adept at either centre or backrow, Taylor has churned out a whopping 401 tackles so far this season, second only at the Warriors to the defensive machine that is Michael Luck.
Add to his stats two tries and an innate ability to offload amongst traffic. Don’t be surprised if he is picked to represent New Zealand at this year’s Four Nations.
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