This year’s Dally M Awards will be announced in grand final week. I like the revised timeslot, it will add some extra lustre/prestige to the code’s biggest week of the year.
But I am not happy with the way these annual awards are judged, nor am I comfortable with the fact that the winners are backline players, virtually year after year.
If you are familiar with my background, I used to be one of the Dally M judges as a league writer with The Mirror, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and finally, The Daily Telegraph.
As reporters, we would go to cover the games from Friday to Monday night, and submit our 3-2-1 votes when we returned to the office.
That system has changed a lot. Some writers might get a say these days but the majority of judges are former players and from where I sit, these guys take good care of their ‘mates’ and clubs, week after week.
It doesn’t seem as fair now as it seemed in the old days.
When voting went behind the proverbial ‘closed doors’ after Round 16, there was a hardly a forward to be found in the top 10, let alone the top 20.
There were three forwards (Robbie Farah, Corey Parker and Aaron Woods) in the top 10, but realistically, there is no way any of these guys will poll more points than Messrs Cronk, Inglis, Sutton, Mullen, Cherry-Evans, Thurston or Carney.
So, to me, there is a major problem there. Forwards are not really in the running for Dally M glory.
I’ll have a crack at tipping the Dally M positional awards but I welcome you to challenge me on any/all of my guestimates.
You will notice The Roar has added a few extra ‘awards’ so don’t be shy! Make your submissions, they are as valid as anyone else’s.
These are the awards I would hand out: feel free to commend or criticise my choices!
FULLBACK: Greg Inglis
WING: David Simmons
CENTRE: Jamie Lyon
FIVE-EIGHTH: Kieran Foran
HALF-BACK: Cooper Cronk
LOCK: Boyd Cordner
SECOND-ROWER: Corey Parker
PROP: Sam Burgess
HOOKER: Matt Ballin/Isaac Luke (tied)
CAPTAIN: Cameron Smith
COACH: Trent Robinson
ROOKIE: Anthony Milford
UTILITY PLAYER: Matt Gillett
REP PLAYER: Cameron Smith
BEST BUY: Sonny Bill Williams/James Segeyaro (tie)
WORST BUY: Dave Taylor/Tony Williams (tie)
BEST REFEREE: Vacant – I cannot name one. Over to you.
WORST REFEREE: Vacant – I cannot name one. Over to you.
BEST ONE-ON-ONE DEFENDER: Adam Docker
BEST TRY: David Nofoaluma
BEST TV COMMENTATOR: Warren Smith (Fox Sports)
BEST RADIO COMMENTATOR: David Morrow (ABC)
BIGGEST D#+%#HEAD: Josh Dugan/Blake Ferguson/Ben Barba
BEST RL WEBSITE: The Roar – no betting!
BEST NRL ROARER: ????? It’s now over to you Roarers!
Meesta Cool
Guest
How about 'The Bird Award -- for best dive!. I was amongst a lot of real supporters who 'gave him The BIRD" last week.. it was so funny, clutching his eye and throat when tackled just below the collar...
Linedropout
Roar Pro
We'll just never get the chance to see that day...
Bearfax
Guest
He has some great moves. Sloppy at times but always in the game and isnt fazed by heavy knocks. He side steps effectively and has speed to burn to avoid being brought down. He manoeuvres his team into top position even if they dont deserve it and one wonders sometimes if the refereeing overlooks his indiscretions a little too often. Great at putting the boot in and gains great yardage that way. Passing game a little wanting but he has great scope for the other teams weaknesses. He plays mainly up the centre in a devil may care manner but too often wings it. Rarely seems to succumb to injury and handles penalties like water off a horses back (oh that's duck isnt it...same thought though). I see a bright future for the lad and I suspect he'll be a loyal one team player. Yep I give my vote to Oikee also.
Steve b
Guest
Oikee by a mile he gives our intire workshop a laugh and brings a smile to all with his rants the roar should be paying him !
Adrien
Guest
I'd go for Moylan as rookie of the year. The kid has been good AND consistent playing in a struggling team. I think there's too much hype around George Burgess. Milford is a class touch footy player but not up to NRL standards yet. Dylan Walker could also get a mention in this category, he had a good season except for the last game against the Roosters. Tim simona has been brilliant also but he may have played not enough to get the award, same goes for Napa. It's a shame Shaun Johnson has been so inconsistent this year because on his day he is the best player in the comp.
Knight Vision
Guest
yep he's got shoulders of glass. Always in the top 5 for missed tackles and then gets talked up as a future immortal .....what a joke
Knight Vision
Guest
Spot on distant Knight , it bewilders me as to why Mullen is always left out of the picture. Never talked up in the media and as you mentioned not only the best kicking game out of all the others mentioned but by far the best defender.For mine he is the best in the comp.
rh
Guest
Full back- inglis winger - James mcmanus centre- Lyon 5/8 Thurston 1/2- Adam Reynolds prop- fifita hooker- Jake Freind 2row SBW lock Corey Parker buy of the year-Alebert kelly Worst buy- Baith i'm shi*t Anasta most improved from start of the year till now- Ray thompson Rookie- Milford
Pest
Guest
Best lisp ,,,,, j j j j j j j Jimmy ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
As far as the Storm players are concerned ... Would Inglis's stat's be better than Slater's ??? He, GI I mean, was out for a number of weeks and he hasn't really reached his potentional since ... Also, Slater is the Rep Fullback and will be picked in that position for Australia at years end ... Cooper Cronk was exceptional at the beginning of the season, but I think it will be a close call between him and DCE in the end ... If Cameron Smith isn't awarded as the best #9, I'll be surprised and probably will be the Dally M winner for 2013 ... Also, Waqa and Chambers could be outside chances, possibly pooling more votes than most would think - I'll except it if I'm wrong though ... It all depends who where the dodo's giving out the 3, 2 and 1 points for each game in each round I suspect ??? :-/
fishes
Guest
Prop of the year Fifita without a doubt
HayJ.
Guest
So being a 5-8th is just about those 2 stats is it? What about defence? JT is the worst defender in the game.
Jack Daniels
Roar Pro
Oh, and Tim Simona another breakthrough
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
+ 1
Jack Daniels
Roar Pro
Mine is FLB Inglis WNG Taufua CEN Jennings 5/8 Maloney 1/2 Cherry-Evans FFR Fifita 2ND SBW LCK Merrin Best Vale Buy: Horo/Segeyaro Best Buy: Maloney Worst Buy: Taylor Coach: Trent Robinson Try: Nofoaluma Captain: Farah Breakout: Fifita Rookie: Milford/G. Burgess (not sure if eligible) Fighter in a Bad Team (weird category, I know): Fulton/Hayne Workhorse: Fensom Honourable mentions go to Parker, Ferguson, Dugan, Hayne, S. Burgess, Carney, Thurston and probably a few others
Jack Daniels
Roar Pro
Surely Fifita wins prop of the year and Cordner played nearly every game as 11 and Parker has play, I think, every game at lock
Tim Prentice
Expert
I'll second The Eye's earlier comment re Thurston. Eye, eye Sir. JT has tried all season to spark the Cows but nothing like he has tried since Neil Henry got the bullet. I, like many others, are wondering why. As far as I can see the Cowboys are still using the attacking and defensive patterns coach Henry put into place long ago.
Renegade
Guest
Thanks Oiks/Willy/CS, Yes, I genuinely believe these guys have been in the best in each category too ;) The majority of them should be rewarded by playing in the World Cup at the end of the year.
Tim Prentice
Expert
C'mon Jim. It is a matter of personal choice. He made his choice long ago and good luck to him. Shameful? Way too harsh.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
I don't know if Parra supporters would agree with you