Cooper Cronk’s historic week could continue on Wednesday night with the Melbourne star headlining a strong contingent of players for the Dally M medal.
Just four days after joining the rare 300-game club, the Storm halfback can become only the eighth player to claim the game’s highest gong on multiple occasions at The Star in Sydney.
However the Queensland and Australian No.7 faces stiff opposition from teammate Cameron Smith, as well as Canberra’s Josh Hodgson and North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo.
Cronk, Smith and Taumalolo, together with Gold Coast prop Ryan James, were all locked on 16 points when voting went behind closed doors at the end of round 16.
Hodgson, who would be the first Englishman to win the award, was two points behind but will be stripped of points for a one-week suspension in round 23.
But it might not have even be enough to stop a vintage Cronk, who set up 29 tries, had 22 line breaks and scored 12 tries himself on his way to leading his teammates to a grand final.
The Storm lost only two games from round 17 onwards.
A win would add to his 2013 gong, joining Peter Sterling, Mick Potter, Gavin Miller, Cliff Lyons, Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne as multiple winners.
Reigning Dally M winner Thurston won the medal a record fourth time last year.
A win for Smith, Hodgson or Taumalolo would be the first time a forward has claimed the award since the Storm skipper took out the medal for his first honour in 2006.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, Titans counterpart Neil Henry and the Raiders’ Ricky Stuart are all in contention to win the coach of the year award.
Stuart’s reborn Raiders could feature up to four players in the team of the year, with Jordan Rapana, Joey Leilua, Josh Papalii and Hodgson in line for positional prizes.
Stuart has been praised for leading Canberra to their first preliminary final in almost 20 years, while Henry has also been credited for pushing an underrated Titans team to the finals.
Flanagan’s Sharks will contend for a maiden grand final, just two years after the club was brought to its knees during the ASADA scandal in 2013-14.
Gold Coast youngster Ashley Taylor is the raging favourite to beat out Penrith teenager Nathan Cleary as rookie of the year.
When Dally M voting went behind closed doors
16 points – Cooper Cronk (Storm), Ryan James (Titans), Cameron Smith (Storm), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
14 points – Josh Hodgson (Raiders), Corey Norman (Eels), Andrew Fifita (Sharks)
13 points – Michael Ennis (Sharks), Darius Boyd (Broncos)
12 points – Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Jimmmy
Guest
I would love to see a forward get it for a change. He or Jason Taumalolo .
bigJ
Guest
thats worth a 20 dollar bet, people remember as always gamble responsbile or better yet not at all
The Barry
Roar Guru
Just had a quick look and saw Cronk at $4 for Dally M, $5 for CC and Melbourne $1.82. That would be $36.40. He's paying $15 for first tryscorer so you could have Cronk (DM) / Cronk (CC) / Cronk (FT) / Melbourne and get odds of $546.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm not sure if they accept bets on the Dally M. I'm inventing these odds but they'd be in the neighbourhood: Cronk say $3.50 for the Dally M, about $7 for the Clive Churchill and Melbourne $1.80 for the GF. That would put it at about $44.
bigJ
Guest
does sportbet do that sort of thing?? what is that bloke's name for sportsbet, Joel something?? Not into gaming just wondering if someone had thought that up, you think the odds would be at least 30-1
Fish
Guest
I am on a smokey, Ryan James. Had an outstanding season, and finished even stronger than he started. Do not be surprised to see the big man bag the medal. I have no idea what he has to do to break into the Blues squad. I guess they are just that good they don't need him? Cronk has had a great year, but as some have already brought up, Smith would of swallowed a fair few of those top points as well, especially the last four rounds. Don't count Smithy out either. Big Lolo is a chance, but again Thursto upped the ante toward the end and the big man went off the boil for a couple of rounds as well. Would be a great achievement for him. He may even take some eggs to the big night for fun. One thing for sure this year the Dally M has been very competitive, and that's a good thing.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That would be an amazing quadrella. Wonder what a multi of Cronk into Cronk into Melbourne would be paying?
matth
Guest
On that basis is Ryan James a dark horse? The Titans climbed the ladder after voting went private and James was on top at that point. He continued to be very good for the Titans and might not have much competition to take points off him, except maybe Taylor.
bigJ
Guest
I agree Barry, Cronk is going to have great week, 300 games Dally M and premership all in one week, that will be a first (correct me if im wrong) he maybe even could go the grand slam and get the Clive Churchill as well.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Cronk Hodgson Maloney Or something like that.
Old School
Roar Rookie
The Raiders had a great 10 game win streak to finish the season but I don't think Hodgson really shined over that period. Other Raiders players were having blinders taking points off Hodgson also.
matth
Guest
Depends what they value most. Cleary was excellent but only payed 12 games or so. Taylor was very good for an entire season. The other option would be that winger from Melbourne who score about 362 tries in his 15 games.
matth
Guest
Well in AFL they are ineligible once suspended, so maybe he's lucky. I guess it depends whether you want 'best and fairest' or just 'best'. Frankly we play a high collision sport and things go wrong so I would agree with you. Otherwise a front rower will basically never win
Chris Love
Roar Guru
My vote would go to Hodgson. Surely JT/Taumalolo and Smith/Cronk are tanking points off each other each week.
MAX
Guest
raging favourite? Ashley Taylor was very good but Nathan Cleary was excellent and I expect him to be top Rookie.
Kurt
Guest
cronk will have his numbers split, me thinks
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cronk has been fantastic all year and would deserve the medal. He had no slump during or post origin. It would be a great and deserved achievement. I'd like the NRL to look at the system of deducting points for suspensions. Suspended players lose the opportunity to get points for the weeks they're suspended so the penalty is inbuilt. Deducting further points seems unnecessary. But they're the rules so Hodgson will effectively have to beat Cronk et al by at least three points to win.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I'll have whatever your on.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Ben Barba from the clouds to take his second