There’s something amiss with the Dally M awards.
The list of winners have been announced, and yet it doesn’t seem to reflect the games I watch week in, week out.
One reason for this is that when you look at the full season, including Origin games and the finals played to date, it’s hard not to find a good argument that some of the players in the Team of the Year were not the best in their position.
Obviously, some were injured or out for rep games, but my point is that the Dally M awards are not necessarily representative of the best players of the season.
For starters, there are 17 players in a team, but only ten positional awards in the Dally M. This means there is uneven competition because only one award is given to winger, centre, second rower and prop. Picking just one player for these positions means there is far more conjecture than say, for fullback or hooker.
This year’s Dally M winners needs unpacking.
Fullback: Billy Slater (Storm)
A deserved winner, given the 34-year-old’s form and dominance.
Winger: Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
Canberra had a very ordinary year, and Rapana didn’t emulate his dominance of last year.
The two Storm wingers, Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr, destroyed most other teams in the competition. Kyle Feldt and Akuila Uate also had outstanding seasons, as did Semi Radradra, whose try-scoring efforts helped the Eels finish in the top four.
Centre: Dylan Walker (Manly)
Okay, this is just straight out bias, but there were many other centres more deserving to win this than Walker. Brisbane’s James Roberts was a danger every game he played and should have been in NSW’s Origin side. Roberts has the ability to ignite any attack and his form with the Broncos was phenomenal.
And what about Will Chambers, who was simply outstanding for the Storm and Queensland? I’ll happily argue that Chambers is a better attacking and defensive centre than Walker.
Dane Gagai, playing on a losing team, was the Knights’ best, although he reserved his most damaging games for Origin. Michael Jennings is another centre who could easily have won.
Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop (Dragons)
Can’t quibble with ‘Gas’ winning this, as he was responsible for everything positive the Dragons did all season. However, Cameron Munster must have been close.
(AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)
Halfback: Michael Morgan (Cowboys)
No question here, although if I was Cooper Cronk I’d have to wonder what it takes to be the best halfback in the NRL.
Lock: Paul Gallen (Sharks)
Sorry, but here’s where the judges and I part company. Sure, Gallen won a lot of games for the Sharks, but he cost them plenty with dumb penalties and selfish play.
Every week, Josh McGuire was the form lock. I’d make McGuire my second pick in any team (after Cameron Smith). His work rate, ability to gain those few extra metres in tackles, offloads around the ruck and the fact he can play 80 minutes make McGuire the best lock in the game.
Second-row: Matt Gillett (Broncos)
Picking only one second-row forward is always going to be difficult. Gillett is the backbone of the Broncos defence and he deserves this.
However, half a dozen players could equally be the Dally M winner in this position: Wade Graham, Tohu Harris, Ethan Lowe, Boyd Cordner, Kenny Edwards, Jason Taumalolo (who could also win as a lock) and Aiden Guerra to name a few.
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Storm)
Best player in the NRL, full stop.
Prop: Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
This one really blew my mind. Maybe his very ordinary Origin series has clouded my judgment, but I wouldn’t have thought Woods was anywhere near the best prop in 2017.
Sam Tagataese, Martin Taupau, Jesse Bromwich, Scott Bolton, Nathan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Paul Vaughan or Dylan Napa are players I rate above Woods.
Interchange: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers)
One of the brothers Trbojevic (Jake or Tom) surely should be the first pick as the Interchange player. Peter Wallace wouldn’t be out of place here either.
Looking at the distribution of players from the NRL teams, not a single player from Parramatta made it. That’s odd considering what an outstanding season they had.
The Storm have two Dally M winners but if Smith and Slater are there, you have to wonder what Cronk, Munster, Harris and Bromwich need to do to be rated as the best player in their position.
Likewise, the Cowboys’ Morgan got a gong, but not a member of their incredibly versatile and seemingly unstoppable pack.
Aem
Guest
Jesus no. Fullback: Tom Trbojevic - Slater was outstanding in his return. Turbo was better - by a fair bit, too. It's scary to think what that guy could do over the course of his career. Wing: Jordan Rapana - The Storm wingers are benefiting from playing on the end of an outstanding team - they are both very good players, but neither has impressed me like Rapana, who has had a frankly astounding year only diminished by the year he had in 2016. Cotric was good too, but not at the same level yet. Centre: Hard one. Lots of guys who were really good in one or two areas, but struggled in others. I'm satisfied with Dylan Walker, though there are a few guys who could claim this without complaint from me. I'll stick with Walker though - this year was a reminder of just how devastating he can be in attack with a little bit of early ball. Five-Eighth: Straight shoot-out between Widdop and Cody Walker. Widdop probably edges it as Walker played at fullback also and Widdop won more games for his team. Halfback: Morgan is about right. Cronk also had a slow start and hasn't run as hot as Morgan. Cleary also had a tough start, Pearce loses points for going missing at the wrong moments, and Thurston missed most of the year - Johnson missed a fair few games too. Taylor isn't quite there yet - though I expect it will happen for him, and soon. Hooker: Cameron Smith. Some years it's competitive - this was not one of those years. Prop: Paul Vaughan or Martin Taupau. The two clearly outstanding props this year, I'd probably lean towards Taupau - but both were nigh-on unplayable for large parts of the season, and carried huge loads for their teams. Second Row: Tough - Gillett, Cordner, Papalii. Pick one. Proctor took time to find his feet at the Titans, Harris spent much of the season injured and the potential bolter Hess ended up playing lots of minutes in the middle instead of the edge. Lock: It's Taumalolo. Duh. Not Gallen. Not McGuire. Not anyone else. He's the best player in the game right now, and a failure to pick him was simply a disgrace. (and he hasn't played on the edge - second row - for years now!)
James T
Guest
As a parra fan I don't rate woods any higher than mannah, which ain't that high. Somehow all that matter seem to think woods is the next Lazo. Yet to see him hit the line hard, surprised he doesn't start his run up backwards. Honestly saifiti and Paulo are better props but don't get attention because they play outside Sydney
James T
Guest
Agree, teddy was the best fullback except that he didn't have his side creating opportunities for him
James T
Guest
Didn't burgess play most of the year at lock. Gallen didn't deserve it, for me burgess would be fighting brown for second spot, behind taumalolo.
Mycall
Guest
Very surprised that he didn't even make the runners up lists...
Mycall
Guest
The argument against that goes something like this: The voting is unfairly biased against players in teams with a lot of good players, for example, let's say Bromwich had the best season out of all the props but was not as good as Smith, Cronk and Slater so rarely polled any points. He would still, arguably, be the best prop even though he didn't poll many points.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
Woods as Prop of the Year was one of the most laughable things I have seen in years. Was average for NSW and was fine for the Tigers but nothing out of this world.The Dally Awards night is bordering on irrelevance as it and this just makes it more of a non event.
chivasdude
Guest
You can always argue the merits of individuals in a situation like this. But I do agree with the thrust of the article that there were a few off choices in an otherwise good team. Winger of the year? One of the Storm fellows (Vunivalu for mine). Top try scorer of the year after all. And the point in the article was not that Rapana was ordinary, but that Canberra was. And I agree that Rapana was better last year. Centre of the year: Will Chambers surely. Lock of the Year: How can you go past the dominant forward of the game in Jason Taumalolo? Honorary mention to McGuire. Prop of the year: Campbell-Gillard or Paul Vaughan. But really, this is just for debate purposes.
Jacko
Guest
Hard to believe that Taumalolo wasnt at least Lock of the year.......His stats this year are 800mtrs better than last year when he won the Daly M player of the year and on Sunday he only needs 55 mtrs to run for the most Meters ever for a forward in a season
Paul
Guest
The bottom line is Widdop, not McCrone. Widdop is the captain and supposedly a marquee playmaker but it's debatable to say he was better than a guy on probably not much more than a minimum wage who no other club wanted. Of course there is no reliable indication any other club wants Widdop either. Only supercoach McGregor and the Dragons old boys club. That is why the club won't be a genuine threat anytime soon. Doust, McGregor and the old boys coaching staff and Widdop need to go!
Mordac
Guest
I agree. He should be halfback and captain in Canada. And Widdop should be 5/8 or an interchange utility in the same side. Problem is his defence is so bad. Does Canada have a second division for Widdop?
Emcie
Roar Guru
Now that's a team I could get behind
Johnb
Guest
Using ineptness instead of ineptitude leaves him here probably;)
Ken
Guest
You obviously meant guerra isn't playing in the grand final because he's not good enough. , I understand youhave this unhealthy anti Storm fixation but try to keep up old chap .
Ken
Guest
Scuba welcome to the world of the mindless insult ,this is a sporting forum not a political one so I may ask the moderators to rule on Mr Boingos comments , using the word " ineptness "in a sentence should disqualify him from the league site and send him to the rugby union private school site lol , you don't have to use the word " inept " to come across in a league working mans site as a pretentious wordsmith lol , ooops I used a big word " pretentious " have no idea what it means ?, may have to google it .
The Barry
Roar Guru
I've got to admit I'm an Edwards fan myself. He's a talented player, tough and aggressive. He lets himself down at times with some very silly juvenile grubby plays and I think that's all some people see. But his overall game is much better than that
Ken
Guest
Yeh current nsw blues are t good enough to hold a maroons jock strap , maybe next year when finucane and addo Carr play for for the blues ,along with Roberts from the broncos , now that would be a lightning quick pairing
The Barry
Roar Guru
Guerra doesn't play for the Storm?
Ken
Guest
Lol no storm players cus they are obviously rubbish oh wait , best defence best attack all year, minor premiers , into the grand final lol , leading try scorer , you see when you read these post how silly and biased it is , it's not even informative it's a opinion not even based on common sense an facts .
Ian
Guest
Widdop is a good opportunist and tries hard (except in defence). The Manly game this year was a good example. Widdop was on hand after a few Manly errors that ended up in tries. His playmaking is next to non-existent and his running game is non existent unless running across field or even backwards counts for a running game. This is why he was absolutely terrible in just as many or more games than he was good. It's been that way for 4 years. But better than Norman, Milford, Munster, Malony and others is a patently absurd idea.