Kalyn Ponga, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Valentine Holmes will enter the 2018 Dally M Medal ceremony as favourites to take out the top individual honour in the game. Join The Roar for live coverage of the count and all the other awards from 8:30pm (AEST).
When voting went behind closed doors after 12 rounds of competition (four rounds earlier than usual), Ponga was equal second on 16 votes, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck a further four votes back on 12.
The leader at that point was James Maloney, who will be also in calculations to take out the games top honour.
While logic would dictate the trio are the ones who are most likely to fight out the crown, Holmes is throwing a spanner in the works.
Even though he was well off the pace at the halfway point of the season, he has set the world on fire during the second half of the year and would have picked up a mountain of points.
Did he get enough? Only time will tell, but without a single player being a dominant force all season long, it’s hard to say one way or another.
Ponga has the advantage of not having points stolen from him, but the disadvantage of injury late in the season and not winning many games.
In the other award categories, coach of the year is likely to go to South Sydney leader Anthony Seibold, while the captain’s gong could also end up at the same club with Greg Inglis putting in a strong season. Of course, Trent Robinson and Craig Bellamy could also throw their name up for coach of the year, but given pre-season expectations, Seibold has done a sensational job.
Rookie of the year is turning into quite the fight. Jamayne Isaako has led the league in scoring this season and played all 25 games for the Broncos, while Rhyse Martin at Canterbury and AJ Brimson at the Titans have also been outstanding.
In women’s player of the year, the candidates are everywhere, with the likes of Chelsea Baker, Isabelle Kelly, Zahara Temara, Ali Brigginshaw, Sam Bremner, Brittany Breayley, Ruan Sims, Jess Sergis and Hila Mariu set to battle it out.
Prediction
I’m going to go with Ponga to take out the Dally M. He has had an outstanding season and has the advantage of playing in a Newcastle side who were without the only player stealing points from him, Mitchell Pearce, for a considerable length of time.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2018 Dally M Medal Ceremony from 8:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 8:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox League 502
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now
Leaderboard after Round 12
1. James Maloney (Panthers) – 17 votes
=2. Kalyn Ponga (Knights) – 16 votes
=2. Luke Brooks (Tigers) – 16 votes
=2. Andrew Fifita (Sharks) – 16 votes
5. Gareth Widdop (Dragons) – 14 votes
=6. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) – 12 votes
=6. Jai Arrow (Titans) – 12 votes
=6. Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) – 12 votes
=9. Mitchell Pearce (Knights) – 11 votes
=9. Benji Marshall (Tigers) – 11 points
=9. Ashley Taylor (Titans) – 11 points
Renegade
Roar Guru
Cheers Scott... probably the only contentious one is Leilua for centre... everything else would be hard to argue against.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries Dutski. Thanks for following.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's not good from my side... Fixed.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Mitchell Pearce to slot in if Cronk is out?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll just about do it here. Be sure to keep an eye out for the report on site soon. Thanks for joining me this evening and hopefully you enjoyed the coverage here on The Roar. We will be back on Sunday for all three games on grand final day, starting with the NRLW at 1:35pm (AEST). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dally M Medal Ceremony 2018
Final Dally M leaderboard for 2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) – 29 votes Kalyn Ponga (Knights) - 27 votes Luke Brooks (Tigers) - 26 votes Valentine Holmes (Sharks) - 25 votes Mitchell Pearce (Knights) - 23 votes Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) - 19 votes Valentine Holmes (Sharks) - 19 votes Cameron Munster (Storm) - 19 votes Ash Taylor (Titans) - 18 votes Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) - 18 votes Issac Luke (Warriors) - 18 votes Team of the year Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) Winger: Blake Ferguson (Roosters) Centre: Joseph Leilua (Raiders) Five-eighth: Cameron Munster (Storm) Halfback: Luke Broosk (Tigers) Prop: Andrew Fifita (Sharks) Hooker: Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) Second Row: Josh Jackson (Bulldogs) Lock: Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) Interchange: Jazz Tevaga (Warriors) Other awards Coach of the year: Anthony Seibold (Rabbitohs) Captain of the year: Cameron Smith (Storm) Rookie of the year: Jamayne Isaako (Broncos) Provan-Summons medal: Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) Ken Stephen medal: Ryan James (Titans) Headline moment of the year (Peter Frilingos Memorial Award): Women's State of Origin match Dally M women's player of the year: Brittany Breayley (Broncos) Top try-scorer (Ken Irvine Medal): David Fusitu'a (Warriors)Renegade
Roar Guru
A lot of emotion and passion there, that was awesome! Well done to Roger and you can see how much it means to him, his old man and his fellow Warriors and Kiwis. Congrats to all the winners!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, there you have it. The 2018 Dally M Medal goes to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of Kalyn Ponga and Luke Brooks. Mitchell Pearce is just six points off the lead despite missing eight games, which is quite a monumental effort as well. The full report from the awards ceremony will be up on the site shortly.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Ah, damn.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nice touch - Issac Luke leading a spontaneous haka for RTS from the crowd.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here is the full team of the year for 2018. Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) Winger: Blake Ferguson (Roosters) Centre: Joseph Leilua (Raiders) Five-eighth: Cameron Munster (Storm) Halfback: Luke Broosk (Tigers) Prop: Andrew Fifita (Sharks) Hooker: Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) Second Row: Josh Jackson (Bulldogs) Lock: Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) Interchange: Jazz Tevaga (Warriors)
Alexanda
Guest
Mitchell Pearce 6 points off the win and missed 8 games. Wow
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tuivasa-Sheck "Wow, this is crazy. I remember the first time I came to these awards in 2013 and Cooper Cronk won. I remember sitting there and thinking it would be a dream to win this award. "Truly blessed to be up here holding this trophy and wearing this medal. "Thankyou to my parents. They keep me grounded which is important. "I want to thank my team, my club. Jazz (Tevaga), you're the man. To the coaching staff, you guys have been awesome. To the players, you guys push me every day. Even though we weren't going so well, we were buzzing and there every day."
Scott Pryde
Expert
Final Dally M leaderboard for 2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) – 29 votes Kalyn Ponga (Knights) - 27 votes Luke Brooks (Tigers) - 26 votes Valentine Holmes (Sharks) - 25 votes Mitchell Pearce (Roosters) - 23 votes Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) - 19 votes Valentine Holmes (Sharks) - 19 votes Cameron Munster (Storm) - 19 votes Ash Taylor (Titans) - 18 votes Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) - 18 votes Issac Luke (Warriors) - 18 votes
Scott Pryde
Expert
ROUND 25 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 3 votes Mitchell Pearce - 3 votes Valentine Holmes - 3 votes Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the fullback of the year and Dally M Medalist for 2018
Scott Pryde
Expert
A reminder. If Tuivasa-Sheck or Brooks get a point, it's a tie. If one of them gets two or three, they win. If both Tuivasa-Sheck and Brooks get two or three, they tie for the lead.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Legitimately hope it’s a 3 way tie; all 3 of them deserve the gong. Ponga not playing might just leave him short of the line though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
We are going to hold fullback of the year. Back to the count for Round 25. Scott Morrison and Johnathan Thurston here to present fullback and Dally M of the year.