The Nothing But League writing team has put their heads together to come up with the nine best players of the 2017 NRL season.
Their selections are as follows:
Fullback:
Tom Trbojevic – three votes/ Billy Slater three votes
Michael Gordon – one vote
If ever there was a player that embodied the lyrics in Chumbawumba’s smash hit I get knocked down, it is Billy Slater. Since returning in round three, Slater has added another notch to his belt, winning his ninth Origin series, and is about to embark on another NRL finals campaign. One more premiership would be a fitting reward for Slater’s resilience and mental resolve.
Many were surprised to see Trbojevic go without an Origin jumper in 2017, but the young Manly number one hasn’t let that phase him. He has played a crucial role in Manly’s journey to the finals and has put on a show at times during the season. Not only is he a try-scoring machine, his defence has improved markedly and it has made all the difference at the back for Manly.
As reward for his efforts, he is the joint winner of NBL’s fullback of the year.
Winger:
Suliasi Vunivalu – four votes
Jordan Rapana – two votes
Alex Johnston and Nick Cotric – one vote each
Most of what Suli does on the field belongs under a big top. But that’s why we love him. In full flight he is poetry in motion; when scoring a try he defies gravity. His fly kick against the Roosters might go down as one of the most bizarre incidents in rugby league history, but it is unpredictable moments like these, and his remarkable strength, that has pushed him over the line as NBL’s winger of the year.
Centre:
Will Chambers – three votes/ James Roberts – three votes
Dylan Walker – two votes
The writers here at NBL simply couldn’t split Roberts and Chambers, with both earning three votes to finish equal first. James Roberts has been perhaps the most frustrating player in the competition this season. At times he dazzles; at others he looks out of ideas. It is his best performances that have caught the eye of NBL’s team of writers. The speed he posses has put him in contention for Origin selection, and there can be no higher praise than that.
If there is a player in the NRL that is more consistent than Will Chambers, I’d like to hear about them. His name might not be put up in lights like the Cronks and Smiths of the world, but he rarely fails to get the job done. Not only does he earn the top gong for wingers, he wins the award for the most dependable player in the NRL.
Five-Eight:
Luke Keary – four votes
Michael Morgan – two votes
Anthony Milford and Gareth Widdop – one vote each
Luke Keary is another player who rarely receives the plaudits he deserves. When Pearce was playing for NSW, Keary took full control of the side and earned the Roosters some crucial victories during a typically treacherous Origin period.
Taking out NBL’s five-eight of the year in his first season as a full-time number six is reward for perseverance. The Bunnies will be licking their wounds and questioning why they didn’t identify his talent and keep him on board.
The Roosters can thank Keary for their current standing on the ladder.
Halfback:
Cooper Cronk – three votes
Nathan Cleary – two votes
Michael Morgan – two votes
Daly Cherry-Evans – one vote
No surprises here, Cronk has taken out NBL’s halfback of the year award. The 2016 Dally M Medalist has had another sterling year, and, like a fine wine, is getting better with age. No one quite knows where Cronk will end up next year, but one thing is for certain – the NRL won’t be the same without him or his professionalism.
Nathan Cleary also earned a respectable two votes from our writers and this comes as no surprise when you look at what he has done for Penrith this year. Like I said in last week’s column, we might just have another Darren Lockyer on our hands. Get your checkbooks out Penrith, this young gun is worth his weight in gold.
Prop:
Paul Vaughan – six votes
Jarrod Wallace and Jesse Bromwich – one vote each
The man that polarized many rugby league critics around the start of this year’s Origin series has won NBL’s prop of the year by an overwhelming majority. Vaughan earned six votes from our writers, the second most in any position.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he is given the call up to next year’s Origin series. This man is simply too powerful to leave out. Not only has he improved the Dragons go forward, he has become as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar when defending the line. Fingers crossed he plays out the entirety of next year without sustaining an injury, because the Dragons are better for it.
Hooker:
Cameron Smith – seven votes
Unsurprisingly, the writers were unanimous in selecting Cameron Smith as the NRL’s hooker of the year. There isn’t too much you can say about Smith that hasn’t already been said; he might just be the finest player in the history of the game. Another big finals series lies ahead for the man who currently holds the record for most representative caps. Will he take Melbourne to another premiership? Or will they stumble at the final hurdle much like they did in 2016?
Second Rower:
Matt Gillett – three votes
Angus Crichton – two votes
Simon Mannering and Boyd Cordner – one vote each
Matt Gillett has continued his dominance at second-row for Brisbane and is set for another action packed finals series that will see him take on greater responsibility. There is no doubt Gillett is one of the best forwards in the game; he is a workhorse that will make over 30 tackles and 100 run meters as a bare minimum.
Matt Gillett has continued his dominance at second-row for Brisbane and is set for another action packed finals series that will see him take on greater responsibility. There is no doubt Gillett is one of the best forwards in the game; he is a workhorse that will make over 30 tackles and 100 run meters as a bare minimum.
As reward for another consistent season, our writers have voted him in as the second-rower of the year.
Lock:
Jason Taumalolo – five votes
Nathan Brown, Jake Trbojevic and Jack De Belin – one vote each.
Powerful, tough, resilient; there aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to describe this man. He has shown throughout the 2017 season why he remains the game’s premier lock forward. I put Taumalolo in the Glenn Lazarus category, because much like the brick with eyes, he is difficult to tackle and remarkably elusive for a big man. If he ends his career with a premiership record as half as impressive as Lazarus, we are in for one hell of a ride. The Cowboys will be hoping he doesn’t hop between teams like the former prop turned MP.
