Some very questionable players named.
Dylan Farrell was great in first grade, but didn't do much at all in NYC. Andrew Clayton is very average, Dane Finucane is good but probably not in the best 17.
My team:
1. Dane Gagai
2. Kalifa Faifai-Loa
3. Dale Copley - 12 games, 14 tries, 18 linebreaks, 70 tackle breaks, average 10 runs for 101 metres
4. Siuatonga Likiliki
5. Josh Mansour
6. Beau Henry - 17 games, 11 tries, 12 linebreaks, 18 try assists
7. Sam Williams or Brad Murray
8. Martin Taupau - 15 games, 5 tries, 5 linebreaks, 99 tackle breaks, average 16 runs for 173 metres
9. James Segeyaro
10. Tariq Sims
11. Josh Jackson - 23 games, 11 tries, 12 linebreaks, 7 try assists, 60 tackle breaks, average 11 runs for 99 metres, 28 tackles
12. Sam Mataora
13. Blake Leary - 12 games, 12 tries, 14 linebreaks, 5 try assists, 70 tackle breaks, average 13 runs for 114 metres, 25 tackles
14. Nafe Seluini - 23 games, 7 tries, 12 linebreaks, 8 try assists, 34 offloads, 116 tackle breaks, average 9 runs for 97 metres
15. Tohu Harris - 21 games, 11 tries, 15 linebreaks, 6 try assists, 21 offloads, 76 tackle breaks, average 12 runs for 106 metres, 26 tackles
16. Lama Tasi
17. Jason Taumalolo - 22 games, 3 tries, 4 linebreaks, 14 offloads, 87 tackle breaks, average 12 runs for 126 metres
My changes:
Dale Copley had a season cut short by injury, but was nothing short of unbelievable when he was on the park. If his injury made him undeserving, then the position should have gone to Nehe Millner-Skudder (Bulldogs) or Drury Low (Canberra).
Aiden Sezer, the selected five-eighth, had 13 linebreaks and 10 try assists in the 23 games he played this year. Compare this to Beau Henry, with 12 linebreaks and 18 try assists in 17 games this year. Another with an injury plagued season, but when he was on the park he was a class above. Matt Mundine (Souths) was very good too, and is unlucky to not rate a mention.
Martin Taupau, aside from his suspension (which may or may not rule him out of consideration for TOTY) was head and shoulders above all props other than Tariq Sims. Massive metres, tackle breaking at will, tremendous form.
Josh Jackson to me personally had far more of an impact in the U20 season than Ryan James. James is no doubt a tremendous talent, but he was quite in comparison to Jackson who was in a hot streak of form this year that he has carried for quite some time. His high workrate in defense also puts him ahead of other workhorses such as Ben Henry (Warriors), Ethan Lowe (Roosters), and Joel Wisbey (Tigers).
Blake Leary is just another who seemed to miss out because of injury, but was the form lock of the competition before losing out. His replacement Kenny Bromwich (Storm), as well as Matt Hyland (Tigers), Ethan Cook (Knights) and Dane Finucane were all likely contenders, as well as late season centre-to-lock convert Rory Brien (Eels) who racked up some HUGE numbers when locking the scrum.
Very unlucky to miss out on the bench utility spot are hookers Kurt Baptise (Broncos), Matt Srama (Titans), Nathan Peats (Souths), Liam Higgins (Manly) and Matt McIlwrick (Raiders), as well as utility Matt Moylan (Panthers), but the sheer impact that Nafe Seluini made every time he got on the field was just too hard to ignore.
Tohu Harris has had a massive season in a struggling side, and has almost carried the forward pack along with Kenny Bromwich. I was strongly considering big Kyle O'Donnell (Sharks) or explosive wide-running utility Dominic Walsh (Titans) but Harris is just in too good a form to be denied.
I have got to give that final bench prop position to Jason Taumalolo, who has shown potential and maturity far beyond his age. He has tremendous strength, powerful leg drive and outstanding go-forward. Other potential selections would have been Sam Kasiano (Bulldogs), Evrett Vaurasi (Panthers), and the Manly bookends James Cunningham and Magnus Stromquist, but none had the impact that Taumalolo did.
