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Players Poll

V

Vee

First Grade
Messages
5,185
Surprised this hasn't been posted here as it'll draw plenty of debate.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/05/23...yers-coach-rookie-team-and-dally-m-favourite/

Fullback
The verdict
James Tedesco has rocketed to the top as the game’s best fullback following the retirement of Billy Slater. The former Melbourne Storm collected 60 per cent of the votes in 2018, with Tedesco finishing in fifth position last year with just five per cent of the votes. However Tedesco’s breakout season last year, which saw him play for his state and country on his way to winning a premiership with the Roosters, now sees the former Tigers custodian ranked the game’s premier fullback by his peers. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has leapfrogged Kalyn Ponga into second position, with Ponga dropping to third after finishing behind Slater last year. Four of the top five from last year remain, with Clint Gutherson replacing Slater in the group.

The surprise
Tom Trbojevic’s injury-riddled start to the year has likely impacted on his numbers, with the Manly No.1 suffering from being out of sight, out of mind. You could argue the same for Cronulla’s Matt Moylan.

2018 votes: Billy Slater (60%), Kalyn Ponga (11%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (10%), Tom Trbojevic (6%), James Tedesco (5%)

Winger
The verdict
Parramatta winger Blake Ferguson has knocked off Josh Addo-Carr as the premier winger in the NRL voted by the players. Ferguson’s red-hot start to the year hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players, with the flamboyant winger rising from equal fifth to first in the space of 12 months. It’s a timey reminder to NSW coach Brad Fittler just a few days out from the naming of his team for game one.

The surprise
Addo-Carr dropped to second, but the biggest fall was in relation to David Fusitu’a. The Warriors winger (second in 2018) has missed out on the top five altogether and has been replaced by teammate Ken Maumalo. New York Jets recruit Valentine Holmes is the other player no longer on the list. Interestingly there was no room for impressive Canberra youngster, Nick Cotric.

2018 votes: Josh Addo-Carr (27%), David Fusitu’a (21%), Jordan Rapana (12%), Valentine Holmes (10%), Corey Oates/Blake Ferguson (8%)

Centre
The verdict
In the most one-sided positional vote of 2019, Latrell Mitchell has knocked off nemesis Will Chambers as the best centre in the NRL. With a whopping 80 per cent of the 150 plus votes, Mitchell rose from fourth in 2018 to the leader of the pack 12 months later. Four of the top five centres from last year have lost their positions, with Greg Inglis (retired), Euan Aitken, Josh Dugan and Chambers all dropping out.

The surprise
James Roberts didn’t poll a single vote in 2019. While it’s clear to most that Mitchell has superseded Chambers as the best centre in the game, it comes as a shock to see the Queensland centre miss out on the top five. The Storm veteran only polled two votes overall.

2018 votes: Will Chambers (31%), Greg Inglis (21%), Euan Aitken (13%), Latrell Mitchell (11%), Josh Dugan (4%)
Five-eighth
The verdict
Luke Keary wasn’t even in the top five last year, but on the back of the Roosters premiership and Australian jumper at the end of 2018, the Roosters five-eighth has one the battle in a hotly-contested category. Keary knocked off the two most in-form players of the NRL, Cameron Munster and Cody Walker.

The surprise
James Maloney was the overwhelming winner last year with 36 per cent of the votes, however Penrith’s horror start to the year saw him drop dramatically. He finished equal fifth, however he only polled two per cent of the votes.

2018 votes: James Maloney (36%), Gareth Widdop (20%), Cameron Munster (13%), Blake Green (11%), Anthony Milford (9%)

Halfback
The verdict
Cooper Cronk will retire the king of the kids after polling almost 40 per cent of the votes in the best halfback category. Cronk takes over from his old Queensland teammate, Johnathan Thurston, as the best No.7 in the game voted by the players. Cronk finished fifth in voting last year, suffering as a result of the Roosters’ slow start to the season. Mitchell Pearce has rocketed up the leaderboard to finish in second position, with Daly Cherry-Evans, Adam Reynolds and Chad Townsend all new faces in the top five for 2019.

The surprise
Nathan Cleary finished third last year with 11 per cent of votes, with many expecting him to climb even higher with 12 more months under his belt. But like Maloney, Cleary has paid the price for his club’s poor start to the year and collected just four percent this year. Ben Hunt also experienced a huge drop, plummeting from second with just two per cent of votes.

2018 votes: Johnathan Thurston (35%), Ben Hunt (19%), Nathan Cleary (11%), Shaun Johnson (11%), Cooper Cronk (9%)

Prop
The verdict
Last year we asked for the best middle forward in the game and included props and locks in the same category. This year we’ve changed things up, with Siosiua Taukeiaho taking the cake ahead of Melbourne Storm’s Jesse Bromwich. Three locks won the voting last year, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard earning the most votes of the props. Twelve month on, Campbell-Gillard polled just one vote.

The surprise
David Klemmer has been superb for Newcastle in 2019, however only received five per cent of votes. Manly’s Addin Fonua-Blake didn’t poll in the top five but finished in sixth position after an impressive opening to the year with the Sea Eagles, receiving more votes than his front row partner Marty Taupau.

2018 votes for best middle forward: Jason Taumalolo (34%), Sam Burgess (23%), Jake Trbojevic (10%), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (5%), Jesse Bromwich and Andrew Fifita (4%)

Lock
The verdict
Hardly a shock to see Cowboys wrecking-ball Jason Taumalolo top the votes, but the emergence of Cameron Murray has been well and truly highlighted by the numbers. The South Sydney lock finished third with 13 per cent of votes behind Manly’s Jake Trbojevic.

The surprise
Not too many shocks in this category, although Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris and the Roosters’ Victor Radley were on the fringe of the top five with three per cent of the votes respectively.

2018 votes for best middle forward: Jason Taumalolo (34%), Sam Burgess (23%), Jake Trbojevic (10%), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (5%), Jesse Bromwich and Andrew Fifita (4%)

Second-rower
The verdict
Sam Burgess’ shift to the edge has seen him rewarded with top position in the back-rower category. The South Sydney kipper polled more than half the votes. Interestingly Penrith’s Viliame Kikau pipped Australian captain Boyd Cordner for second position. Englishman John Bateman hasn’t taken long to impress in his first season in the NRL, finishing fourth ahead of Tohu Harris.

The surprise
Incredibly there was no room for Dragons, NSW and Australian back-rower Tyson Frizell, who last year won this category. Interestingly, there was no love for the man who finished second in 2018, either – with Matt Gillett missing out altogether. Wade Graham would have likely polled higher had he not missed all season through injury.

2018 votes: Tyson Frizell (22%), Matt Gillett (21%), Boyd Cordner (15%), Tohu Harris (13%), Wade Graham (9%)

Hooker
The verdict
Damien Cook has closed the gap on Cameron Smith as the premier hooker in the game, but not enough to dethrone the Melbourne skipper. Last year Smith collected 66 per cent of the votes, dropping to 44 per cent this year. On the other hand Cook has risen from 8 per cent in 2018 to 36 per cent this time around after earning his maiden NSW and Kangaroos jerseys in 2018.

The surprise
Robbie Farah has been in sublime form for the Tigers in 2019. Perhaps the rise of Cook cost him any chance of challenging for the top three positions.

2018 votes: Cameron Smith (66%), Issac Luke (11%), Damien Cook (8%), Apisai Koroisau (4%), Cameron McInnes (3%)

2019 NRL.com Player Poll team
2019-players-poll10.jpg
 
Lambretta

Lambretta

First Grade
Messages
8,679
The opinions on Ponga must have been gathered whilst he was playing in the halves

He has been amazing since going back to 1
 
WaznTheGreat

WaznTheGreat

Referee
Messages
24,294
LMAO Blake Ferguson is one of the worst players in the comp in 2019,what game are these idiots watching
 
V

Vee

First Grade
Messages
5,185
Biggest hitter
The verdict
Dylan Napa retains his title as the game’s resident bone-rattler, despite injuries limiting his game time since shifting from Bondi to Belmore. While Sam Burgess, James Fisher-Harris and Tariq Sims have lost none of their impact since last year’s player poll, rising rookie Victor Radley’s has already carved out a serious reputation among his peers. Despite packing in at just 92 kilos, Radley’s superb timing and kamikaze attitude make him one of game’s most feared defenders.

2018 votes: Dylan Napa (33%), Sam Burgess (15%), James Fisher-Harris (13%), Jack de Belin (11%), Tariq Sims (9%)

Hardest to tackle
The verdict
Tongan powerhouse Jason Taumalolo is still putting opposition defences in a spin, his speed at the line, footwork and formidable frame crowning him the hardest player to handle for a second year running. As in 2018, Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has ranked second with his fleet feet still confounding defenders as much as ever. Viliame Kikau, Kalyn Ponga and Latrell Mitchell all head up the next generation taking the game by storm, but surprisingly there’s no room for Roosters No.1 James Tedesco, despite his 219 tackle busts being the most by any player since the start of last year.

2018 votes: Jason Taumalolo (52%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (9%), Andrew Fifita (6%), Kalyn Ponga (5%), Greg Inglis (5%)

Best Sledger
The verdict
With over 40 per cent of votes, Will Chambers is the official master of tongue-fu in the NRL. Ironically the veteran Storm centre’s most prominent verbal battles have come when he’s been given a bath by Roosters and NSW counterpart Latrell Mitchell, but rival players clearly see, and no doubt hear, value in Chambers’ on-field chirping. No surprise to see James Maloney poll next either.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

The next coach in waiting
The verdict
Just like he was a product of Tim Sheens’ coaching production line out of Canberra in the 80s and 90s, Craig Bellamy’s influence at Melbourne will carry on for a while yet in the eyes of current players. Melbourne captain Cameron Smith has all the makings of a first grade coach according to more than one in three who voted, while Cooper Cronk could also make a fair fist of it with 18 per cent of votes. Both champion playmakers have repeatedly gone on the record saying they value their sanity too much to take up the clipboard. Blake Green on the other hand, could be a good shout given his nous as a game manager and his long rise to the NRL, a facet that is often found in those that go on to coach at the highest level.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Best start-up player for a franchise
The verdict
A very interesting mix of potential and leadership in the one, with Kalyn Ponga the popular choice for one in five players polled. Still just 21 but already seen as a Queensland Origin certainty and a franchise player for Newcastle, building a club around Ponga is a sound move. So too though the theories behind Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk’s nominations – champions both on and off the field and products of Melbourne, the most professional outfit in Australian sport. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Tedesco represent the middle ground, growing role models and superb players with up to another decade of footy left in them.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Best step
The verdict
Good luck trying to stop either man one-on-one. But Kalyn Ponga’s emergence has seen him claim officially claim the crown from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for shiftiest shoes in the NRL. The two custodians are far and away the best proponents in the game, with new Sharks five-eighth Shaun Johnson the only other to enter the conversation, and even then only briefly.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Origin winner
The verdict
The Maroons dynasty is well and truly done according to the players, with a whopping 72 per cent tipping a Blues win. Almost half of those polled see Brad Fittler and his side keeping the shield south of the border despite Queensland jagging one win in the series, while a quarter think it will be the first NSW clean sweep since 2000. Less than a third of players polled see Queensland getting up.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Origin rookie
The verdict
With a Kangaroos debut, a Clive Churchill medal and a second premiership already in his keeping, it’s no surprise to see Luke Keary tipped into a NSW debut. Storm lock Dale Finucane has long been made for the Origin arena too in the eyes of many, not least his peers with 18 per cent of votes. The Rabbitohs’ strong form over the last 18 months has also floated the representative boats of Cody Walker (13%) and Cameron Murray (11), with both firmly in the frame for Blues call-ups.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Too many teams or not enough?
The verdict
Almost a straight split on this one, with 50 per cent of players wanting the 16-team competition to grow beyond its current format. Just as in the eyes of NRL officials though, expansion is no clear cut thing, with 45 per cent of players wanting to keep the status quo of 16 teams, though no option of relocation was given in this poll.

2018 votes: Question not asked.

Deciding drawn games
The verdict
Golden point has only grown in popularity with NRL players. The ‘first points scored after regular time’ format was preferred by 44 per cent of the 154 players polled by NRL.com, an increase from last year’s 35% of 117 players that voted. Preference for a draw to be left as is after 80 minutes also dropped while golden try was slightly more popular than last year.

2018 votes: golden point (35.3%), (golden try 10.3%), (draw 24.1%), extra time (30.2%)

Expansion
The verdict
Western Australia is now overwhelmingly the players choice to take the game next, with 41 per cent voting to have the NRL’s next team based out of Perth. That increase from last year’s 27 per cent has come at the expense of a second Brisbane team – which has dropped from 26 per cent to 18 in the last 12 months. A second team in Queensland is still the next most popular choice, followed by Wellington and the NSW Central Coast.

2018 votes: Perth (27 %), Brisbane (26%), New Zealand (15%), Fiji (11%), none (9%)

Referees
The verdict
Players believe the NRL officiating had improved on previous years, no doubt a reflection of new edicts from head office after last year’s crackdown on ruck infringements.

Referees performances were rated a 3.1 out of five on average across players polled, a marked increase from the 2.6 – just over a pass mark – that whistle-blowers have been given in the past few seasons.

The Nines
The verdict
The majority of players would welcome the return of the NRL Nines in 2020, with the festival format gathering momentum after a three-year hiatus. 67 per cent of players voted ‘love it’ in regards to the concept, while 30 per cent are indifferent. Parramatta’s Bankwest Stadium will host the World Nines in October this year, while several cities including Perth, Melbourne and Newcastle have been touted as locations for a club-based event should it get off the ground next season.

2018 votes: The Nines should be included in the NRL calendar (73.5%), there is no place for it (26.5%)

Transfer window
The verdict
Almost three-quarters of players polled would welcome a transfer window being introduced to the NRL. It’s a proposal that has long been mulled over in rugby league but has gained traction in recent years with more and more players signing with rival clubs up 18 months before they actually trade colours, and an unprecedented focus on player contracts, salaries and movement.

2018 votes: Question not asked

Ideal club to join
The verdict
The game’s glamour club and reigning premiers are more popular than ever among rival players, with 27 per cent of those asked who they would want to join voting for the Roosters. Perennial powerhouses Melbourne have waned slightly, as have Brisbane in their struggles to adjust to life under Anthony Seibold. The Rabbitohs have surged thanks to Wayne Bennett’s arrival, having not even featured in last year’s top 10. Despite another lacklustre start for the Titans – prompting a club wide performance review just this week – the Gold Coast remains a popular choice.

2018 votes: Broncos (20%), Storm (17%), Roosters (11%), Titans (9%), Dragons and Sea Eagles (6%)

Team you love to beat
The verdict
Getting a win over Melbourne is the most satisfying for their 15 NRL rivals, with 21 per cent of players polled voting for the Storm as the team they most love to beat. The Roosters also rank highly, followed by clubs who have been there abouts come finals time for almost all of the past decade – Brisbane, Cronulla and South Sydney.

2018 votes: Question not asked.
 
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