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NRL.com Team of the Year
NRL.com
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the NRL.com Team of the year is the selection of Dragons’ five-eighth Jamie Soward.
The headgear-wearing pivot – who was controversially overlooked by coach Nathan Brown for the Dragons’ do-or-die semi-final clash with the Sea Eagles in Finals Week 1 – missed the last three weeks of the regular competition with a back injury but still polled strongly in the Dragons’ impressive run to the playoffs.
His regular season man-of-the-match points tally saw him bump Roosters’ pivot Braith Anasta to the bench in the 2008 NRL.com Team of the Year, with Dally M Medal winner Matt Orford assuming the halfback role.
In an impressive endorsement for the spread of talent across all clubs, 12 NRL teams provided players for the NRL.com Team of the Year, judged by the allocation of 3-2-1 man-of-the-match points over the entire regular season.
Melbourne had the most inclusions with four players (Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Cam Smith) while 2008 premiers Manly provided two stars, as did St George Illawarra.
Cronulla, Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle, Penrith, Parramatta, Wests Tigers, Roosters and the Warriors all provided one player to the 17-man squad.
Slater won the fullback position while Folau and Warrior Manu Vatuvei take a place on the wings – Folau selected out of position but a necessity in the team.
Inglis shifts from five-eighth to the centres where he’s joined by Canberra’s Joel Monaghan, while Dragon Soward held on to the five-eighth position.
Manly’s Brent Kite – a controversial discard from the NSW State of Origin squad this year – took one prop position, while the Dragons’ departing star Jason Ryles claimed the other.
Smith lines up at hooker while the second-rowers are Bronco Sam Thaiday and Panther Frank Pritchard.
The Sharks’ Paul Gallen claimed the lock forward position while the bench comprises Knight Kurt Gidley, Eel Feleti Mateo, Tiger Chris Heighington and Rooster Braith Anasta.
The make-up of the bench was determined by total points earned under proviso of a standard utility &/or back and three forwards. Accordingly, Mateo and Anasta earn their places as they are more than capable of playing in the backrow.
Team of the Year – In Jumper Order
1. Billy Slater (Storm)
2. Israel Folau (Storm)
3. Greg Inglis (Storm)
4. Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
5. Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
6. Jamie Soward (Dragons)
7. Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)
8. Brent Kite (Sea Eagles)
9. Cam Smith (Storm - captain)
10. Jason Ryles (Dragons)
11. Frank Pritchard (Panthers)
12. Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
13. Paul Gallen (Sharks)
14. Kurt Gidley (Knights)
15. Braith Anasta (Roosters)
16. Feleti Mateo (Eels)
17. Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers)
NRL.com Player of the Year
IN a thrilling finish, Cronulla enforcer Paul Gallen held off star playmakers Kurt Gidley (Newcastle) and Billy Slater (Melbourne) to win the inaugural NRL.com Player of the Year title.
The Sharks’ skipper polled a total of 25 points on a 3-2-1 basis during the season’s 26 regular rounds to win by a point from Gidley and Slater.
Gallen’s and the Sharks’ year came to an abrupt end against the Storm in the Preliminary Final but the lock forward can take some solace in being judged the competition’s most consistent performer by NRL.com’s astute judging panel.
Melbourne fullback Slater finished just a point behind Gallen, mirroring the
Dally M result where he lost to Orford.
Interestingly three players – all club captains – tied for fifth being Orford, Smith and Anasta.
“It’s always great to be recognised and I was pretty happy with how my year went on the field except obviously for the finish,” Gallen told NRL.com.
“It was a tough one off the field with plenty of media attention but as far as footy goes I think I was able to play fairly consistently, which was good. The way we finished though makes it hard for me to be satisfied, to be honest.”
Gallen is still to shake the disappointment of the Sharks’ 28-0 loss to Melbourne on the competition’s penultimate weekend but is hopeful his consistent performance over the year might help him find a place in the Australian team for the World Cup.
“We did have some great wins during the year against quality opposition and competed in just about every game so I can take some confidence from that. Ricky Stuart’s (Sharks and Australia coach) big thing is consistency… there is no point being good two out of four games so hopefully I’m on my way to playing consistently well.
“I’ll have to pick myself up and hopefully make the World Cup squad so I can atone for the finish to the year.”
Another surprised with his inclusion, but extremely honoured, was St George Illawarra’s Soward.
Not one known for consistency in the past, Soward was all smiles at the news despite controversially missing the Dragons’ finals campaign.
“It’s great to get reward for a consistent season, especially with so many great five-eighths in the competition,” he says.
“I was pretty lucky that we were winning games, the boys helped me that way. This was a big year for me, it was make or break, and I think I put my best foot forward.
“Despite the end I was very happy with my personal season. It certainly is an honour that is great for my confidence.”
Player of the Year – Top Ten
1. Paul Gallen – 25 points 2=. Kurt Gidley – 24 points 2=. Billy Slater – 24 points 4. Jamie Soward – 22 points 5=. Matt Orford – 21 points 5=. Cam Smith – 21 points 5=. Braith Anasta – 21 points 8=. Feleti Mateo – 18 points 8=. Terry Campese – 18 points 10=. Sam Thaiday – 16 points 10=. Preston Campbell – 16 points
Top scorers from clubs without a player in the top ten.
Bulldogs: Sonny Bill Williams – 12 points Rabbitohs: Issac Luke – 9 points Wests Tigers: Robbie Farah & Benji Marshall – 13 points Panthers: Frank Pritchard – 14 points Warriors: Lance Hohaia – 12 points Cowboys: Johnathan Thurston – 8 points
SOURCE: NRL.COM.AU
AND WHO SAID GALLEN WAS HATED? just shows that fans on nrl.com know their stuff although i disagree on five eight should have been seymour
NRL.com
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the NRL.com Team of the year is the selection of Dragons’ five-eighth Jamie Soward.
The headgear-wearing pivot – who was controversially overlooked by coach Nathan Brown for the Dragons’ do-or-die semi-final clash with the Sea Eagles in Finals Week 1 – missed the last three weeks of the regular competition with a back injury but still polled strongly in the Dragons’ impressive run to the playoffs.
His regular season man-of-the-match points tally saw him bump Roosters’ pivot Braith Anasta to the bench in the 2008 NRL.com Team of the Year, with Dally M Medal winner Matt Orford assuming the halfback role.
In an impressive endorsement for the spread of talent across all clubs, 12 NRL teams provided players for the NRL.com Team of the Year, judged by the allocation of 3-2-1 man-of-the-match points over the entire regular season.
Melbourne had the most inclusions with four players (Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Cam Smith) while 2008 premiers Manly provided two stars, as did St George Illawarra.
Cronulla, Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle, Penrith, Parramatta, Wests Tigers, Roosters and the Warriors all provided one player to the 17-man squad.
Slater won the fullback position while Folau and Warrior Manu Vatuvei take a place on the wings – Folau selected out of position but a necessity in the team.
Inglis shifts from five-eighth to the centres where he’s joined by Canberra’s Joel Monaghan, while Dragon Soward held on to the five-eighth position.
Manly’s Brent Kite – a controversial discard from the NSW State of Origin squad this year – took one prop position, while the Dragons’ departing star Jason Ryles claimed the other.
Smith lines up at hooker while the second-rowers are Bronco Sam Thaiday and Panther Frank Pritchard.
The Sharks’ Paul Gallen claimed the lock forward position while the bench comprises Knight Kurt Gidley, Eel Feleti Mateo, Tiger Chris Heighington and Rooster Braith Anasta.
The make-up of the bench was determined by total points earned under proviso of a standard utility &/or back and three forwards. Accordingly, Mateo and Anasta earn their places as they are more than capable of playing in the backrow.
Team of the Year – In Jumper Order
1. Billy Slater (Storm)
2. Israel Folau (Storm)
3. Greg Inglis (Storm)
4. Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
5. Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
6. Jamie Soward (Dragons)
7. Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)
8. Brent Kite (Sea Eagles)
9. Cam Smith (Storm - captain)
10. Jason Ryles (Dragons)
11. Frank Pritchard (Panthers)
12. Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
13. Paul Gallen (Sharks)
14. Kurt Gidley (Knights)
15. Braith Anasta (Roosters)
16. Feleti Mateo (Eels)
17. Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers)
NRL.com Player of the Year
IN a thrilling finish, Cronulla enforcer Paul Gallen held off star playmakers Kurt Gidley (Newcastle) and Billy Slater (Melbourne) to win the inaugural NRL.com Player of the Year title.
The Sharks’ skipper polled a total of 25 points on a 3-2-1 basis during the season’s 26 regular rounds to win by a point from Gidley and Slater.
Gallen’s and the Sharks’ year came to an abrupt end against the Storm in the Preliminary Final but the lock forward can take some solace in being judged the competition’s most consistent performer by NRL.com’s astute judging panel.
Melbourne fullback Slater finished just a point behind Gallen, mirroring the
Dally M result where he lost to Orford.
Interestingly three players – all club captains – tied for fifth being Orford, Smith and Anasta.
“It’s always great to be recognised and I was pretty happy with how my year went on the field except obviously for the finish,” Gallen told NRL.com.
“It was a tough one off the field with plenty of media attention but as far as footy goes I think I was able to play fairly consistently, which was good. The way we finished though makes it hard for me to be satisfied, to be honest.”
Gallen is still to shake the disappointment of the Sharks’ 28-0 loss to Melbourne on the competition’s penultimate weekend but is hopeful his consistent performance over the year might help him find a place in the Australian team for the World Cup.
“We did have some great wins during the year against quality opposition and competed in just about every game so I can take some confidence from that. Ricky Stuart’s (Sharks and Australia coach) big thing is consistency… there is no point being good two out of four games so hopefully I’m on my way to playing consistently well.
“I’ll have to pick myself up and hopefully make the World Cup squad so I can atone for the finish to the year.”
Another surprised with his inclusion, but extremely honoured, was St George Illawarra’s Soward.
Not one known for consistency in the past, Soward was all smiles at the news despite controversially missing the Dragons’ finals campaign.
“It’s great to get reward for a consistent season, especially with so many great five-eighths in the competition,” he says.
“I was pretty lucky that we were winning games, the boys helped me that way. This was a big year for me, it was make or break, and I think I put my best foot forward.
“Despite the end I was very happy with my personal season. It certainly is an honour that is great for my confidence.”
Player of the Year – Top Ten
1. Paul Gallen – 25 points 2=. Kurt Gidley – 24 points 2=. Billy Slater – 24 points 4. Jamie Soward – 22 points 5=. Matt Orford – 21 points 5=. Cam Smith – 21 points 5=. Braith Anasta – 21 points 8=. Feleti Mateo – 18 points 8=. Terry Campese – 18 points 10=. Sam Thaiday – 16 points 10=. Preston Campbell – 16 points
Top scorers from clubs without a player in the top ten.
Bulldogs: Sonny Bill Williams – 12 points Rabbitohs: Issac Luke – 9 points Wests Tigers: Robbie Farah & Benji Marshall – 13 points Panthers: Frank Pritchard – 14 points Warriors: Lance Hohaia – 12 points Cowboys: Johnathan Thurston – 8 points
SOURCE: NRL.COM.AU
AND WHO SAID GALLEN WAS HATED? just shows that fans on nrl.com know their stuff although i disagree on five eight should have been seymour
