NRL 2020: Matty Johns picks awards for best player, coach, rookie
Ivan Cleary may have taken the Panthers to their third ever minor premiership with just one regular season defeat, but it’s another man who gets the nod as Matty Johns’ coach of the year. Forget the Dally M’s, these are the Matty J’s!
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One season ends and another is about to begin. The finals about pressure, the regular season consistency.
So as the regular season is about to conclude, here are my awards in what has been a season like no other.
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BEST PLAYER – Nathan Cleary.
Set himself a high standard from his rookie years but has still managed to be the competition’s most improved footballer.
He’s added penetrative running and much greater creativity to his poise and composure.
Set to be a dominant figure in the NRL for many years to come.
BEST PERFORMER – Peter V’landys
Great leaders don’t just make decisions, they have the guts and nerve to make decisions which will define them one way or another.
V’landys lead the sporting world is his approach to dealing with COVID-19. He was labelled ignorant and foolish, but he got it spot on.
Likewise, he had the guts to implement the six again rule, which if it had failed would’ve had purists gathering in angry mobs, he nailed that as well. Great to have a leader who’s willing to rough up the AFL.
BEST ROOKIE – Harry Grant
At one point he led the Dally M’s. He had to bide his time in Melbourne but it’s served him well.
The moment he walked into the Tigers team he became their most important player.
BEST COACH – Justin Holbrook
Before you start hammering me for not picking Ivan Cleary, just think about the job he’s done.
Most people viewed the Titans as a bottom two team and early performances did nothing to change that.
He’s coached the pants off his team, resurrected careers and got them in to 9th.
If there was another month of football, it’s likely they’d sneak into the finals.
BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE – James Tedesco
Bankwest Stadium, Round 5 vs The Bulldogs, Tedesco was unstoppable, tearing through the middle defence every time he touched the ball.
BEST INDIVIDUAL EFFORT – Josh Papalii
His chase and try saving ankle tap on Titans half Jamal Fogarty in Round 15 was an amazing effort for such a big man.
Jamal will never live it down.
FAILED TO MEET THE HYPE – Valentine Holmes
Val has had a disappointing return to the NRL. Sure he’s suffered some injuries, but from early in the season he never quite looked comfortable and has really struggled to make an impact.
Like Hayne, Holmes found transitioning from NFL back to NRL extremely difficult.
EXCEEDED THE HYPE – George Williams
People were unsure how George would go out here given British halves have struggled in the past to replicate the success of English forwards and outside backs.
Williams has fitted into Ricky’s Raiders perfectly and did it without hooker Josh Hodgson, and at times his key edge forward, John Bateman.
FUTURE SUPERSTAR AWARD – Stephen Crichton
This young Panther is a freakish athlete and has subtle skills as well.
His power, speed, stature and ability under the high ball have drawn obvious comparisons with Israel Folau and the comparisons are spot on.
With his talent, and the players around him, he only has to keep a good attitude to become one of the game’s very best outside backs, very soon.
BEST COACHING PERFORMANCE FROM A NON-COACH – Sam Burgess
With Sam Burgess on his way to a career in the media, he received an S.O.S from Wayne Bennett to re-enter the bubble of the underperforming Bunnies.
The moment Sam got back into Redfern, Souths and their key men found top form.
His leadership and presence have him earmarked as a future head coach.
STORY OF THE SEASON – The Broncos
It’s not a Disney story, it’s a Wes Craven horror film.
The Broncos started two from two, but the speeding up of the rucks through the six again rule on season recommencement, caught them off guard and their confidence from then on disintegrated.
The hole just kept getting deeper and deeper, with coach Anthony Seibold subjected to more criticism and pressure than any coach I’ve ever seen in my time in Rugby League.
Seibold eventually walked away and the Broncos find themselves so far from shore, it will take them several seasons to get back.
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MOST ASTUTE PIECE OF COACHING – Trent Robinson
Trent assembled an experienced roster knowing the hard road ahead to attempting a three-peat.
But then suddenly with the Finals approaching and the team looking a little tired, he snares Sonny Bill Williams.
Regardless of what SBW achieves on the field, his presence, not just in the Rooster’s shed, but also in the locker rooms and minds of the opposition, is going to be a finals factor.
BEST COMBINATION (HALL AND OATES AWARD) – Nathan Cleary and Viliame Kikau
A playmaker is only as good as his ball runners, particularly his edge back rowers. Although Nathan operates, mainly on the Panther’s right, major things happen when he swings to the left and forms combinations with Kikau.
Cleary’s running threat forces a defence to hold and that leaves them vulnerable to Kikau’s size, power and late footwork.
THE LADY GAGA AWARD FOR BEST POKER FACE – Cameron Smith
If he knows what he’s going to do, he’s a Poker champion in waiting.
He’s still close to the game’s most dominant player and in my opinion, could play till he’s forty. However, his demeanour is slowly starting to resemble that of a bloke who’s enjoying his last rodeo.
Actually….Who knows????
SOMEONE GIVE THE KID SOME ADVICE AWARD – Joseph Suaalii
Actually the truth is, someone needs to give some advice to the person who’s giving young Joseph the advice.
By all reports Joseph Suaalii has superstar talent, but there’s enough pressure in professional sport without playing out contract demands in the public forum and creating the impression you are playing NRL off against Australian Rugby.
1.My advice is play the sport you love most.
2.Get yourself a good deal for two or three years.
3.Put your head down, arse up and train hard.