Poll: Our experts name their 2017 Dally M teams of the year

OUR experts lay out all their predictions for the Dally M Awards, rugby league’s night of nights. Who do you think takes out the top prize?

**FILE** A Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 image reissued Tuesday, April 4, 2017 of Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk poses with the Dally M medal at the 2013 NRL Dally M Awards at The Star in Sydney. Cooper Cronk will seek to join a Sydney club after reportedly deciding to leave Melbourne at the end of the NRL season. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING

AS rugby league’s night of nights approaches, debate rages over just who will win selection in the team of the year.

As it stands right now only Cameron Smith can be considered a walk-up start, with every other spot totally up for grabs.

We’ve polled 18 of our league experts to see who they think will make the cut and given you the chance to have your say.

Cameron Smith was picked by all 18 experts and Jason Taumalolo was selected in 17, but they’re the only decisions that are either unanimous or close to it.

Suliasi Vunivalu, who led the tryscoring lists for the second year in a row, was in 14 teams.

Prop shapes as the most hotly contested decision with nine different props earning selection.

For all the information about the Dally M medal and the contenders for coach and rookie of the year click here.

DAVID RICCIO, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Regan Campbell-Gillard

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Dane Gagai

Winger: Suliasu Vunivalu

Fullback: James Tedesco

MICHAEL CARAYANNIS, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Dylan Napa

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Gavin Cooper

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Dylan Walker

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

Could Slater earn selection in the team of the year.

NICK CAMPTON, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Martin Taupau

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Wade Graham

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans

Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop

Centre: Will Chambers

Wing: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback Billy Slater

MATT LOGUE, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Jesse Bromwich

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Boyd Cordner

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans

Five-eighth: Luke Keary

Centre: Dylan Walker

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

Jason Taumalolo is shaping as a walk-up start.

PAUL CRAWLEY, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Martin Taupau

Hooker: Cam Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Michael Morgan

Five-eighth: Luke Keary

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

FATIMA KDOUH, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Martin Taupau

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Angus Crichton

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Will Chambers

Wing: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Billy Slater

Could Trbojevic earn his first Dally M team of the year selection.

NICK WALSHAW, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Sam Burgess

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumololo

Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans

Five-eighth: Luke Keary

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

TOM SANGSTER, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Paul Vaughan

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Angus Crichton

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Nathan Cleary

Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Jordan Rapana

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

Smith is expected to win the big prize again.

DEAN RITCHIE, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Paul Vaughan

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Dane Gagai

Winger: Suliasu Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

PHIL ROTHFIELD, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Prop: Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Michael Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Semi Radradra

Fullback: Billy Slater

TRAVIS MEYN, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Scott Bolton

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Boyd Cordner

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans

Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

Morgan’s play has gone to a new level this season.

ROBERT CRADDOCK, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Sam Burgess

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett.

Lock: Jason Taumololo.

Halfback: Cooper Cronk.

Five-eighth: Luke Keary.

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Semi Radradra.

Fullback: Billy Slater.

PETER BADEL, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Martin Taupau

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Boyd Cordner

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Nathan Cleary

Five-eighth: Luke Keary

Centre: James Roberts

Winger: Josh Addo-Carr

Fullback: Billy Slater

LUKE TURGEON, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Jarrod Wallace

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Michael Morgan

Five-eighth: Anthony Milford

Centre: Will Chambers

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Billy Slater

RIKKI-LEE ARNOLD, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Dylan Napa

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: James Maloney

Centre: Dylan Walker

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

Walker enjoyed the best season of his career.

PAUL MALONE, THE COURIER-MAIL

Prop: Martin Taupau

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Cooper Cronk

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan

Centre: Dylan Walker

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

MARIA TSIALIS, BIG LEAGUE

Prop: Aaron Woods

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Matt Gillett

Lock: Jason Taumalolo

Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans

Five-eighth: Anthony Milford

Centre: Dylan Walker

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic

PAM WHALEY, BIG LEAGUE

Prop: Paul Vaughan

Hooker: Cameron Smith

Second-rower: Angus Crichton

Lock: Paul Gallen

Halfback: Mitchell Pearce

Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop

Centre: James Roberts

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu

Fullback: Billy Slater

TOTALS

Prop: Martin Taupau (5), Paul Vaughan (3), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (2), Dylan Napa (2), Sam Burgess (2), Scott Bolton (1), Jarrod Wallace (1), Aaron Woods (1), Jesse Bromwich (1)

Hooker: Cameron Smith (18)

Second-rower: Matt Gillett (10), Angus Crichton (3), Boyd Cordner (3), Wade Graham (1), Gavin Cooper (1)

Lock: Jason Taumalolo (17), Paul Gallen (1)

Halfback: Cooper Cronk (8), Daly Cherry-Evams (5), Michael Morgan (2), Nathan Cleary (2), Mitchell Pearce (1)

Five-eighth: Michael Morgan (6), Luke Keary (5), Gareth Widdop (4), Anthony Milford (2), James Maloney (1)

Centre: Will Chambers (9), Dylan Walker (5), James Roberts (2), Dane Gagai (2)

Winger: Suliasi Vunivalu (14), Semi Radradra (2), Jordan Rapana (1), Josh Addo-Carr (1)

Fullback: Tom Trbojevic (10), Billy Slater (7), James Tedesco (1)