Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield reveals his team of the year for 2014 NRL season
THE South Sydney Rabbitohs look certain to dominate tonight’s Dally M awards - and they’ve dominated Buzz’s team of the year.
Opinion
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THE South Sydney Rabbitohs look certain to dominate tonight’s Dally M awards, with seven players in contention for major positional awards.
In my own team of the year I’ve got Greg Inglis, Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston, Adam Reynolds, Sam Burgess, Ben Te’o and George Burgess in a squad of 17.
Dally M voting finished in round 26 but I’ve taken finals form into consideration over the past three weeks.
FULLBACK
IT’S hard to overlook Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne, but who could argue about Greg Inglis.
Hayne had a sensational season but dropped off in the last couple of rounds when the Eels needed to win big games to make the finals.
Inglis has been consistently outstanding despite carrying injuries from State of Origin. He scored two tries against the Roosters and defended as well as he attacked.
WINGERS
LEAVING Brett Morris out is a bit like snubbing Hayne.
But how could you possibly overlook Panthers powerhouse Josh Mansour or South Sydney’s boom rookie Alex Johnston, who has scored 20 tries from 17 games.
Mansour was Penrith’s best player in the loss to the Bulldogs.
CENTRES
SURELY Dylan Walker will be included in Australia’s Four Nations squad. He has been the standout centre all year. I’ve gone for Tim Lafai ahead of his Canterbury teammate Josh Morris and Penrith’s Dean Whare.
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon was outstanding earlier in the season but his form fell away.
FIVE-EIGHTH
YOU could pick Johnathan Thurston on one game — his unbelievably brilliant semi-final effort against the Roosters. It was the best and most dominating performance from a halfback or five-eighth I’ve seen in a final.
He should be a special to win tonight’s Dally M award. Has been playing well all season.
HALFBACK
PROBABLY the most difficult position. Eight weeks ago Daly Cherry-Evans looked a certainty but his form since has been ordinary.
Then you get a split decision between Trent Hodkinson and Adam Reynolds.
Hodkinson won Origin and landed match-deciding field goals in four games. At the same time Reynolds has steered Souths around with new maturity and wonderful finesse. He’s also the best goalkicker in the competition.
LOCK
ONLY the one Roosters player, Aidan Guerra, gets a start. This guy is a powerhouse.
I almost went for Penrith’s Adam Docker but for his late-season suspension which kept him out of some finals action.
SECOND-ROWERS
I’VE gone for Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o from the Rabbitohs. Burgess rarely wears the 11 or 12 jersey but plays that sort of game. He has been dynamite. Te’o narrowly beat Canterbury’s Josh Jackson, who I put on the reserve bench.
PROPS
CANTERBURY’S James Graham is widely regarded as the game’s No.1 prop. He has a huge motor, is tough and passes beautifully. I also included Matt Scott and the Storm’s Jesse Bromwich on the bench.
HOOKER
I WAS close to going for the Roosters’ Jake Friend or South Sydney’sIssac Luke. Then you thing about what James Segeyaro has done for the Panthers this year. He is a super little powerhouse.
BUZZ’S TEAM OF THE YEAR
1. Greg Inglis
2. Josh Mansour
3. Dylan Walker
4. Tim Lafai
5. Alex Johnston
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Adam Reynolds
8. George Burgess
9. James Segeyaro
10. James Graham
11. Sam Burgess
12. Ben Te’o
13. Aidan Guerra
Interchange:
14. Matt Scott
15. Josh Jackson
16. Dale Finucane
17. Jesse Bromwich
HIGHLIGHT
SOUTH Sydney’s magnificent victory over the Roosters, setting up the most exciting grand final build-up in years.
LOWLIGHT
THE Swans’ capitulation at the MCG on Saturday. It was a massive disappointment for the 15,000 Sydney fans who travelled south for the weekend.
LOWLIGHT II
THE disgraceful brawl in the Mounties v Entrance Ron Massey Cup at Allianz on Sunday. What
a terrible way to kick-off grand final week.
SPOTTED I
BENJI Marshall making a touch football comeback for Wests in the Vawdon Cup at Parramatta.
SPOTTED II
PLAYER agents Wayne Beavis and Khoder Nasser in the Australian Rugby Union box at the Roosters v Rabbitohs on Friday night.
SPOTTED III
Former Australian cricket coach and computer whiz John Buchanan sitting with the video refs at the two NRL semi-finals as part of his new consultancy role with the referees.
HEAD CASES
Surely the NRL will investigate the Penrith Panthers for allowing James Segeyaro and Sika Manu to stay on the field after heavy head knocks on Saturday night — just a week after they were fined $20,000 for doing the same thing with Jamal Idris.
Originally published as Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield reveals his team of the year for 2014 NRL season
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