Queensland NRL team of the year: Shocks, locks and the competition’s biggest surprise
If there was one certain bet in this year’s NRL it was that the league’s top try scorer would not be a Dolphin ... but guess what? Crash delivers his 2023 awards and team of the year.
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Redemption stories make rugby league what it is but even by the game’s rich standards the story of Jamayne Isaako’s rise from the ruins takes some beating.
The Broncos rightfully dominate our team of the year named from the state’s four NRL clubs but in terms of inspiring comeback stories, the Dolphins winger is in a league of his own.
This time last year he had fallen through the bottom of two clubs and was playing for Tweed Heads after being discarded by the Broncos and signed then discarded by the Titans.
Yet, on the end of a Dolphins backline which had more changes of personnel than Manly has had chief executives, he was the league’s top tryscorer (24) and points-scorer (242), the first player since Mal Meninga to head both lists.
SCROLL TO SEE CRASH CRADDOCK’S QUEENSLAND NRL TEAM OF THE YEAR
And that was on top of finishing third in linebreaks and fifth in metres made.
Coach Wayne Bennett’s belief in Isaako has been a key yet even Bennett has been taken aback.
“He’s been absolutely outstanding,’’ Bennett said.
“I can’t believe what he’s done actually. He is the only player to play every game. I think he has had five different centres to play with so no matter what the challenges he has maintained his form.’’
The season was bookended by its biggest and best two stories – the birth of the Dolphins and the Broncos premiership bid – but it’s time to honour the events in between.
A DRUMROLL PLEASE FOR …
BIGGEST DRAWCARD: Reece Walsh – genuine box office gold – with honourable mentions for all the other Queensland custodians (Scott Drinkwater, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell). All wonderful entertainers.
MOST OVERRATED TEAM: The Cowboys. One finals appearance in the past six years is hugely below the potential of a club with so much going for it. Something’s missing in that big name forward pack
MOST CONSISTENT PLAYERS: Payne Haas, Isaako, Pat Carrigan.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Wayne Bennett. Kevin Walters has done a great job but on November 20, 2021, less than two years ago, Bennett did not have one player on his books. To win nine games and go close in so many was a superb effort.
MOST UNDERRATED STATISTIC: The Dolphins’ effort to average 32,000 in their seven Suncorp Stadium matches. You don’t reckon a few Sydney clubs would drool over that?
MOST UNDERRATED ACHIEVEMENT: The Broncos to lose just one of 11 away games.
BIGGEST ENGINES:“Relentless Reuben’’ Cotter and “Tireless Tino’’ Fa’asuamaleaui deserve special mentions behind Broncos duo Haas and Carrigan.
MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER: Herbie Farnworth. Gets lost in the stardust sprinkled by Reece Walsh but few players in the competition are more consistent.
QUIET ACHIEVER: Reece Robson (Cowboys).
Originally published as Queensland NRL team of the year: Shocks, locks and the competition’s biggest surprise
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