The Gold Coast’s best 20 rugby league players of 2018: The top four on the list
CHECK out who takes top spot and the minor placings on our list of the Gold Coast’s best rugby league players of the year.
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FROM the growing women’s game to the strength of Rugby League Gold Coast, it’s been a season to savour on our footy fields. Every day this week the Bulletin counts down our 20 best league performers of 2018 across all levels.
Today, it’s crunch time as we name the Gold Coast’s No.1 player of the year.
4. Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)
It was another challenging year for the Titans but their skipper did all he could. The 27-year-old collected both of his club’s major gongs – the Paul Broughton Medal and The Preston Award – before winning the NRL-wide Ken Stephen Medal for his off-field work. James also got closer than ever to an elusive State of Origin debut for NSW.
3. Tallisha Harden (Burleigh Bears)
The well-spoken lock forward captained the Bears to a fourth straight South East Queensland division one premiership and enjoyed some individual success of her own. Harden made her long-awaited Queensland debut in the first women’s match officially under the State of Origin banner, completing a long road back from a serious ankle injury.
2. Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans)
The workhorse has established himself as not only the heart of the Gold Coast Titans forward pack for years to come but maybe Queensland too. The tough Keebra product had a tremendous breakout season, starring in the NRL enough to suddenly come into State of Origin calculations – and he did his reputation absolutely no harm there, even being mentioned as a future captain.
1. Tom Dearden (Palm Beach Currumbin)
He’s only 17 years of age but Dearden’s 2018 season trumped all. You can see why there is such hype about this kid; the Broncos-contracted halfback led Palm Beach Currumbin to their first national NRL Schoolboy Cup title in 10 years. Along the way, he was man of the match in the Queensland semi-final and grand final, scored a stellar solo try in the national final and won the prestigious Peter Sterling Medal.
WHO ELSE MADE THE LIST:
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