Bulldogs star Ben Barba leads the race as the NRL's best player

THE Dally M awards are six weeks away but Ben Barba is making a irresistible case to be both fullback-of-the-year and player-of-the-year.

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THE Dally M awards are six weeks away but Ben Barba is making a irresistible case to be both fullback-of-the-year and player-of-the-year.

The tryscoring wizard has been playing so well for the Bulldogs that we rate him ahead of future immortal Billy Slater and the game's most destructive attacking player, Greg Inglis, as the best fullback in the game this year.

The Bulldogs have won eight games straight on the back of Barba's astonishing game-breaking ability.

And another of the game's pocket dynamos, Souths winger Nathan Merritt, gets a start after his hat-trick of tries against the Dragons on Saturday night.

The Rabbitohs have three in the "starting" line-up - Merrit, Greg Inglis, as a centre, and big Sam Burgess.

Fullback

By far the most competitive position in the competition.

Billy Slater will be an immortal one day but has missed too much football, Matt Bowen has had a sensational year and Josh Hoffman continues to improve and is the Broncos' best attacking player.

That doesn't even take into account Manly's Brett Stewart or the great Greg Inglis, who we've switched back to the centres. But who could argue with Ben Barba. He's on fire every week.

Wingers

One area of the game where there hasn't really been a standout.

Brett Morris has played a lot of fullback but has been the best winger. I've thrown Nathan Merritt on the other wing after scoring 11 tries in 11 games, including the hat-trick on Saturday night against Saints. An honourable mention too for his Souths teammate Andrew Everingham.

Akuila Uate has played well in patches but lacks consistency and is shaky in defence. The Cowboys' Ashley Graham was the leading try-scorer before breaking a leg and the Tigers' Beau Ryan has been the most improved player in the competition.

Centres

Josh Morris and Greg Inglis pick themselves, despite the fact GI has spent much of the year at fullback.

Morris has been absolutely outstanding in both club football for the Bulldogs and in Origin.

Konrad Hurrell is a great rookie and has had a wonderful year at the Warriors. Jamie Lyon continues to dominate at the Sea Eagles and it's a pity he won't play Origin.

Five-eighth

You can't go past Johnathan Thurston because Benji Marshall has played more football at halfback and doesn't boast the same consistency as the Cowboys' magic man.

An honourable mention for Josh Reynolds of the Bulldogs, who has proved a cheeky newcomer with the ability to rattle opponents with both his running game and his aggressive style.

James Maloney has shone for the Warriors while Todd Carney has made a fine return at the Sharks.

Halfback

Cooper Cronk has proven himself the ultimate pro this year, stepping into the Origin hot seat vacated by Darren Lockyer and also shining for the Storm at club level.

Adam Reynolds has been sensational for Souths and is as good as any rookie half in recent memory, while Mitchell Pearce and Daly Cherry-Evans have struggled to match last year's form.

Shaun Johnson at the Warriors has been down on his best form too. Benji Marshall has shown flashes of brilliance but consistency is a problem. Reynolds' form makes him one selection you can't argue with.

Lock

Paul Gallen hasn't been the dominant force of recent seasons but is still the best number 13 going around - ahead of Blues teammate Greg Bird, who has been dynamic for the Titans.

Luke Lewis has been all class for the Panthers while Wade Graham has been one of the NRL's big improvers.

Second-row

The Titans' Nate Myles was State of Origin player of the series and has to be the first chosen second-rower.

Rabbitohs' Sam Burgess has missed a few games and played some of his football at prop but he's been a wrecking machine in the Rabbitohs pack and has a great offload.

Jeremy Smith has had a great year at the Sharks and is unlucky to miss out.

Front-rowers

James Tamou from the Cowboys had a strong Origin series. Big Sam Kasiano, despite his injury on Friday night, has been unstoppable in the Bulldogs pack.

His teammates James Graham and Aiden Tolman have been powerhouses too.

An honourable mention for Bryce Gibbs at the Sharks, David Shillington at the Raiders and Tim Grant at the Panthers. Willie Mason deserves a rap for his efforts at the Knights.

Hooker

Cameron Smith gets the nod but only narrowly ahead of Robbie Farah at the Wests Tigers, who was fantastic in the Origin series. Issac Luke has been outstanding at the Rabbitohs and young Mitch Rein has been a discovery at the Dragons.

Coach

How can you go past Des Hasler after Friday night's victory over his old club?

Shane Flanagan has lifted the Sharks into top four contenders and Michael Maguire has done equally well at the Rabbitohs.

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Joey missed at Brookie

MANLY'S biggest problem this season is the lacklustre form of halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans.

They are not just missing Des Hasler's coaching but the private tutoring of team-of-the-century halfback Andrew Johns.

Johns was on the Sea Eagles' payroll last season and put the spit and polish on the young stars.

Geoff Toovey decided Joey wasn't required this year.

The Sea Eagles are still capable of giving this premiership a shake, they just need more direction around the halves and Johns is the man who can provide it.

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THE HIGHLIGHT

Friday night’s Manly-Canterbury game was as brutal and physically demanding as a State of Origin game. It’s up there in my top three matches this year, alongside the Roosters v Dragons on Anzac Day and last Monday night’s Roosters-Rabbitohs thriller.

THE LOWLIGHT

The sickening Greg Inglis shoulder charge on Dean Young. If it happened in the street, it would be a jailable offence.

WRONG ... AGAIN

Another round of footy and another series of refereeing blunders, none worse than video ref Phil Cooley’s decision to award Parramatta’s Ben Smith a try against Storm when he clearly bounced the football. Video refs are becoming a bigger embarrassment than the men in the middle - and they have no excuse because they can watch a dozen replays.

MONEY TALKS

It’s amazing how well football players perform when they know they are going to get paid. The Titans’ surge for the finals coincides with the financial stability injected by private investors at the club.

JOUST IN TIME

The Knights’ comeback from trailing 19-nil to beat the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday night was their best and bravest performance since Wayne Bennett took charge.

SAY IT AIN’T MO

I ran a Movember competition last year offering to take a reader to lunch at the iconic Chines restaurant King Wan in Cronulla Leagues Club and a footy game at Shark Park. Canberra reader Mark Gale and his wife joined me at the Sharks-Raiders match yesterday. A good time was had by all - apart from the result.