Here is is, the moment about five of you have been waiting for... Steves NRL Team of the Year 2014 1. Fullback - Jarryd Hayne (Eels) What can I say about the year that Jarryd Hayne has had that hasnt already been said? Inspirational performances all year from Hayne has been the main reason that the Parramatta Eels have gone from Wooden Spooners in 2013 to one win away from a top 8 finish in 2014. Haynes performances this year in club, state and international football have been so amazing that he has came close, if not beaten his career best form in 2009 and has seen him finish with the most tries in the NRL this year with 20, as well as the most line breaks with 23. Runners Up: Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Sam Tomkins 2. Winger - Brett Morris (Dragons) 2014 was the year that Brett Morris truly showed that he is the best winger in Rugby League. Whether it playing inspiring football for the NSW Blues with his brother which will go down as two of the most courageous performances in Rugby League history or again being one of the Dragons best players, Brett Morris is equally as dangerous in both attack and defence. Finished the season with 14 tries and making an average of over 100 metres per game Runners Up: Josh Mansour, Alex Johnston 3. Centre - Josh Morris (Bulldogs) Even though injury has taken its toll in the second half of the season, Josh Morris is easily the best defensive centres in the NRL while also being pretty good in attack. While Morris is fantastic at stopping tries being scored with outstanding defence, he may not have made the team of the year without his inspiring State Of Origin performance, where in game 1, he played the second half of the game extremely injured and still made match winning tackles, while in Game 3, playing an entire State of Origin pretty much on one foot. Runners Up: Steve Matai, Konrad Hurrell 4. Centre - Jamie Lyon (Manly) One of the best centres in the last ten years, Jamie Lyon is like a fine wine, he just gets better with age. The Manly captain is near the end of his career, but his form this year shows that he is still the best centre in rugby league. Lyon is still the most consistent player that Manly has and the best defensive centre in the NRL. Finished the season saving countless tries from being scored with his defence, with an impressive 11 try assists, as well as 154 points and 6 tries Runners Up: Jarrod Croker, Josh Dugan 5. Winger - Daniel Tupou (Roosters) One of the games most exciting wingers known for scoring tries, Tupou has elevated himself to one of the best wingers in the game during the 2014 season. The Roosters winger was in good form in 2013, but was often over shadowed by his team mate and opposite winger, Roger Tuivasa- Sheck. This year Tupou has proven that he is just as talented, playing all three State Of Origins for NSW and scoring 12 tries from 17 games Runners Up: Semi Radradra, Peta Hiku 6. Five Eighth - Jamie Soward (Panthers) After a disappointing exit from the Dragons in 2013, few predicted that Jamie Soward would help turn the Penrith Panthers into a top four team in 2014 and rediscover his form, becoming one of the best playmakers in Rugby League. Soward has often been forced to lead around the Panthers this season due to the massive toll injuries have had on the Panthers season, and he has excelled with the added responsibilities, with 20 try assists to his name as well as 7 tries, 155 points and even 3 forty twenties to his name. Statistics can do Soward justice however, his confidence has returned and the effect on the Panthers has been enormous. . Runners Up: Gareth Widdop, James Maloney 7. Halfback - Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) Spending time at both five eighth and halfback this season, I have decided to chose Thurston in the position that he has played more games in this season. It doesnt matter he plays though, Thurston is one of, if not the best playmaker in the NRL and has been for a few seasons now. Thurston has often been the difference between the Cowboys winning and losing many games this season and is the reason why they are a big chance to win their maiden premiership this season, with an always good kicking game, 10 tries, 208 points and an absolutely amazing league topping 30 try assists in 22 games to his name in 2014. Dominating for the Cowboys, Queensland and Australia for years has now seen people predicting that Thurston will be a future immortal of the game and he very well could be. Runners Up: Daly Cherry-Evans, Shaun Johnson, Trent Hodkinson, Ben Hunt 8. Prop - George Burgess (Rabbitohs) Sometimes when a young player wins rookie of the year, the have what Rugby League fans call second year syndrome but that sure isnt the case for George Burgess. The tireless workhorse can sometimes be overshadowed by his older brother, but the amount of work that George Burgess does for the Rabbitohs has made him one of the most valuable forwards in the game. Always one of the Rabbitohs best in every game, Burgess runs for over 130 metres per game and always looks like a threat to break opponents lines while also working tirelessly in defence. Runners Up: Jesse Bromwich, Aiden Tolman 9. Hooker - James Segeyaro (Panthers) Its hard to imagine ever giving the hooker of the year to anyone other than the Australian captain Cameron Smith which just proves how good James Segeyaro has been in 2014. Always one of Penriths best players, Segeyaro has been one of the main reasons for the Panthers rise to the top 4 and has been one of the most dangerous players in league this season. The rising star had been ruthless running the ball from dummy half and picking up easy metres while also setting up plays and exposing weakness in opponents defence. Speaking of defence Segeyaro averages over 30 tackles per game while breaking over three tackles per game and even scoring 10 tries. Runners Up: Cameron Smith, Nathan Friend, Issac Luke 10. Prop - James Graham (Bulldogs) The explosive English front rower James Graham will remember 2014 as the year that he truly left his mark on the NRL and became one of the best forwards in all the NRL. Graham has dominated the competition for the Bulldogs in a way that few forwards can, and is always one of, if not the best player for the Bulldogs. He is also one of the most important parts of the Bulldogs which is highlight in Grahams tireless work rate - he has played all 27 games for the Bulldogs this season and averaged over 140 metres and 38 tackles per game. 11. Second Rower - Corey Parker (Broncos) Excelling anywhere he plays in the forwards, the experienced Corey Parker has had one of his best seasons to date in the NRL in 2014. Parker just keeps getting better after 299 games, and in 2014 has averaged 150 metres per game from 17 runs, is easily the best player when it comes to offloads, averaged over 30 tackles per game and has continued to be an inspirational leader for the Broncos young players. With plenty of forwards playing fantastic footy in 2014, Parkers efforts for the Broncos, Queensland and Australia earned him this position over some fantastic players including Boyd Cordner and Ryan Hoffman. Runners Up: Boyd Cordner, Ryan Hoffman 12. Second Rower - Aiden Guerra (Roosters) The most improved player in the NRL the last two seasons, Aiden Guerra has not only became one of the most important players for the Roosters, but one of the best forwards in the game. Being the best forward in the Roosters team is no easy task when you are playing with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Boyd Cordner, but Guerra has been so dangerous in attack, running over 100 metres a game, as well as busting two tackles and making over 30 tackles every game and even scoring 6 tries in 2014. His impressive form even saw earn a Queensland call up this season, and he was one of their best forwards as well. Runners Up: Josh Jackson, Matt Gillett, Sonny Bill Williams 13. Lock - Sam Burgess Did you expect anyone else to get this award? Words just dont do the season that Sam Burgess has had justice. Put simply, he has been the Rabbitohs best player and one of the reasons they are in a grand final in 2014, as well as the best forward and most consistent player in all of Rugby League in 2014. He is my player of the year, and its a shame that he is going to Union after this season (even though he hasnt ruled out a comeback to the NRL). Hopefully he can go out with a premiership, because I dont think anyone can deny that Burgess has earned it. Again stats dont show how dominant that Burgess has been, but they are still amazing stats - in 2014 Burgess has made the most runs, and the most metres in the whole NRL (19 runs a game for 160 metres), has the second most offloads with 55, makes 33 tackles per game and has scored 10 tries. Rugby League will miss you Sam! Runners Up: Adam Docker, Trent Merrin Bench 14. Gareth Widdop (Dragons) If it wasnt for Jamie Soward, Widdop would easily be signing of the year. He has easily been the Dragons best player this season and has nearly single- handily turned the club back into a top eight team. Gareth Widdop has lead the Dragons around the field in 2014, and has proved to everyone that he is great player whoever he plays for, not just the Melbourne Storm, which has been had considering he was the only consistent half for the Dragons this season. In 2014, Widdop made 20 try assists, had a very good kicking game with 217 kicks to his name, scored 137 points and has had an influence on the Dragons that very few have had since they won the grand final in 2010. 15. Jesse Bromwich (Storm) The superhuman form of both George Burgess and James Graham is the only reason why Bromwich wasnt in the starting team of the year in 2014. Bromwich had had a great season in 2014, not just becoming a great forward, but also being the Storms best player this year, no easy feat when you play with the likes of Smtih, Slater and Cronk. Jesse Bromwich is one of the only players to play every game for the Storm in 2014, and dominated the opposition, making 140 metres and over 30 tackles a game. 16. Josh Jackson (Bulldogs) Josh Jackson has been a revelation for the Bulldogs this season, becoming one of their best forwards and narrowly edging out Matt Gillett and Boyd Cordner for the second rower spot on my bench. Jackson has been influenced by the great forwards around him at the Bulldogs and has proven himself to be a future representative player, running for 100 metres and making over 30 tackles per game. 17. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) The career best form of Jarryd Hayne denied Inglis a starting spot in the team of the year, but their was no way he was going to miss out, providing rugby league fans some amazing moments they will never forget in season 2014. Inglis has dazzled with 12 tries and 14 try assists, though it is his unpredictability that has every other team worries when every Inglis gets the football. Always one of the Souths best, Inglis has made an average of other 150 metres per game. End of Season Awards Steves Player of the Year: Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs) Representative Player of the Year: Jarryd Hayne (Eels) Rookie of the Year: Luke Brooks (Tigers) Coach of the Year: Ivan Cleary (Panthers) Moment of the Year: NSW win State of Origin Try of the Year: Greg Inglis vs Broncos Round 23 Surprise of the Year: Sharks beat the Roosters Buy of the Season: Jamie Soward (Panthers) Biggest Comeback: Lote Tuqiri (Rabbitohs) Best Bench Player: Mike Cooper (Dragons) Most Overrated: Darius Boyd (Knights) Most Underrated: Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs)
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 23:02:18 +0000
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