2020 Player's Poll

[Big Pete]

150 players were polled on their peers, here's their response.

Best Fullback
James Tedesco - 51%
Tom Trbojevic - 21%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 10%
Kalyn Ponga - 6%
Dylan Edwards - 3%

2019 votes: James Tedesco (55%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (23%), Kalyn Ponga (9%), Clint Gutherson (5%), Tom Trbojevic (3%)
2018 results: Billy Slater (60%), Kalyn Ponga (11%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (10%), Tom Trbojevic (6%), James Tedesco (5%)

Best Winger
Daniel Tupou - 22%
Brett Morris - 17%
David Nofoaluma - 11%
Blake Ferguson - 10%
Maika Sivo - 7%
Kyle Feldt - 7%

2019 votes: Blake Ferguson (33%), Josh Addo-Carr (24%), Corey Oates (10%), Ken Maumalo (8%), Jordan Rapana (7%)
2018 votes: Josh Addo-Carr (27%), David Fusitu’a (21%), Jordan Rapana (12%), Valentine Holmes (10%), Corey Oates/Blake Ferguson (8%)

Best Centre
Joseph Manu - 44%
Josh Morris - 13%
Michael Jennings - 9%
Bradman Best - 5%
Kotoni Staggs - 4%
Stephen Crichton - 4%
Waqa Blake - 4%

2019 votes: Latrell Mitchell (80%), Jarrod Croker (4%), Joseph Manu (3%), Michael Jennings (3%), Dane Gagai (2%)
2018 votes: Will Chambers (31%), Greg Inglis (21%), Euan Aitken (13%), Latrell Mitchell (11%), Josh Dugan (4%)

Best Five Eighth
Luke Keary - 43%
Cameron Munster - 34%
Dylan Brown - 5%
Jack Wighton - 4%
Jarome Luai - 3%

2019 votes: Luke Keary (41%), Cameron Munster (32%), Cody Walker (18%), Shaun Johnson (3%), Anthony Milford/James Maloney (2%)
2018 votes: James Maloney (36%), Gareth Widdop (20%), Cameron Munster (13%), Blake Green (11%), Anthony Milford (9%)

Best Halfback
Mitchell Pearce - 27%
Nathan Cleary - 22%
Daly Cherry-Evans - 22%
Mitchell Moses - 13%
Ben Hunt - 3%

2019 votes: Cooper Cronk (39%), Mitchell Pearce (14%), Daly Cherry-Evans (11%), Adam Reynolds (7%), Chad Townsend (6%)
2018 votes: Johnathan Thurston (35%), Ben Hunt (19%), Nathan Cleary (11%), Shaun Johnson (11%), Cooper Cronk (9%)

Best Prop
Addin Fonua-Blake - 18%
Josh Papalii - 13%
Jared Warea-Hargreaves - 12%
Payne Haas - 11%
James Fisher-Harris - 9%

2019 votes: Siosiua Taukeiaho (26%), Jesse Bromwich (18%), Andrew Fifita (7%), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (6%), David Klemmer (5%)
2018 votes for best middle forward: Jason Taumalolo (34%), Sam Burgess (23%), Jake Trbojevic (10%), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (5%), Jesse Bromwich and Andrew Fifita (4%)

Best Hooker
Cameron Smith - 35%
Apisai Koroisau - 23%
Harry Grant - 12%
Damien Cook - 8%
Josh Hodgson - 7%

2019 votes: Cameron Smith (44%), Damien Cook (36%), Josh Hodgson (5%), Reed Mahoney (3%), Jayden Brailey/Robbie Farah (2%)
2018 votes: Cameron Smith (66%), Issac Luke (11%), Damien Cook (8%), Apisai Koroisau (4%), Cameron McInnes (3%)

Best Second Rower
Villiame Kikau - 28%
Boyd Cordner - 17%
David Fifita - 10%
Wade Graham - 9%
Tyson Frizell - 6%

2019 votes: Sam Burgess (54%), Viliame Kikau (10%), Boyd Cordner (9%), John Bateman (7%), Tohu Harris (7%)
2018 votes: Tyson Frizell (22%), Matt Gillett (21%), Boyd Cordner (15%), Tohu Harris (13%), Wade Graham (9%)

Best Lock
Jason Taumalolo - 49%
Jake Trbojevic - 21%
Victor Radley - 10%
Isaah Yeo - 7%
Cameron Murray - 3%
Brandon Smith - 3%

2019 votes: Jason Taumalolo (45%), Jake Trbojevic (20%), Cameron Murray (15%), Dale Finucane (8%), Jai Arrow (5%)
2018 votes for best middle forward: Jason Taumalolo (34%), Sam Burgess (23%), Jake Trbojevic (10%), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (5%), Jesse Bromwich and Andrew Fifita (4%)

Best Player
James Tedesco - 49%
Jason Taumalolo - 21%
Cameron Smith - 9%
Tom Trbojevic - 5%
Mitchell Moses - 3%

2019 votes: Cameron Smith (31%), James Tedesco (19%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (12%), Latrell Mitchell (10%), Jason Taumalolo (8%)
2018 votes: Cameron Smith (45%), Johnathan Thurston (12%), Jason Taumalolo (6%), Billy Slater (6%), James Maloney (5%)

Best Coach
Trent Robinson - 24%
Craig Bellamy - 17%
Wayne Bennett - 10%
Ivan Cleary - 8%
Adam O'Brien - 8%

2019 votes: Craig Bellamy (31%), Wayne Bennett (19%), Trent Robinson (13%), Stephen Kearney (6%), Ricky Stuart/Brad Arthur (5%)
2018 votes: Craig Bellamy (48%), Ivan Cleary (17%), Wayne Bennett (8%), Paul Green (4%), Stephen Kearney (4%)

Best Captain
Cameron Smith - 38%
Boyd Cordner - 16%
James Tamou - 6%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 5%
Mitchell Pearce - 5%
Daly Cherry Evans - 5%

2019 votes: Cameron Smith (51%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (12%), Sam Burgess (8%), Boyd Cordner (8%), Paul Gallen (5%)

Best Rookie
Harry Grant - 43%
Bradman Best - 26%
Eliesa Katoa - 7%
Matt Burton - 6%
Stephen Crichton - 5%

2019 votes: Briton Nikora (36%), Maika Sivo (16%), Bronson Xerri (13%), Chanel Harris-Tevita (10%), Thomas Flegler (7%)

Best Buy
Harry Grant - 43%
Api Koroisau - 24%
Josh Morris - 16%
Ryan Matterson - 6%
George Williams - 3%
Latrell Mitchell - 3%

Most Damaging Tackler
Victor Radley - 40%
Jorge Taufua - 38%
Dylan Napa - 7%
Junior Paulo - 4%
Jared Warea-Hargreaves - 3%
James Fisher-Harris - 3%

2019 votes: Dylan Napa (33%), Victor Radley (26%), Sam Burgess (19%), James Fisher-Harris (7%), Tariq Sims (5%)
2018 votes: Dylan Napa (33%), Sam Burgess (15%), James Fisher-Harris (13%), Jack de Belin (11%), Tariq Sims (9%)

Hardest Player To Tackle
Jason Taumalolo - 52%
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 8%
Villiame Kikau - 7%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 7%
Kalyn Ponga - 6%

2019 votes: Jason Taumalolo (45%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (17%), Viliame Kikau (10%), Kalyn Ponga (7%), Latrell Mitchell (6%)
2018 votes: Jason Taumalolo (52%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (9%), Andrew Fifita (6%), Kalyn Ponga (5%), Greg Inglis (5%)

Best Sledger
Josh McGuire - 30%
Josh Reynolds - 6%
Jarome Luai - 6%
Cameron Smith - 5%
David Klemmer - 5%
Nathan Peats - 5%

2019 votes: Will Chambers (41%), James Maloney (15%), Josh Dugan (3%), Latrell Mitchell (3%), Tariq Sims (3%)

Dally M Prediction
Jason Taumalolo - 52%
James Tedesco - 18%
Harry Grant - 14%
Nathan Cleary - 6%
Cameron Smith - 5%
Clinton Gutherson - 5%

2019 votes: Cameron Munster (29%), James Tedesco (20%), Cody Walker (16%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (11%), Cameron Smith (3%)

2020 Premiership Prediction
Sydney Roosters - 46%
Parramatta Eels - 30%
Penrith Panthers - 9%
Melbourne Storm - 6%
Newcastle Knights - 4%

2019 votes: Roosters (49%), Rabbitohs (30%), Storm (10%), Wests Tigers (4%), Sharks (2%)

If you left your club, which club would you want to sign with
Sydney Roosters - 24%
Brisbane Broncos - 17%
Melbourne Storm - 14%
Newcastle Knights - 12%

2019 votes: Roosters (27%), Storm (15%), Broncos (15%), Rabbitohs (9%), Titans (8%)

Manly Sea Eagles - 6%

 

[Unbreakable]

150 players were polled on their peers, here's their response.

Best Fullback
James Tedesco - 51%
Tom Trbojevic - 21%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 10%
Kalyn Ponga - 6%
Dylan Edwards - 3%

Best Winger
Daniel Tupou - 22%
Brett Morris - 17%
David Nofoaluma - 11%
Blake Ferguson - 10%
Maika Sivo - 7%
Kyle Feldt - 7%

Best Centre
Joseph Manu - 44%
Josh Morris - 13%
Michael Jennings - 9%
Bradman Best - 5%
Kotoni Staggs - 4%
Stephen Crichton - 4%
Waqa Blake - 4%

Best Five Eighth
Luke Keary - 43%
Cameron Munster - 34%
Dylan Brown - 5%
Jack Wighton - 4%
Jarome Luai - 3%

Best Halfback
Mitchell Pearce - 27%
Nathan Cleary - 22%
Daly Cherry-Evans - 22%
Mitchell Moses - 13%
Ben Hunt - 3%

Best Prop
Addin Fonua-Blake - 18%
Josh Papalii - 13%
Jared Warea-Hargreaves - 12%
Payne Haas - 11%
James Fisher-Harris - 9%

Best Hooker
Cameron Smith - 35%
Apisai Koroisau - 23%
Harry Grant - 12%
Damien Cook - 8%
Josh Hodgson - 7%

Best Second Rower
Villiame Kikau - 28%
Boyd Cordner - 17%
David Fifita - 10%
Wade Graham - 9%
Tyson Frizell - 6%

Best Lock
Jason Taumalolo - 49%
Jake Trbojevic - 21%
Victor Radley - 10%
Isaah Yeo - 7%
Cameron Murray - 3%
Brandon Smith - 3%

Best Player
James Tedesco - 49%
Jason Taumalolo - 21%
Cameron Smith - 9%
Tom Trbojevic - 5%
Mitchell Moses - 3%

Best Coach
Trent Robinson - 24%
Craig Bellamy - 17%
Wayne Bennett - 10%
Ivan Cleary - 8%
Adam O'Brien - 8%

Best Captain
Cameron Smith - 38%
Boyd Cordner - 16%
James Tamou - 6%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 5%
Mitchell Pearce - 5%
Daly Cherry Evans - 5%

Best Rookie
Harry Grant - 43%
Bradman Best - 26%
Eliesa Katoa - 7%
Matt Burton - 6%
Stephen Crichton - 5%

Best Buy
Harry Grant - 43%
Api Koroisau - 24%
Josh Morris - 16%
Ryan Matterson - 6%
George Williams - 3%
Latrell Mitchell - 3%

Most Damaging Tackler
Victor Radley - 40%
Jorge Taufua - 38%
Dylan Napa - 7%
Junior Paulo - 4%
Jared Warea-Hargreaves - 3%
James Fisher-Harris - 3%

Hardest Player To Tackle
Jason Taumalolo - 52%
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 8%
Villiame Kikau - 7%
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 7%
Kalyn Ponga - 6%

Best Sledger
Josh McGuire - 30%
Josh Reynolds - 6%
Jarome Luai - 6%
Cameron Smith - 5%
David Klemmer - 5%
Nathan Peats - 5%

Dally M Prediction
Jason Taumalolo - 52%
James Tedesco - 18%
Harry Grant - 14%
Nathan Cleary - 6%
Cameron Smith - 5%
Clinton Gutherson - 5%

2020 Premiership Prediction
Sydney Roosters - 46%
Parramatta Eels - 30%
Penrith Panthers - 9%
Melbourne Storm - 6%
Newcastle Knights - 4%

If you left your club, which club would you want to sign with
Sydney Roosters - 24%
Brisbane Broncos - 17%
Melbourne Storm - 14%
Newcastle Knights - 12%
Manly Sea Eagles - 6%

What's with the over-representation of Panthers?

The players believe Dylan Edwards is better than Clint Gutherson? I think not..

Kikau the best 2nd rower? LOL.

S.Crichton in the top 5 centres? Nah.. not yet.

Luai in the top 5 five-eighths? Nope..

Api better than Cook? LUL.

Yeo better than Murray? Wtf.

 

[BroncsFan]

What's with the over-representation of Panthers?

The players believe Dylan Edwards is better than Clint Gutherson? I think not..

Kikau the best 2nd rower? LOL.

S.Crichton in the top 5 centres? Nah.. not yet.

Luai top 5 five-eigths? Nope..

Api better than Cook? LUL.

Yeo better than Murray? Wtf.

They need to put a time stamp on these player polls and show the ladder at the time of voting.

Deadset these votes may as well be best players based on Round 9 2020... I'm surprised Charlie Stains isn't the best rookie for falling over the line 4 times on the weekend.

 

[Big Pete]

It's an interesting perspective from the players, supposedly a few of the players didn't vote for every single category but at 150 players they couldn't have got an even amount of players across the competition. It makes me wonder if certain clubs had a big say on the poll, a lot of Penrith Panthers polled higher than I would have expected. Kikau dominating the second row in particular was a big surprise, especially given his patchy form since 2018.

Parramatta clearly considered the second best team, but a lot of their players ignored. I wouldn't have an issue if Sivo, Moses, Paulo, Matterson took out their categories. The fact RGC wasn't even considered for best buy is surprising.

 

[Socnorb]

How well is that salary cap working?

 

[Unbreakable]

The fact RCG wasn't even considered for best buy is surprising.

I've been super impressed by him this year. Origin return possibly? I'd nearly have him there over Haas at this stage, as controversial as that may be. I think he's more suited to the frenetic pace of Origin.

 

[Big Pete]

I've been super impressed by him this year. Origin return possibly? I'd nearly have him there over Haas at this stage, as controversial as that may be. I think he's more suited to the frenetic pace of Origin.

It will be interesting to see which way Freddy goes, I can't see him picking more than 3 props in his side and with the pace of the game may even go with two. I can't see Klemmer losing his spot and Paul Vaughan has been a fantastic servant for NSW and I don't think he's done anything to deserve being dropped. It leaves Saifiti who at the start of the season, I saw as the most likely player to drop out but he's been very impressive this season.

Campbell-Gillard is certainly in the mix, but at this stage even his own team mate Junior Paulo may have an edge over him. I wouldn't even be shocked to see Freddy go for a surprise selection and consider Nathan Brown off the bench.

I need to keep an eye on Freddy's Team of the Week. He has some interesting insights and it gives you a look into what he values in his players.

 

[Kooly87]

How well is that salary cap working?

Spolier alert - it isn't.

It's really only ensured the top clubs stay near the top and the bottom clubs stay near the bottom. It's also shown that it's incredibly swift at taking high performing clubs down with just one or two bad contracts able to cripple them for a number of years (Broncos, Bulldogs) and only through an extensive period over a number of years of good roster management can a team ever hope to get back up from the bottom (Parramatta, Knights).

 

[Kooly87]

Honestly, how anyone came to any conclusion for best Fullback besides Tedesco is just stunning.

Similarly, Harry Grant really should be undoubtedly the best buy. The Tigers traded a bog average and somewhat surplus Outside Back for a guy who will go very close to winning the Dally M and will probably be the Queensland Origin Dummy Half by season's end.

That's not just the best buy for 2020, that's one of the best pieces of business this decade.

 

[Financeguy]

Honestly, how anyone came to any conclusion for best Fullback besides Tedesco is just stunning.

Similarly, Harry Grant really should be undoubtedly the best buy. The Tigers traded a bog average and somewhat surplus Outside Back for a guy who will go very close to winning the Dally M and will probably be the Queensland Origin Dummy Half by season's end.

That's not just the best buy for 2020, that's one of the best pieces of business this decade.

Api has been immense for the Penny's, i can see a lot of argument vs. Grant and Grant did win the poll in a bit of a landslide with almost twice the votes of Koroisau so i don't see too much cause for concern for team Grant on this question.

Players who answered may also take into account that there is a good chance that Grant is lost to the Tigers after this season whereas Api will most likely be with the Panthers for a few more seasons yet.

 

[Scorchie]

Api has been immense for the Penny's, i can see a lot of argument vs. Grant and Grant did win the poll in a bit of a landslide with almost twice the votes of Koroisau so i don't see too much cause for concern for team Grant on this question.

Players who answered may also take into account that there is a good chance that Grant is lost to the Tigers after this season whereas Api will most likely be with the Panthers for a few more seasons yet.

Yet there’s a poll next year? I know players can be daft but I’m fairly confident they know they were judging 2020...

 

[Financeguy]

Yet there’s a poll next year? I know players can be daft but I’m fairly confident they know they were judging 2020...

Yeah, and a good chunk chose api over Grant, not too hard to understand why...