FULL-BACK: TOM TRBOJEVIC (MANLY)
My player of the season by a distance. 18 appearances, 28 tries, 28 assists. He's averaging a try or assist every 26 minutes. Manly lost their first five games of the season, with Turbo injured, but only lost five of the 18 matches he did play. This has been one of the best individual seasons in living memory, right up there with Jarryd Hayne in 2009 andd Ben Barba in 2012. He has been unplayable.
Unlucky to miss out: James Tedesco Ryan Papenhuyzen
WINGER: REUBEN GARRICK (MANLY)
The 24-year-old has had an excellent season out wide for the Sea Eagles, and is someone who has greatly benefitted from the return of Trbojevic. 23 tries is an excellent return, and averaging 156 metres per game and tackling at a rate of 83.4%, he's doing the 'dirty' side of a winger's job too.
Unlucky to miss out: Alex Johnston Josh Addo-Carr
CENTRE: MATT BURTON (PENRITH)
A very likeable player, the 21-year-old has had a hand in plenty of the Panthers' good play this year. With 16 tries and 13 assists, he has contributed massively in his first season as a regular pick. Covered well in the halves when Cleary was out too.
Unlucky to miss out: Remis Smith Dane Gagai
CENTRE: JUSTIN OLAM (MELBOURNE)
In truth, it could be either of the two Melbourne centres, Olam and Smith have both been excellent this season. I've gone with Olam because of his power and pace near the line, but also his handling skills - ten assists for the 27-year-old.
Unlucky to miss out: Bradman Best Joey Manu
WINGER: BRIAN TO'O (PENRITH)
The most likeable player in the league? To'o has gained a following and somewhat cult hero status for his performances this year. He has an exceptional 32 tries, which is the primary job of a winger, but he does so much more than that. He has missed just nine tackles all season and averages an insane 246 metres per match.
Unlucky to miss out: Jason Saab Maika Sivo
HALFBACK: CODY WALKER (SOUTHS)
Okay, I'll admit, I've been a critic of Walker in the past, but the 31-year-old has been absolutely sensational all year. As the season has gone on, he has got better and better and as well as his 15 tries, he has registered an almighty 33 assists. A delight to behold in 2021 for Souths.
Unlucky to miss out: Jarome Luai Jahrome Hughes
HALFBACK: NATHAN CLEARY (PENRITH)
Cleary has played so well in the halves for Penrith this season, that had it not been for Trbojevic's extra-terrestrial year, he would surely have won the Dally M Medal. Ten tries and 21 assists as he has controlled the middle of the park so many times. A glorious rugby league player.
Unlucky to miss out: Adam Reynolds Daly Cherry-Evans
PROP: PAYNE HAAS (BRISBANE)
How does a player from a team who finished 15th and nearly got the wooden spoon get in? Because 21-year-old Payne Haas has been in ridiculous form for the Broncos. His metre-making is unreal, on six occasions he has surpassed the 200 metre mark this season, in a team that gets beat most weekends. Given his age and the paucity of quality young props, he is the hottest property in rugby league right now.
Unlucky to miss out: Christian Welch Moses Leota
HOOKER: BRANDON SMITH (MELBOURNE)
Hard to choose between Melbourne duo Smith and Grant, who rotate with one another in-game so well, while Koroisau of Penrith and Damien Cook at Souths were also options. But Smith, affectionately known as 'the Cheese' is remarkably consistent, and eleven tries and ten assists from hooker is an outstanding return.
Unlucky to miss out: Api Koroisau Harry Grant
PROP: JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (PENRITH)
The man who sets the tone in the middle for the Panthers. Averages 154 metres per game and also has managed to get 31 offloads away this year. Fisher-Harris has also busted 39 tackles through the course of the season, such is the difficulty markers have in stopping him.
Unlucky to miss out: Nelson Asofa-Solomona Josh Aloai
SECOND ROW: VILIAME KIKAU (PENRITH)
A lovely second rower. Not quite the destructive force of someone like David Fifita, who I left out, more of a delicate and intelligent runner of the ball - as demonstrated by his twelve linebreaks. Nine tries, four assists and 39 offloads shows his handling qualities too.
Unlucky to miss out: David Fifita Kurt Capewell
SECOND ROW: ISAIAH PAPALII (PARRAMATTA)
His first season with the Eels has been a very successful one and thoroughly deserving of a place in the Team of the Year. As well as his seven tries, the back-rower has made 30 offloads and has tackled at a success rate of 94%. 109 tackle busts is a scary number, too.
Unlucky to miss out: Keaon Koloamatangi Curtis Sironen
LOOSE FORWARD: CAMERON MURRAY (SOUTHS)
Such a clever player, so much of what Souths do in attack revolves around having a ball-playing 13. 40 tackle busts and 23 offloads shows how key he is to Wayne Bennett's team making metres and keeping the ball alive, while missing just 24 tackles all season demonstrates his defensive abilities.
Unlucky to miss out: Isaah Yeo, Toby Rudolf
COACH: CRAIG BELLAMY (MELBOURNE)
A tough call actually, as Cleary's Penrith have been a delight to behold, while Hasler has done an incredible job at Manly. Credit also to Justin Holbrook for getting Gold Coast into the playoffs, but the winner has to be the legendary Craig Bellamy, whose 19th year in charge of the Storm has seen them once again finish top of the table. Despite their playoff exit, he is my coach of the year.
Unlucky to miss out: Ivan Cleary Des Hasler
@ALooseWire
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