With the NRL regular season now finished and half the teams off on end-of-season trips we thought we'd hand out some awards based on the season to date.
Player of the Year (Cameron Smith)
It is hard to pick one player at this point because one of the contenders could lead their side to a title over the next month. But on regular season form I've gone with Smith. The veteran hooker has been superb every week and probably edges the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason Taumalolo and Storm teammate Cameron Munster. Clint Gutherson of the Eels was going great guns until he got injured.
Rookie of the Year (Nick Cotric)
Cotric has enjoyed a superb season in a disappointing Raiders side. The teenager has been arguably the Green Machine's best player and hasn't even looked like a young player his first year in top grade. Powerfully built with deceptive pace and sound under the high ball - Cotric looks to be a rep star of the future.
Coach of the Year (Brad Arthur)
Craig Bellamy could win this every year but I guess he gets weighted against expectation. I've gone with Arthur, who has helped turn around the Parramatta Eels in stunning fashion. After enduring the year from hell last season the Eels have been the fairytale story this year and will give the competition a decent shake.
Buy of the Year (Nathan Brown)
It was a tough call between Brown and Dragons recruit Paul Vaughan. The latter missed a bit of time and the former has got better each week. Brown has come from nowhere (Souths) to be a key member of the Eels side - playing big minutes, racking up huge metres and cutting out the ill-discipline that plagued his game in his career so far.
