Narelle's NRL Report 10/9/08

Dally M Awards
Manly halfback Matt Orford has won the Dally M Player of the Year in a very entertaining finish to rugby league’s night of nights at Hordern Pavilion. Wally Lewis presented Orford with his award.
Orford finished on 24 points – only 2 points ahead of Storm’s captain Cameron Smith.
Billy Slater was 3 points behind Orford in the final tally. He could have been the joint winner though if only he hadn’t been suspended for his Round 19 punching debacle on Dragons winger Jason Nightingale.
If a player gets suspended at any point in the season, they lose 3 points for every week of suspension.
In 2001, Andrew Johns missed out on the Dally M to Sharks halfback Preston Campbell due to suspension when he dropped a forearm on a Cronulla player (Adam Dykes).
Orford had a fantastic start to the season – and really set himself up in the early rounds for a win of the medal. After Round 16 though he had many challengers for the medal – as mentioned Slater and Smith, but also from the Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese and the Newcastle Knight’s captain, Danny Buderus.
The Dally M Award is also great recognition for him as he was overlooked for the NSW jumper in this year’s State of Origin series.
Will Orford be part of a Grand Final winning side though? Statistics show that only twice in 22 years a player has won the Dally M award and the premiership in the same year. Cameron Smith did it last year though with the Melbourne Storm and became the first player since Peter Sterling in 1986 to do it.
Critics say Orford should work on his kicking game if he is to achieve this feat – he has received a lot of criticism this year, saying that he can’t perform in big matches.
Awards:Fullback: Billy Slater (Storm)
Winger: Colin Best (Raiders)
Centre: Israel Folau (Storm)
Five-eighth: Greg Inglis (Storm)
Halfback: Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)
Lock: Alan Tongue (Raiders)
Second Row: Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles)
Prop: Petero Civoniceva (Panthers)
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Storm)
Captain: Alan Tongue
Coach: Neil Henry (Raiders) – took the Raiders from 14th position in ‘07 to finish in 6th place this season.
Rep Player: Greg Inglis
Rookie: Chris Sandow (Rabbitohs) – this one was to be expected, he has starred this season.
People's choice: Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels) – the fourth consecutive season he has won this award.
Under-20s player of the year: Ben Hunt (Broncos)

Round 26 in Review

THE MINOR PREMIERSHIP

The Melbourne Storm have won the minor premiership thanks to a win of more than 26 points against the Rabbitohs. They receive a $100,000 bonus as well for finishing as minor premiers.
The Roosters finished fourth after defeating St George Illawara.
The Dragons fell back to seventh spot after the Raiders defeated the Bulldogs by 17 points which then put them in sixth position.
The Newcastle Knights finished in ninth spot, but could have finished eighth if Parramatta had beaten the Warriors – but the NZ team was too good so they claimed eighth position themselves.


MATT ELLIOTT – STAYING ON AS PENRITH COACH

Matt Elliott thought he was destined for the axe with the Penrith board convening a special meeting on Sunday. He was given a chance to plead his case though and has now been given the opportunity to stay on. An AFL coach may not have been given the same opportunity – Penrith finished in 12th position on the ladder this year and in 2007 they won the wooden spoon.

SPITTING SUSPENSION

NZ Warrior Wade McKinnon received a three game suspension for spitting at a touch judge.
The NRL has said they will be dealing out harsher penalties to any player who does this again – suspensions could be months rather than weeks.
NRL boss David Gallop said: “This directive operates to over-ride any precedents that may or may not have been established in terms of previous penalties in this area… what the board is making clear today is that should a player ever be proven to spit at or towards a match official that the panel should impose a heavy penalty which recognises the board’s resolve to protect our officials and the broader interests of the game.”
Source: www.nrl.com.au

OTHER NEWS

Nathan Brown, the Dragons Coach will be departing for the UK Super League club Huddersfield and will be joined by de-registered Canberra Raiders player, Todd Carney. Carney will join Huddersfield from 2009. If after a year he decides to go back to the NRL he can, given he has a get-out clause in his contract.
Billy Slater, the Melbourne Storm fullback could be in doubt for the World Cup as his wife is expecting their first child in October.


Finals Week 1:

Roosters vs Broncos – Friday 7.45pm
Sharks vs Raiders – Saturday 6.30pm
Sea Eagles vs Dragons – Saturday 8.30pm
Storm vs Warriors – Sunday 4pm