Dally M Team of the Year: Matthew Johns and Buzz Rothfield reveal their award selections

Angus Reid

Dally M Team of the Year: Matthew Johns and Buzz Rothfield reveal their award selections image

While all we care about is team success in the NRL, there's no denying how excited we get for individual accolades.

The Dally M awards are there to compliment those players that have had the best seasons, and we love debating who should receive the awards.

NRL legend Matthew Johns has revealed his Dally M Team of the Year, as has The Daily Telegraph's Buzz Rothfield.

Look at their sides below.

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"I'd go with Kalyn Ponga at fullback," Johns said on The Grill Team on Monday.

"He's been fantastic this year, it's one of the best debut seasons of all time. Just ahead of Roger Tuivasa-Check, and James Tedesco's had a very good back half of the year as well.

"I think Josh Addo-Carr on the wing definitely. David Fusitu'a deserves a mention, man he's a good player.

"Latrell Mitchell's got it in the centres. He was good at the start of the year, but post-Origin, he has been dynamic. There were times on Sunday where he was just throwing blokes aside. State of Origin football for Latrell, it's as though someone held up a mirror to him and said, 'there you are, do you see what we see?'

"I've gone Cameron Munster for five-eighth. He continues to grow as a player and he's been terrific for the Melbourne Storm. We don't talk about the Storm that much, but here they are, top of the table two weeks out from the finals. Munster has been a big reason for that, and he's just ahead of James Maloney and Cody Walker. Walker's been excellent, and Luke Keary before his injury was good.

"I'll go Cooper Cronk as the halfback. He was having some struggles at the start of the year, a lot of that wasn't his fault, it was just the familiarity with players who were a metre too wide or late. That's all changed now. One thing Cooper is very good at is educating his ball runners and getting them where they need to be.

"You've got to go Sam Burgess as lock. South Sydney have had a great season, they've rebounded from what they did in the previous couple of years and he's a massive reason for that.

"I've gone Tyson Frizell in the second row. I love him as a player and I think he's the Dragons' most important player. I remember when they belted the Melbourne Storm, and my image of that was the damage Frizell did to the Storm without the ball. 

"For the front row, I'm cheating a little bit here. The guy wears the number 13, but he plays through the middle as a front rower and that's Jason Taumalolo.

"In a side that is competing for the wooden spoon, he's been unbelievable again.

"Damien Cook for hooker. He's been the most improved player in the competition, he's been fantastic

"I've gone for Anthony Seibold as the Dally M Coach of the Year. The rebuild he's done with the Rabbitohs. Also, you can't underestimate Trent Robinson, who's been very good and Craig Bellamy. 

"I've gone Jesse Ramien as an easy choice for rookie of the year. The young centre is a powerhouse."

MATTHEW JOHNS DALLY M TEAM OF THE YEAR

FULLBACK: Kalyn Ponga

WING: Josh Addo-Carr

CENTRE: Latrell Mitchell

FIVE-EIGHTH: Cameron Munster

HALFBACK: Cooper Cronk.

LOCK: Sam Burgess

SECOND ROW: Tyson Frizell

PROP: Jason Taumalolo

HOOKER: Damien Cook

COACH: Anthony Seibold

ROOKIE: Jesse Ramien

The Daily Telegraph's Buzz Rothfield also released his selections for the Dally M Team of the Year, and he has some major differences in key positions to Johns.

BUZZ ROTHFIELD'S DALLY M TEAM OF THE YEAR

FULLBACK: Kalyn Ponga

WING: Josh Addo-Carr

CENTRE: Latrell Mitchell

FIVE-EIGHTH: James Maloney

HALFBACK: Cooper Cronk

LOCK: Sam Burgess

SECOND ROW: Viliame Kikau

PROP: David Klemmer

HOOKER: Damien Cook

COACH: Stephen Kearney

ROOKIE: Jamayne Isaako

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo