Raiders' Dally M contenders The Dally M Awards are less than two weeks away and with last year’s winner Todd Carney now out of the running, a new king of the game will be crowned at Sydney’s Town Hall on Tuesday September 6.
After voting went behind closed doors at the end of Round 16, Johnathan Thurston was leading comfortably from Paul Gallen, but injuries to both players has given others the opportunity to play catch up.
But the Dally M Player of the Year is not the only award up for grabs. A total of 19 medals will be awarded on rugby league's 'night of nights' including Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Captain of the Year and nine positional awards which constitute the Team of the Year.
These are the Raiders’ top contenders
Captain of the Year
Alan Tongue: In what has been a tough season for the Raiders, Tongue has been solid as a rock for the club. The inspirational skipper frequently bobs up at the right time in the defensive line and has led by example once again in 2011, with a never say die attitude.
Rookie of the Year
Sam Williams: The Raiders half was named captain of the Toyota Cup Team of the Year in 2010 and has made a name for himself as a first grader in 2011.
Pairing up with Josh McCrone in the absence of Terry Campese and Matt Orford, Williams has played 16 games for the Raiders and set up plenty of their tries with his passing and kicking games.
Another chance for Rookie of the Year would have to be Josh Papalii.
The 19-year-old burst on to the scene in round 10 when the Raiders beat the Storm and has played every match since then, with the exception of the return match against the Storm.
The highlight of his game being his ability to run hard and straight and hit the gaps off the back of short passes.
One final chance for the Raiders would have to be Michael Chee Kam to claim the Toyota Cup Payer of the Year.
The 2010 Australian Schoolboy has gone from the centres to the second row this year and been a bright spot in Canberra’s otherwise tough 2011 season.
Vote for Josh Dugan to win the Provan Summons Medal
Dally M Player of the Year Scoring (at Round 16)
Johnathan Thurston: 24
Paul Gallen: 18
Kieran Foran: 15
Billy Slater: 15
Glenn Stewart: 14
Cooper Cronk: 14
Cameron Smith: 14
Benji Marshall: 13
Chris Sandow: 12
Corey Parker: 11
Awards to be presented
Dally M Player of the Year
Provan Summons Medal
Peter Frilingos Medal
Coach of the Year
Captain of the Year
Rep Player of the Year
Rookie of the year
Toyota Cup player of the Year
Top tryscorer
Top pointscorer
Fullback of the Year
Winger of the Year
Centre of the Year
Five-Eighth of the Year
Halfback of the Year
Hooker of the Year
Front-Rower of the Year
Second-Rower of the Year
Lock of the Year
Source: raiders.com.au
Topic: Raiders' Dally M contenders
