BY STAFF WRITERS

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic would clean up the 2021 Beetson Raudonikis Medal if the awards were given out today – on current standings.

While Nathan Cleary has been most people’s tip to take out the NRL’s Dally Medal (he won our award in 2020 but was beaten Jack Wighton in the Dally M count), Trbojevic’s form has been incredible for both Manly and New South Wales in Game I.

At this point in the year, the81stminute.com judges would award Ivan Cleary the ‘Coach of the Year’ and two unsung Wests Tigers heroes the ‘Rookie of the Year’ in Daine Laurie and ‘Utility MVP’ in Adam Doueihi.

It is a hot field for the rookie of the year this year and there is a long way to go in the season but at this stage – Laurie has been the most consistent.

While we have kept the second annual ‘Essence Award’ as ‘TBC’, it is hard to go passed handing the gong to the New Zealand Warriors for a second year running.

The81stminute.com ‘Positional Team of the Year’ and the81stminute.com ‘Club Player of the Year’ awards are based purely on votes accrued during the year. And as it generally does, votes skew toward fullbacks and halfbacks in the Beetson Raudonikis Medal. The outside backs in the Positional Team of the Year will look vastly different by the competition of the premiership rounds.

Beetson Raudonikis Medal: Tom Trbojevic [19]
Coach of the Year: Ivan Cleary
Rookie of the Year: Daine Laurie
Utility MVP: Adam Doueihi
Essence Award: TBC
Rep Player of the Year: TBC

81M’s Positional Team of the Year
FB: Tom Trbojevic [19]
W: Reuben Garrick [5]
C: Herbie Farnworth [3] / Zac Lomax [3] / Stephen Crichton [3] / Dane Gagai [3] / Joey Manu [3]
W: Josh Addo-Carr [4]
F8: Scott Drinkwater [10]
HB: Nathan Cleary [18]
FR: James Fisher-Harris [11]
HK: Damien Cook [6] / Reed Mahoney [6]
FR: Daniel Saifiti [6]
SR: David Fifita [11]
SR: Isaiah Papali’i [11]
LK: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui [5]

81M’s Club Player of the Year

Storm: Jahrome Hughes [16]
Panthers: Nathan Cleary [18]
Eels: Clint Gutherson [16]
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell [14]
Roosters: Sam Walker / James Tedesco [11]
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic [19]
Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater [10]
Dragons: Ben Hunt [11]
Sharks: Will Kennedy [14]
Raiders: Hudson Young [8]
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck [14]
Titans: David Fifita [11]
Wests Tigers: Daine Laurie [14]
Knights: Mitch Barnett [6] / Daniel Saifiti [6]
Broncos: Tevita Pangai Junior [6]
Bulldogs: Dallin Watene-Zalezniak [4]