It has seemed that way but I'm betting that's down to his standing in the game.

For me it has to be Cuthbertson. Walmsley had been great, Hardaker has been fantastic but no one player has done to a team what Cuthbertson has to Leeds, this season .

Thought Ellis was hard done by when Wellens got the award. This year? I wouldn't expect it for any player, it's always harder for one player to stand out in the best team.

Admittedly Cuthbertson has twice as many offloads as Walmsley (and everyone else!) but he's also made a 1000 metres less (top metres are over 4000 from Walmsley) and half as many tackle busts (although that may be because he's offloading more). As a forward, all are important but I know that through the Saints lull, Walmsley has hardly faltered. It would have been interesting to see how he would have performed in a team that has been on top a little more often.

In the year Roby was awarded the title, he played well all season whereas (in my one eyed recollection), Barrett only shone for the second half of year....admittedly brighter than Roby.

Although he is a terrific forward in general (at least on this season's performances), could it be the phenomenal number of offloads from Cuthbertson has dazzled a little too much or has this exciting part of his game been the cherry on his overall performance?

Walmsley is clearly playing a biff n barge role at saints. Cuthbertson has been playing half his games at LF and given a bit more of ball playing role.

Walmsley has played a few more games so has made more carries and more metres. Cuthbertson has over a 100 more tackles despite the less games and twice the offloads.

Both players have been exceptional in their role but while Walmsley has played well he hasn't had the same effect as Cuthbertson at Leeds which was my point.

Well that's a point I made earlier. Recent winners like Tomkins, Chase, Brough, all highlight reel type players. Forwards very rarely win this award and Lance Todd and Harry Sunderland. A record smashing offload season is the type of thing that will catch the eye over metres made otherwise more forwards would've won, Peacock would've added to his 2003 award.

Bit unfair with the biff n barge tag....he has 52 off loads (fourth in list) but was impressed to see Cuthbertson has been making plenty of tackles.

Not sure you can have two different positions (prop & LF) providing the same effect for a team. I suppose that's why each has performed better in different areas...they're doing different jobs. As a grafter, I am not unappreciative of the fancy dan stuff but I do think the award should go to a season long performer, which both are, but for me it would be Walmsley.