To be fair Lees has carried that pack at times. The dream team I saw had points next to each name so I assume it is the highest point scorer in each position. French is the best 6 in the competition, closely followed by Williams imo but due to his injury lay off would not have accrued enough points to get in.

Sneyd and Lewis are both 7’s so someone has decided to omit stand offs from the team.

Everyone talks about Roby over Barrett but the worst one of all time was 2020 Paul McShane winning it over Bevan French.

Croft winning it over Field in 2022 wasn’t great either.

Lees is a great player. Wouldn’t have been ahead of Amone or Ese Ese in my head but not far behind.

A bloke who’s lost his starting job to Sam Powell getting the hookers spot is strange. O’Neill surely was a shoe in and no hooker in the league has had a better game than Ipape last Friday.

I would be fine with either Lewis or Sneyd picking it up, both have been integral to their sides form this season. Sneyd in particular deserves it as once again, Salford have finished way above where everybody expected them to.

If it isn't Peet (it should be, 3 trophies this year with a potential 4th must count for something) then i wouldn't be opposed to Rowley winning coach of the year either, i would see that as deserved.

Peet could do the Grand Slam and I still think Willie Peters will win coach of the year. Sky have thrown everything behind the HKR story this year. Lewis will rightly win the MOS and Peters will get coach of the year. Clearly we'll have the young player of the year in Junior Nsemba, although if Sky had their way they'd probably give it to Ryan Hall

I agree but the people who make the decisions won't. When you have success, it then seems to become common place that you're expected to get more and they look at coaches who've improved clubs for awards like this instead. In fairness to Saints fans, I guess they had these frustrations with Kristian Woolf, when other coaches would take out the award yet not win as much (or nothing at all). I've actually just checked and the last 4 coaches of the year have been Lam (CC winner), Peet (CC winner), McNamara (LLS winner) and Lam (LLS winner) and that's at a time when Saints hoovered up Grand Final after Grand Final and then Wigan won everything bar (domestically) the CC last year. It won't help that the award is given out before the Grand Final has been played out I suppose.

Just watched the video of Lee Briers discussing the fact he turned down a head coaching role this season (Hull FC I believe). Admitted that he's very unsure if becoming a head coach is for him, much prefers developing players and thinks he could do this better remaining an assistant.

Now, we all know that Paul Wellens has just been given an extended contract, much to the dismay of many of their supporters due to their belief of his limitations. So, is it likely they will improve much next season with Briers seconds in command? And if not, and let's say Wellens gets the boot mid year next season would Briers take the job on or would he prefer to he assistant to a new incoming coach?

Obviously I'm ignoring the fact that they could still shock everyone and win the next three games to become Champions, very unlikely if recent performances are to be compared to (Wire Away, Wigan away, likely Hull KR in the final). Which would cut Wellens a bit of slack.

Can't disagree, think the new system is even worse than the old one. Players in good teams have a far harder time winning it than players in bad teams due to the nature of the points, and the good teams tending to share them etc.

I know it might make it more subjective, but I do think it's better when journalists/officials select it. No system will ever be perfect though. You could even have the players themselves submit a vote

When it comes to analysing a coaching performance it's tough. Whether getting more out of less is better than actually achieving success with better players is more impressive or not, it's clearly the mark of a great coach when he can get a team of lesser players over achieving.

I don't disagree with what you say about Hull KR though, they've got a very good team so it's hardly like some big underdog story. I'd have Rowley over him, most people predicted Salford to be 11th before the season and they've finished 4th with the 2nd best home record in the league. It's frankly incredible what he's done there despite losing his best players.

Obviously wouldn't grumble with Peet winning it either

McNamara winning it the year we won the CC and Grand Final is pretty insane. Especially considering Catalan aren't exactly a little club that has no money, they probably spend more on the cap than the majority of teams.

As you say, awarding it so soon is a bit silly. I remember Watson missing out when Salford got to the grand final in 2019 as well which was incredibly harsh even if it was to Holbrook. Suppose you can't really argue with a team finishing top by 16 points though

I don’t think there is a straightforward solution. The only good thing about it for me is that is keeps the memory of Steve Prescott alive.

I think the MOS method is a bit of a disgrace and that looks like its now filtered into the dream team (with the assumption its been highest points scorers for each position).

However, I don't really get worked up about who gets coach of the year. If Peet wins the Grand Final and doesn't get coach of they year, do you think he really cares?

Who will be the most satisified - Peet or Peters?

Who would be the most in demand and recognised coach - Peet or Peters?

Wigan squad for the Academy Grand Final. https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/09/ ... l-preview/

Wigan squad for the Academy Grand Final. https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/09/ ... l-preview/