North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo has been crowned the best player in the NRL by his peers just a week after he was charged and fined for egging vehicles.
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Taumalolo was named the player's champion at the Rugby League Players' Association awards presentation at The Star on Tuesday night. The honour, described by Cowboys teammate and four-time winner Johnathan Thurston as "the highest accolade a player can get", is determined by NRL players.
South Sydney playmaker Cody Walker won the rookie of the year award, teammate Greg Inglis was the game's Australian representative player of the year, Jessie Bromwich was named the Kiwi equivalent and Canterbury captain James Graham took home the "rest of the world representative" gong.
But the main focus was on Taumalolo, who was one of five Cowboys accused of pelting cars with eggs just days before their loss to Melbourne in the opening week of the finals. Taumalolo and Cowboys teammate Tautau Moga have copped $2500 fines and the players have been charged with two counts of wilful damage.
Taumalolo has also been damaging on the field during North Queensland's title defence and has earned a reputation as one of the best forwards in the game. The Kiwi international is expected to feature prominently in the finals series and the season-ending international matches.
2016 AWARD WINNERS:
The Players' Champion - Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Rookie of the Year - Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Dennis Tutty Award - Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers)
Australian Representative Player - Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
New Zealand Representative Player - Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Rest of the World Representative Player - James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Australian Elite Women's Player of the Year - Samantha Bremner (Australian Jillaroos)
New Zealand Elite Women's Player of the Year - Georgie Hale (New Zealand Kiwi Ferns)
NYC Player of the Year - Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters)
Origin Greats - Matt Sing, Gary Belcher and Benny Elias
Academic Indigenous Player of the Year - Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
Academic Pacifica Player of the Year - Sam Tagataese (Cronulla Sharks) and Ben Henry (New Zealand Warriors)
NRL and NYC Academic Team of the Year - Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Jacob Liddle (Wests Tigers NYC)
