Cronulla and St George Illawarra players were among the winners at the Dally M awards held in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The Sharks received a boost days out from one of the biggest games in their history with James Maloney named as the five-eighth of the year.
Young Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey was also named Holden Cup under-20s player of the year.
St George Illawarra’s Joel Thompson was named the Ken Stephens Medallist for his community work.
The Ken Stephens Medal recognises the efforts of an NRL player who has not only achieved success and leadership on the field but contributed to community projects off-field to make a positive difference and change.
Thompson is also an NRL State of Mind Ambassador and is also involved in the Dragons Indigenous Mentoring Programs, which support two after school indigenous learning centres in conjunction with The Smith Family based in Bellambi and Port Kembla.
Cronulla’s grand final opponents Melbourne also received some good news, with halfback Cooper Cronk named joint winner of the Dally M player of the year award alongside Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo.
Cronk was also named halfback of the year while Storm captain Cameron Smith was awarded the hooker of the year title. Melbourne forward Jesse Bromwich was named prop of the year, while Smith also picked up the Representative player of the year award.
The full list of winners is:
Dally M Player of the Year: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm) and Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Captain of the Year: Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders)
Coach of the Year: Ricky Stuart (Canberra Raiders)
Peter Moore Award for Rookie of the Year: Ashley Taylor (Gold Coast Titans)
Representative Player of the Year: Cameron Smith (Queensland/Storm)
Fullback of the Year: James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
Winger of the Year: Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
Centre of the Year: Joseph Leilua (Canberra Raiders)
Five-eighth of the Year: James Maloney (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Halfback of the Year: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Second-rower of the Year: Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
Prop of the Year: Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Hooker of the Year: Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
Top Points Scorer: Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders)
Top Try Scorer: Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm)
Provan Summons People’s Choice Medal: Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders)
Holden Cup Player of the Year: Jayden Brailey (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Female Player of the Year: Kezie Apps
Peter Frilingos Headline Moment: Anthony Milford (Brisbane Broncos)
Ken Stephen Medal: Joel Thompson (St George Illawarra Dragons)
