We really are in some rut if Paul McShane is deemed to be the best player in Super League.

The award is of little meaning anymore given the structure of the league and the only 2 games which actually count aren't considered in the vote.

McShane has no chance, Roby is miles better. Similar with Tupou, good player but despite Sky’s best efforts to make out he deserves it he definitely doesn’t. It has to be a Saints player and I think the final 3 will end up being 1. Roby 2. Barba 3. Bateman. Luke Thompson and Jonny Lomax can both consider themselves unlucky.

I'll be astonished if Chris Hill doesn't win

Bateman by plenty , in the absence of the like of Farrell and SOL for long periods of the season , he has practically carried the Wigan pack singlehandedly at times . A phenomenal seasons work , he may well sign off with another ring , wouldn't be surprised .

McShane with not only the most tackles in super league but a whopping 27 assists.

Roby has been playing in a team with a clean bill of health most of the year, McShane certainly has not.

Lomax ? Give over.

Tony Gigot is a genuine contender.

Ben Barba was very impressive in the 1st half of the season but hasn’t kept that up over the last few months

McShane has played more minutes than Roby and Houghton which is why he has more tackles. Assists aren’t the be all and end all otherwise Richie Myler and Jacob Miller would be in contention. Roby has outclassed McShane on 3 occasions this year. McShane getting MOS really would be a sad moment for Super League and an indicator of just how far we’ve fallen. Lomax has been the best stand off by a country mile with 17 try’s and 16 assists. He’s been outstanding and would walk into every SL side on this seasons form.

Roby, McShane, Bateman couldnt argue against any. Barba was I front but his drop of form around time of his move back to NRL may well count against him.

It would be a joke for the MOS to not come from Saints. Bateman is an excellent player gives 110% and all that but he isn’t a particularly skillful player. Sure he makes metres and tackles everything in sight but in way of try’s or assists he doesn’t contribute a great deal. He’s become overrated and shouldn’t win MOS.

Correct. He's a moron. A hooker with 27 try assists. Not a bloody stand off or scrum half!

AS literally vanished when saints blew the cup and then their LLS v Wigan. Back after they've beaten an in form hull side and a wire side missing their best players.

Wire were missing Hughes and Clark. Saints were missing LMS and Roby.

McShane has been given more attacking responsibility since the injury to Gale and up until recently, the lack of a proper Full back. Roby has 11 with a lot less responsibility in the opposition 20 and less playing time.

The same Tony Gigot who was missing at the start of the year?

The best team doesn't necessarily have the best player i.e. Cas in 2011 or Hudds in 2013.

Also you say Bateman isn't a particularly skillfull player but then disregard the try assist statistics?

Correct Willy.

Not forgetting the two half backs and two second row forwards that were erm.. injured during the game.

Surely it can only be a player from Catalans. Probably the best RL side I have ever witnessed in this season's comp. I'd give it to Josh Drinkwater, who they 'got rid of' last week.


And coach of the year should be given to Steve Mcnamara, he is just too good for Super League.

Difference is Saints have been the best team for the majority of the year by a distance. I haven’t disregarded the try assists statistics just that they don’t mean everything. For me the MOS should be someone who offers attacking quality as well as being physically powerful. Bateman offers the latter but not the former, his inability to pass does cost try’s. Going off what I’ve just said, Roby fits that better than anyone else.

Gregory Bird is my choice, purely on the excessive brutality of tackles he endures in every game he plays. That, coupled with the quick recovery time once the penalty is awarded is truly a remarkable testament to his fitness level.

A worthy man of steel contender.

So does McShane going off your criteria.


At 1 stage it did look like barba was going to coast this award.

Roby gets my vote with honourable mention for Bateman.

AS108, to retain the last bit of credibility you have left, can you explain your absence when Saints had a blip in their otherwise excellent season.

Haha such a biased so and so aren't we. No it would not be a joke you have fallen off when the chips are really on the table. Your most potent attacking weapon collecting a cheque before heading home. John and Wigan have the beating of you in my opinion if its them vs you.

As for your knocking of McShane hes been fantastic and way above the Saints players you have mentioned other than Roby for contribution over the whole season

Bateman
Roby
McShane

Any order any would be deserving