Players pick the game’s best second-rower… it’s not $1.25 million-chasing Fifita – Fox Sports

While results will be released on Monday, the players pick as the best second-rower and best halfback was revealed on Channel Nines The Sunday Footy Show.
Penrith giant Viliame Kikau has been voted as the games best second-rower, beating out Roosters captain Boyd Cordner who came second, Broncos gun David Fifita who placed third, Cronulla skipper Wade Graham who came fourth and departing Dragon Tyson Frizell who rounded out the top five.
Round 9
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
This is an interesting one, Sydney Morning Heralds Michael Chammas said.
Theres a lot of talk about David Fifita demanding the $1.25 million, but its Viliame Kikau. I think he finished with 28 per cent of the votes and Fifita didnt even finish in the top two. Boyd Cordner finished second.
Storm edge past Raiders
1:43
Its interesting to see, I guess Fifita hasnt been playing. With these polls a lot of times if youre out injured youre out of sight, out of mind.
Rugby league great Peter Sterling wasnt too surprised to see Kikau take the top spot after being impressed by his development with the Panthers.
Kikau, hes made a huge splash at Penrith, he said.
I liked yesterday they actually played him over on the right side on one occasion too, took him over from the left, which I think makes him even more dangerous.
Its a pretty elite group isnt it?
Broncos end losing streak
2:45
Veteran No.7 Mitchell Pearce was voted as the best halfback by his peers.
The Knights playmaker edged out second-placed Nathan Cleary. Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans came in third, while reigning Dally M halfback of the year Mitchell Moses placed fourth.
Interestingly, St George Illawarras Ben Hunt was voted fifth, despite his bumpy season so far and his move to hooker.
MORE NRL NEWS
NO WAY IN THE WORLD: Ricky blasts Bunker call that never shouldve been made
HISTORIC WIN: Hodgson could be out for season as Smith creates history again
IM IN DISBELIEF: Raiders all-time shocking bombed try couldve won the game
I thought Nathan Cleary might get the nod given he started the year so well, Chammas admitted.
While New South Wales coach Brad Fittler wasnt surprised by Pearce getting the most votes.
I think Mitchell Pearce has got an incredible amount of respect from a lot of his peers, he said.
He cops a battering sometimes for different reasons but hes shown a lot of control and deserves that top position.
Doomsday looms for Pay
1:22
Players were also asked if they believe the NRL should introduce a stand-alone State of Origin period in the middle of the season.
It was a close result but interestingly 59 per cent of players voted yes.
But Fittler disagrees.
I sort of like the way it works at the moment, he said.
The intrigue around players, their availability, theres so much in the news because theres games that weekend.
I dont know why we keep wanting to change Origin when its been the most successful part of our game.
People have always got answers for it and I dont know if theres a question to ask.
Stuart blows up over sin bin
0:53
When the initial motto was mate vs mate where teammates are aiming up against each other, you start bringing that period out and you take that away a lot.
Because part of Origin from what I remember when I was playing it was you played with someone on the Wednesday and then played against them on the Saturday and thats part of the beauty of State of Origin and how you dealt with that.
Clubs obviously dont want it because they lose their players throughout that period… but the thing is I dont know why the question is being asked.
MORE NRL NEWS
CRAZY CALL: Ennis blasts Bunker for ridiculous Simonsson professional foul sin bin
HOT WATER: Bulldogs recruit on report for shoulder charge in fiery battle with Pangai
DREAM DEBUT: Rookie scores FOUR on debut as razzle dazzle Panthers maul Sharks
Its been an incredible competition that everyone gets into and Im just wondering why they keep trying to tinker with it.
They tinkered with it when they brought the middle game to a Sunday, which reduced it by a couple of weeks. I think that nearly teeters on taking away that being able to prepare players for what theyre up to, having a week and not necessarily 10 days.
You start doing week on week and thats a really big ask for the level of intensity its played at.
Included in the results revealed on Monday are the games best player and the best buy of the year. The nominees for the best player are: Tom Trbojevic; James Tedesco; Jason Taumalolo; Cameron Smith and Mitchell Moses.
150 players from all 16 clubs take part in the poll in the last fortnight with the answers remaining anonymous.

Click here to view the original article.