Cameron Smith Player of the Year

LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards

After 26 rounds of NRL football, Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith has taken out the 2006 LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards.

Smith scored the maximum three points from our live score updaters on the weekend to finish on 30 points overall.

Never far away from the front runners, Smith caught up and then shared the lead with Canberra Raiders fullback Clinton Schifcofske in round 21. The following week Smith grabbed outright top spot on the leader board, withstanding some late charges in the rounds that followed to take out the award.

Schifcofske was runner-up with 26 points and was streets ahead as our fullback of the year. Meanwhile Eels second rower Nathan Hindmarsh and Sea Eagles half back Matt Orford shared third spot on 25 points.

On 23 points are Storm?s Greg Inglis and Bulldogs powerhouse Willie Mason. An outside back with pace to burn, Inglis played centre for much of the season but was equally at home at full back or on the wing. Willie Mason joins Hindmarsh in the back row in our team of the year.

Panthers five eighth Preston Campbell was next up on 21 points. Heading off to join the Gold Coast Titans in 2007, ?Presto? is the surprise packet in edging out Broncos? pivot Darren Lockyer (19 points) in our team of the year.

Sea Eagles veteran Ben Kennedy also scored 19 points overall and our live score updaters have him packing into lock forward position.

The three-quarter line looks ominous with Dragons centre Mark Gasnier (17 points) and the Broncos centre/fullback Justin Hodges (14 points) pushing Inglis out to the wing. The other wing spot is taken up by Bulldogs champion goal kicker Hazem El Masri (14 points).

Our two top scoring prop forwards are the Warriors? Steve Price (14 points) and Broncos front rower Petero Civoniceva (12 points).

Top 13 points scorers by position 1-13:
Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders), Greg Inglis (Storm), Mark Gasnier (Dragons), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs), Preston Campbell (Panthers), Matt Orford (Sea Eagles), Steve Price (Warriors), Cameron Smith (Storm), Petero Civoniceva (Broncos), Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels), Willie Mason (Bulldogs), Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles).

Top scoring players by club - total points:
Cameron Smith (Storm) - 30
Willie Mason (Bulldogs) - 23
Darren Lockyer (Broncos) - 19
Andrew Johns (Knights) - 19
Matt Orford (Sea Eagles) - 25
Mark Gasnier (Dragons) - 17
Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders) - 26
Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels) - 25
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys) - 17
Steve Price (Warriors) - 14
Scott Prince (Tigers) - 17
Preston Campbell (Panthers) - 21
Adam Dykes (Sharks) - 14
Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters) - 11
Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs) - 7

The full leader board is below.

The LeagueUnlimited.com players of the match are decided by our live score updaters and tallied here each week on Monday?s Expert League wrap.

Want to be a live score updater? For further enquiries, email us

Monday?s Expert League Wrap - Round 26, 2006
Round 26 kicked off with the Cowboys finishing their season on a high note in defeating the eighth-place Parramatta Eels by 22-8 in Townsville. Despite the win, it?s back to the drawing board for last year?s grand finalists. The Eels however, are in the top eight and will be looking to bounce back when the NRL Finals series kick off next weekend.

Meanwhile Saturday rugby league saw the Raiders defeat the Sharks 26-24 at Toyota Park. It?s the end of the road for the Sharks who have crashed to a club record of 10 consecutive losses. The Raiders secure seventh spot but led 26-0 at half time and had to withstand a spirited comeback from the Sharks.

Saturday night took us to the SCG where the sixth-placed Dragons came from behind to post a 36-16 victory over the Sydney Roosters, the Roosters finishing their season in second last spot.

Meanwhile, minor premiers the Storm continued their winning run in defeating the fifth-placed Sea Eagles by 30-20 in Melbourne. Regardless of what happens in the finals, it has been a tremendous achievement from the Storm in amassing 44 competition points in season 2006.

Sunday football saw the Broncos wrap up third spot in defeating the Warriors 36-12 in Brisbane. The Warriors will no doubt reflect upon a season where they were stripped of four competition points prior to a ball being kicked off in 2006, and then ending their season in 10th place and four points out of the top eight.

The final round of the regular season saw last year?s premiers Wests Tigers thrash this year?s wooden spooners South Sydney by 52-18. Wests Tigers end their season in 11th spot while for the Rabbitohs, they can only improve upon a forgettable season.

Meanwhile, last year?s wooden spooners, the Newcastle Knights had the bye in round 26 to lock up forth spot on the NRL ladder, and a home final next Friday night.

UPCOMING MATCHES:
Finals Week 1, 8-10 September 2006
FRIDAY:
Knights v Sea Eagles, 8:00pm ? EnergyAustralia Stadium
SATURDAY:
Broncos v Dragons, 6:30pm ? Suncorp Stadium
Bulldogs v Raiders, 8:30pm ? Telstra Stadium
SUNDAY:
Storm v Eels, 4:00pm ? Olympic Park, Melbourne

MATCH RESULTS:
League Wrap: Round 26, 1 September ? 3 September 2006

North Queensland Cowboys: 22
Tries: Matthew Bowen(2), Aaron Payne, Neil Sweeney
Goals: Josh Hannay 3/4
Parramatta Eels: 8
Tries: Jarryd Hayne(2)
Goals: Mark Riddell 0/1, Brett Delaney 0/1
Half time: Eels 8-6
Venue: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Crowd: 18,351
Referee: Shayne Hayne
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Matthew Bowen (Cowboys)
2 - Wade McKinnon (Eels)
1 - Shane Tronc (Cowboys)

Cronulla Sutherland Sharks: 24
Tries: Luke Covell(2), Brett Kearney, Ben Pomeroy
Goals: Luke Covell 4/5
Canberra Raiders: 26
Tries: Todd Carney(2), Alan Tongue, Simon Woolford
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 5/5
Half time: Raiders 26-0
Venue: Toyota Park
Crowd: Crowd: 9,289
Referee: Steven Clark
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Todd Carney (Raiders)
2 - Kevin Kingston (Sharks)
1 - Phillip Graham (Raiders)

Sydney Roosters: 16
Tries: Ryan Cross, Amos Roberts(2)
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 1/3, Amos Roberts 1/1
St George Illawarra Dragons: 36
Tries: Matt Cooper, Clint Greenshields(2), Wes Naiqama, Brett Morris(2), Justin Poore
Goals: Aaron Gorrell 2/4, Wes Naiqama 2/3
Half time: Roosters 16-8
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Crowd: 17,142
Referee: Russell Smith
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Ben Hornby (Dragons)
2 - Jason Ryles (Dragons)
1 - Ryan Cross (Roosters)

Melbourne Storm: 30
Tries: Michael Crocker, Matt Geyer, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Steve Turner
Goals: Matt Geyer 1/1, Cameron Smith 4/5
Manly Sea Eagles: 20
Tries: Brett Stewart, Steve Matai, Steve Bell, Michael Robertson
Goals: Matt Orford 2/4
Half time: Storm 16-10
Venue: Olympic Park Melbourne
Crowd: 13,991
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Cameron Smith (Storm)
2 - Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles)
1 - Steve Turner (Storm)

Brisbane Broncos: 36
Tries: Shaun Berrigan, Justin Hodges(2), Karmichael Hunt, Darren Lockyer, Shane Perry
Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/2, Corey Parker 4/4
New Zealand Warriors: 12
Tries: Todd Byrne, George Gatis
Goals: Lance Hohaia 2/2
Half time: Broncos 18-6
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 47,193
Referee: Sean Hampstead
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Justin Hodges (Broncos)
2 - Darren Lockyer (Broncos)
1 - Shaun Berrigan (Broncos)

Wests Tigers: 52
Tries: Shane Elford, Robert Farah, Daniel Fitzhenry(2), Chris Heighington(2), Todd Payten, John Skandalis, Shannon McDonnell
Goals: Daniel Fitzhenry 1/1, Scott Prince 7/8
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 18
Tries: Scott Geddes, Yileen Gordon, David Peachey
Goals: Joe Williams 1/1, Nathan Merritt 1/1, Eddie Paea 1/1
Half time: Tigers 30-0
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Crowd: 18,440
Referee: Tony De Las Heras
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Scott Prince (Tigers)
2 - Daniel Fitzhenry (Tigers)
1 - Chris Heighington (Tigers)

Penrith Panthers: 22
Tries: Tony Puletua, Trent Waterhouse, Rhys Wesser, Paul Aiton, Michael Gordon
Goals: Michael Gordon 1/2
Canterbury Bulldogs: 30
Tries: Chris Armit, Dallas McIlwain, Luke Patten(2), Matthew Utai
Goals: Hazem El Masri 5/5
Half time: 12-all
Venue: CUA Stadium, Penrith
Crowd: 13,363
Referee: Tony Archer
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Luke Patten (Bulldogs)
2 - Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
1 - Michael Gordon (Panthers)

Newcastle Knights v Bye

FULL DRAW, RESULTS & LINKS TO LIVE SCORES ? CLICK HERE

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM PLAYER AWARDS 2006
LEADER BOARD
The Leagueunlimited.com players awards are decided by our live score updaters.
Want to be a live score updater? For further enquiries, email us.

30 points
Cameron Smith (Storm)

26 points
Clinton Schifcofske (Raiders)

25 points
Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels), Matt Orford (Sea Eagles)

23 points
Greg Inglis (Storm), Willie Mason (Bulldogs)

21 points
Preston Campbell (Panthers)

19 points
Andrew Johns (Knights), Ben Kennedy (Sea Eagles), Darren Lockyer (Broncos)

18 points
Danny Buderus (Knights), Cooper Cronk (Storm)

17 points
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys), Mark Gasnier (Dragons), Scott Prince (Tigers), Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)

15 points
Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs),

14 points
Adam Dykes (Sharks), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Steve Price (Warriors)

13 points
Alan Tongue (Raiders)

12 points
Petero Civoniceva (Broncos), Jason Smith (Raiders), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs)

11 points
Roy Asotasi (Bulldogs), Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters), Paul Gallen (Sharks), Karmichael Hunt (Broncos), Grant Rovelli (Warriors), Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles), Rhys Wesser (Panthers)

10 points
Robert Farah (Tigers), Aaron Payne (Cowboys)

9 points
Mathew Head (Dragons), Brett Hodgson (Tigers), Brent Webb (Warriors)

8 points
Brett Kimmorley (Sharks), Jarryd Hayne (Eels), Steve Menzies (Sea Eagles), Corey Parker (Broncos), Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs), Ruben Wiki (Warriors), Dean Young (Dragons)

7 points
Steve Bell (Sea Eagles), Todd Carney (Raiders), Ben Hornby (Dragons), Wade McKinnon (Eels), Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs), Mark O?Meley (Bulldogs), David Peachey (Rabbitohs), Amos Roberts (Roosters), Jason Ryles (Dragons), Steve Simpson (Knights)

6 points
Luke Bailey (Dragons), Trent Barrett (Dragons), Nathan Cayless (Eels), Craig Gower (Panthers), Nathan Fien (Warriors), Ryan Hoffman (Storm), Luke Lewis (Panthers), Jarrod Mullen (Knights), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Lance Thompson (Sharks)

5 points
Dean Collis (Tigers), Peter Cusack (Rabbitohs), Brett Finch (Roosters), Matthew Gidley (Knights), Phillip Graham (Raiders), Aaron Gorrell (Dragons), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Luke O'Donnell (Cowboys), Luke O?Dwyer (Eels), Luke Patten (Bulldogs), Luke Priddis (Panthers), Brad Thorn (Broncos)

4 points
Darren Albert (Sharks), Greg Bird (Sharks), Brian Carney (Knights), Matt Cooper (Dragons), Sione Faumuina (Warriors), Daniel Fitzhenry (Tigers), Michael Gordon (Panthers), David Kidwell (Storm), Scott Hill (Storm), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Anthony Laffranchi (Tigers), Adam MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Fuifui Moimoi (Eels), John Morris (Eels), Clint Newton (Knights), Josh Perry (Knights), Brent Sherwin (Bulldogs), David Simmons (Sharks), Billy Slater (Storm), Jamie Soward (Roosters), John Sutton (Rabbitohs), Milton Thaiday (Knights), Anthony Tupou (Roosters), Steve Turner (Storm), Paul Whatuira (Tigers), Lincoln Withers (Raiders)

3 points
Travis Burns (Sea Eagles), Luke Burt (Eels), Joel Clinton (Panthers), Darius Boyd (Broncos), Luke Covell (Sharks), Michael Crocker (Storm), Greg Eastwood (Broncos), Clint Greenshields (Dragons), Nathan Hinton (Knights), Brett Kearney (Sharks), Luke MacDougall (Rabbitohs), Reni Maitua (Bulldogs), Manase Manuokafoa (Rabbitohs), Adam Mogg (Raiders), Sam Perrett (Roosters), Michael Robertson (Sea Eagles), Matt Sing (Cowboys), Tame Tupou (Broncos), Matthew Utai (Bulldogs), Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles), Carl Webb (Cowboys), Jake Webster (Storm), Joe Williams (Rabbitohs)

2 points
Brenton Bowen (Cowboys), George Carmont (Knights), Keith Galloway (Tigers), Awen Guttenbeil (Warriors), Ashley Harrison (Roosters), Kevin Kingston (Sharks), Wairangi Koopu (Warriors), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Tony Martin (Warriors), Anthony Minichiello (Roosters), Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs), Peter-John Marsh (Eels), Benji Marshall (Tigers), Steve Matai (Sea Eagles), Todd Polglase (Rabbitohs), Luke Rooney (Panthers), John Skandalis (Tigers), Craig Smith (Knights), Tim Smith (Eels), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Steven Southern (Cowboys), Craig Stapleton (Panthers), Timana Tahu (Eels), Clinton Toopi (Warriors), Shane Tronc (Cowboys), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Nigel Vagana (Sharks), Trent Waterhouse (Panthers), Shane Webcke (Broncos), Michael Weyman (Raiders), Craig Wing (Roosters)

1 point
Shaun Berrigan (Broncos), Paul Bowman (Cowboys), Ben Creagh (Dragons), Ryan Cross (Roosters), Luke Davico (Knights), Shayne Dunley (Sea Eagles), Michael Ennis (Broncos), Shaun Foley (Roosters), Nathan Friend (Storm), Matt Geyer (Storm), Kurt Gidley (Knights), Tony Grimaldi (Bulldogs), Chris Heighington (Tigers), Chris Hicks (Sea Eagles), Daniel Holdsworth (Bulldogs), Lee Hookey (Panthers), Matt King (Storm), Josh Lewis (Roosters), Todd Lowrie (Knights), Daryl Millard (Dragons), Ryan O'Hara (Tigers), Shannon McDonnell (Tigers), Sam Rapira (Warriors), Mark Riddell (Eels), Shane Rodney (Panthers), David Shillington (Roosters), Justin Smith (Cowboys), Brent Tate (Broncos), Sam Thaiday (Broncos), Willie Tonga (Bulldogs), Taniela Tuiaki (Tigers), Ben Walker (Rabbitohs), Simon Woolford (Raiders), William Zillman (Raiders)