South Coast's Reuben Garrick, Cody Walker and Dale Finucane have been rewarded for their outstanding 2021 season by being shortlisted for their respective Dally M Team of the Year positional awards.
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Ahead of Monday night's presentation, 40 players were named, across the nine positions, to be in the running for this season's team of the year.
Gerringong's Garrick, who led the competition with 334 points this season, is pitted against Manly-Warringah teammate Jason Saab, Melbourne's Josh Addo-Carr, Penrith's Brian To'o and South Sydney's Alex Johnston for the wing position.
While Nowra-born Walker, who is also in the running for the Dally M Award, has been shortlisted against West Tigers' Adam Doueihi, Melbourne's Cam Munster and Penrith's Jarome Luai for the five-eighth honour.
Bega's Dale Finucane is in the running for the lock position, where he will have to oust Souths' Cam Murray, Penrith's Isaah Yeo and Jake Trbojevic for the gong.
In other news, Roosters' James Tedesco, Knights' Kalyn Ponga, Sharks' Will Kennedy, Sea Eagles' Tom Trbojevic and Storm's Ryan Papenhuyzen will contest the fullback spot, while Penrith's Matt Burton, Sydney's Joseph Manu, Newcastle's Bradman Best, Melbourne's Justin Olam and South Sydney's Dane Gagai are the five shortlisted centres.
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes, Manly's Daly-Cherry Evans, Souths' Adam Reynolds and Penrith's Nathan Cleary are the four halfbacks nominated, while the hookers Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Harry Grant (Storm), Brandon Smith (Storm) and Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) will go toe-to-toe for this season's award.
Finally, Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters) and Isaiah Papali'i (Eels) are vying for the second-row spots, with Newcastle's Daniel Saifiti, Sydney's Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Penrith's James Fisher-Harris, Brisbane's Payne Haas and Melbourne's Christian Welch in the front-row mix.