The season is almost over, which means it's awards season for the NRL.
After a gruelling 27 rounds and three weeks of finals, Brisbane and Penrith are the two sides remaining and will square off in the 2023 grand final on the October long weekend.
As is tradition at this time of year, the annual Dally M Medal ceremony will take place on Wednesday night - but we've decided to take matters into our own hands.
In the lead-up to the finals series, eight members of The Sporting News staff voted on a 3-2-1 basis for each position to determine our official Team of the Year.
NOTE: Selections and voting based solely off regular season performances on a 3-2-1 basis.
Fullback: Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
19 games, 8 tries, 21 try assists, 17 linebreaks, 105 tackle breaks, 155 run metres per game
One of the best performers throughout the entire season, Reece Walsh couldn't have adapted better to his new surroundings at Brisbane than he did in 2023 as he helped them to their first grand final appearance in eight years.
The 21-year-old went from an exciting young prodigy coming back home from the Warriors to the best fullback in the competition in a matter of months, cementing himself at both the NRL and State of Origin level.
Walsh's speed and footwork terrorised opposition defences, while his passing game produced 21 try assists across the regular season and his 105 tackle breaks put him near the top of the fullbacks across the league.
While not the sole reason for Brisbane's rise up the ladder, Walsh was at the forefront of a lot of the club's positive performances and gave them a genuine X-factor, while his toughness was on full display throughout the year.
Scott Drinkwater, Dylan Edwards and Kalyn Ponga also polled votes, with the latter leading the Knights to an unlikely finals berth after coming back from a concussion layoff and reigniting his career.
'Team of the Year' Fullback Votes:
- Reece Walsh - 21
- Kalyn Ponga - 10
- Scott Drinkwater - 8
- Dylan Edwards - 5
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - 4
Wing: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand Warriors)
17 games, 21 tries, 21 linebreaks, 58 tackle breaks, 150 run metres per game
It was a true career renaissance for a number of Warriors players this year - and perhaps at the top of the list is Kiwi winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
After a failed stint on big money at Canterbury and a tough early transition to the Wahs, the 28-year-old produced the best year of his first grade career on the wing this season and was a clear standout amongst the NRL's best flyers.
Watene-Zelezniak averaged more than one try per appearance - some of which were absolutely brilliant finishes - while also proving to be a handful out of the backfield, averaging 150 run metres per game.
Jamayne Isaako also surged back into the debate for the game's best wingers, while two-time premiership winner Brian To'o also remained near the top of our voting.
'Team of the Year' Wing Votes:
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - 15
- Brian To'o - 8
- Jamayne Isaako - 8
- Alex Johnston - 7
- Dom Young - 4
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira - 3
- Selwyn Cobbo - 2
- Xavier Coates - 1
Centre: Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
21 games, 16 tries, 5 try assists, 20 linebreaks, 63 tackle breaks, 132 run metres per game
This was one of the tougher positions to find a clear standout in, but it was Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham who topped his rivals due to a strong first-half of the season.
Prior to suffering a sternum injury, the local junior and Marcellin College product was one of the form players of the competition, helping Souths to the top of the NRL ladder.
Unfortunately for Graham, the nagging injury and the Bunnies' form slump in the back-half of the year would see him miss out on a finals berth, but it's hard to discredit his 20 linebreaks and 16 tries across 21 appearances.
Valentine Holmes and Herbie Farnworth also had strong individual years, while Stephen Crichton continued to cement himself as one of the game's best outside backs with another stellar campaign for Penrith.
'Team of the Year' Centre Votes:
- Campbell Graham - 15
- Valentine Holmes - 10
- Herbie Farnworth - 9
- Stephen Crichton - 8
- Izack Tago - 5
- Kotoni Staggs - 1
Five-Eighth: Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
23 games, 9 tries, 25 try assists, 11 linebreaks, 33 linebreak assists, 81 run metres per game
Similar to his aforementioned teammate, Cody Walker shone through in the first-half of the season, before falling away late in the piece as the Bunnies missed out on the NRL finals for the first time since 2017.
The classy playmaker was near-unstoppable early in their campaign and finished with more try assists and linebreak assists than any other No.6 in the competition despite South Sydney's late-season struggles.
Walker's combination with his outside men is second-to-none when he's at his best and his performances in the cardinal and myrtle saw the 33-year-old earn a recall to the NSW Origin lineup for Game III.
Ezra Mam and Cameron Munster were the other two players to poll double-digit votes, with the former emerging as one of the best young talents in the game and the latter continuing his dominance in big games.
'Team of the Year' Five-Eighth Votes:
- Cody Walker - 20
- Ezra Mam - 11
- Cameron Munster - 10
- Tom Dearden - 4
- Kieran Foran - 1
- Jarome Luai - 1
- Luke Metcalf - 1
Halfback: Shaun Johnson (New Zealand Warriors)
23 games, 8 tries, 27 try assists, 24 linebreak assists, 22 forced dropouts, 59 run metres per game
Who else was it going to be?
In one of the best stories of the season, Shaun Johnson recaptured the best form of his career to lead the Warriors to an unlikely top-four berth and the prelim finals.
The 33-year-old finished the year with more try assists, forced dropouts and total kick metres than any other halfback in the competition, with his attacking flair complimented by a new-found level of game management.
In our system, Johnson polled the maximum 24 votes for his performances this year, with many backing the veteran playmaker to earn his first Dally M Medal after a stellar campaign for the Wahs.
Adam Reynolds was the only other player to finish with double-digit votes, with the Broncos making their way through to a grand final off the back of the experienced No.7 and his astute kicking game.
'Team of the Year' Halfback Votes:
- Shaun Johnson - 24
- Adam Reynolds - 13
- Daly Cherry-Evans - 5
- Nathan Cleary - 5
- Jahrome Hughes - 1
Hooker: Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
22 games, 9 tries, 11 try assists, 10 linebreak assists, 9 forced dropouts, 71 run metres + 43 tackles per game
One of the tougher positions in the NRL to decide between this season, Harry Grant emerged on top with the most votes in the dummy-half role as his side made the prelim finals.
Melbourne's dynamic hooker enjoyed another strong season, despite the absence of Brandon Smith and their successful tandem, finishing with nine tries and 11 try assists.
Grant was also a game-changer in the representative arena, helping the Maroons to a second-straight Origin series victory, with his running game proving to be a handful for opposition defences.
Reece Robson and Damien Cook also polled double-digit votes, while Warriors rake Wayde Egan produced the best season of his NRL career.
'Team of the Year' Hooker Votes:
- Harry Grant - 15
- Reece Robson - 11
- Damien Cook - 10
- Wayde Egan - 6
- Blayke Brailey - 4
- Reed Mahoney - 2
Prop: Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
20 games, 1 try, 98 tackle breaks, 42 offloads, 188 run metres + 28 tackles per game
In the land of the giants, one man stands above the rest.
After years of carrying the Broncos on his back to disappointing seasons, Payne Haas finally had some support around him this season and it took his game to a whole new level.
The 23-year-old continued to cement himself as the game's best front-rower, dominating in club land and helping Brisbane to a top-four finish and grand final appearance, averaging close to 190 run metres per game.
Haas' output on a week-to-week basis may have earned him top spot in our voting, but the performances of Addin Fonua-Blake for the Warriors saw him also gain double-digits and push for the status as the best prop in the NRL.
'Team of the Year' Prop Votes:
- Payne Haas - 19
- Addin Fonua-Blake - 11
- James Fisher-Harris - 6
- Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - 5
- Joseph Tapine - 3
- David Klemmer - 2
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 1
- Moses Leota - 1
Second-Row: David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
22 games, 8 tries, 9 linebreaks, 41 offloads, 146 run metres + 27 tackles per game
There are plenty of back-rowers who could have topped this list in 2023, but the resurgence of Titans star David Fifita was a sight to behold.
After copping plenty of criticism since arriving on the Gold Coast - some of which was certainly warranted - the 23-year-old returned to his rampaging best this year and gained a recall to the QLD Maroons lineup.
Fifita's highlight reel, which included eight tries and nine linebreaks, wasn't the best part of his campaign however, with his improved work-rate both in attack and defence earning plenty of admirers.
Keaon Koloamatangi and Liam Martin both featured in the voting after strong seasons, with both men lining up for NSW and cementing themselves as two of the best edge forwards the NRL has to offer.
'Team of the Year' Second-Row Votes:
- David Fifita - 18
- Keaon Koloamatangi - 9
- Liam Martin - 6
- Hudson Young - 5
- Scott Sorensen - 4
- Briton Nikora - 2
- Haumole Olakau'atu - 2
- Bryce Cartwright - 2
Lock: Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
20 games, 2 tries, 42 tackle breaks, 30 offloads, 157 run metres + 33 tackles per game
Rounding out the Brisbane contingent of our lineup, lock-forward Patrick Carrigan produced the best year of his NRL career and continues to cement himself as one of the best middles in the competiton.
The 23-year-old was tremendous at both club and representative level, leading the Broncos towards the grand final and helping Queensland to a second-straight State of Origin series victory.
Carrigan was a workhorse in the middle-third for the Broncos and his dynamic ball-running and sublime offloading ability causing plenty of headaches for rival clubs, while his defensive capabilities were never in question.
In his first full season in the top grade, Eels recruit J'maine Hopgood was the only other player to receive double-digits in the voting process.
'Team of the Year' Lock Votes:
- Patrick Carrigan - 19
- J'maine Hopgood - 10
- Reuben Cotter - 7
- Tohu Harris - 6
- Isaah Yeo - 4
- Jack de Belin - 1
- Corey Horsburgh - 1
Interchange: Dylan Walker (New Zealand Warriors)
21 games, 2 tries, 4 try assists, 27 tackle breaks, 96 run metres + 25 tackles per game
In the year of career resurgences across the ditch, former premiership winner and NSW Origin representative Dylan Walker proved to be a vital cog in the wheel for the Warriors.
The 28-year-old moved across to Auckland in the pre-season in a bid to revive his stagnating career and became invaluable off the bench, helping to the Warriors to an unlikely top-four finish and prelim finals berth.
Walker's versatility and speed through the middle-third made him a perfect addition to Andrew Webster's rotation, allowing the likes of Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf to have more freedom wider of the ruck.
Kobe Hetherington received double-digit votes after missing the start of the season, with the gritty utility cementing himself as an integral part of the Brisbane squad.
'Team of the Year' Interchange Votes:
- Dylan Walker - 20
- Kobe Hetherington - 10
- Erin Clark - 7
- Tom Starling - 5
- Jake Granville - 3
- Soni Luke - 2
- Bronson Garlick - 1