Kiwis who could have flown
Tawera Nikau, 1999
The worst decision. The Storm faced a daunting 14-0 halftime deficit, before Tawera Nikau and Stephen Kearney helped turn the game. Nikau, in his finest NRL performance, monstered the Dragons pack and provided deft touches with the ball in hand.
”I remember sitting in the dressing room — we were down 14-0 and [coach] Chris Anderson was giving us a bit of a speech,” recalled Nikau in 2009. “I turned to Mooks [Kearney] and said ‘let’s just go out there and bash them’. That's what we did in the second half, got a bit of momentum and came away with the win.”
For most, Nikau was the most influential player on the field but the award went to Brett Kimmorley.
Matthew Ridge, 1996
Ridge would have been a strong contender. He made the play of the game, brilliantly regathering his own short kickoff, which led to Manly’s second try. Ridge also kicked three goals from three attempts, including one from the sideline, and was his usual busy presence on attack and defence. Geoff Toovey won the medal.
Sonny Bill Williams, 2014
Williams wasn’t at his best in the first half as his team struggled to get into the game. But no other player had more influence on the last 30 minutes than the double international, with his runs, offloads and passes ultimately providing the difference and engineering the final result.
Others to mention:
Roy Asotasi earned many plaudits in 2004 as the Bulldogs upset the Roosters. Asotasi, one of the best props in the world at the time, was shaded by Willie Mason on the day. Adam Blair was a standout for the Storm in 2009, scoring one try and laying on another, though eventual winner Billy Slater was also exceptional.