THE NRL’s night of nights is still seven months away but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and play some guessing games in March.

Foxsports.com.au has jumped the gun to predict every club’s top Dally M vote getter for season 2018.

Some teams were easy. Others were not. And all feedback is welcome.

Do you agree with our pick for your team?

Round 20

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STORM — Cameron Smith

The veteran hooker has already won the medal twice, first in 2006 and again last year in a landslide.

His 33 votes in 2017 were testament to one of the greatest individual seasons in rugby league memory.

Add to that an NRL premiership, a Golden Boot, an Origin victory and another World Cup.

He’s in the top couple of players in the game currently and is a proven Dally M vote getter.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Cameron Smith (33 votes)

Cameron Smith of the Storm poses after winning the Dally M Medal last year. Source: Getty Images

ROOSTERS — James Tedesco

Cooper Cronk is the obvious answer here, but the halfback wasn’t even in Melbourne’s top five vote getters last year and there’s no shortage of stars around him again at the Chooks.

Cronk is the mastermind who will steer the team around the paddock, but James Tedesco is where the real X factor lies.

He polled 17 votes in an ordinary Tigers outfit last season and we all know just how dangerous a player he can be in attack. His defence at fullback is just as good.

He’s impossible to miss and he’ll be front and centre of the Tricolours campaign, which means if they do well he will poll well.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Luke Keary (22)

BRONCOS — Anthony Milford

He’s the X factor Brisbane needs if they want to give the premiership a shake this year.

He’ll also be shouldering a bit more responsibility with his halves partner Ben Hunt gone, and Kodi Nikorima stepping in at halfback.

Milford was the club’s best vote getter last year and probably has another gear to go up if he can string consistent performances together.

His main danger is probably fullback and captain Darius Boyd, who will be hoping to stay fit in 2018 after a run of injuries.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Anthony Milford (18)

EELS — Mitchell Moses

We had Clint Gutherson pencilled in here until it was revealed he will miss about eight games from the start of the season with his knee rehabilitation.

With that in mind, it’s in the halves that Parramatta’s top vote getter will come from.

Corey Norman topped the club last year but it’s his partner Mitchell Moses who we are tipping to boom in 2018.

He’s coming in off the back of a big World Cup campaign with Lebanon, and from all reports has reached a new level of maturity.

Brad Fittler is even speaking of him in Origin discussions.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Corey Norman (18)

SHARKS — Matt Moylan

Many were tipping him to collect the medal last year, but an interrupted season with Penrith saw him poll just 13 votes.

There’s no doubting when he’s in the right headspace Moylan is one of the best attacking players in the game.

He joins a fairly formidable spine and will have the pressure taken off his shoulders by Chad Townsend and Valentine Holmes.

If Cronulla goes well expect Moylan to have a big year and poll well in the Dally M voting.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Paul Gallen (22)

TITANS — Ash Taylor

Matty Johns says Ash Taylor will be the best player in the competition one day, and that’s all the convincing we need.

He was the shining light last year in another disappointing season for the club.

Nathan Peats could potentially pinch a few votes but it’s hard to find any other genuine contenders in the squad.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Ash Taylor (11)

Ash Taylor of the Titans runs the ball. Source: Supplied

SEA EAGLES — Daly Cherry-Evans

He’s their marquee man and their best player. When DCE plays well Manly generally goes well.

He holds the key to the club’s success and that’s why he will collect plenty of votes when the Sea Eagles win games.

Tom Trbojevic looms as a potential vote getter, having polled 19 last year.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Daly Cherry-Evans (21)

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PANTHERS — Nathan Cleary

If Penrith goes well this year expect young Cleary to be a big reason for that.

He's already shown the rugby league world what he can do, and all signs point to him taking the next step in his game.

The addition of James Maloney should only help, not hinder, Cleary’s ability to star and he should attract plenty of attention from the Dally M voters.

He only polled five votes last year but expect that tally to grow significantly if the Panthers can string wins together and reach finals.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Matt Moylan (13)

COWBOYS — Johnathan Thurston

He’s already won the medal four times and is widely considered the best current player in rugby league.

He’s spent a long time on the sideline nursing a shoulder injury but he’s now ready to re-enter the NRL for what will be his final season in professional football.

Many are tipping the Cowboys to go well in 2018 and it will be JT at the forefront. And he’ll be attracting lots of attention from everyone, including the medal voters.

Michael Morgan — who polled 25 votes last year — will take a back seat and so expect his tally to drop.

Jason Taumalolo is the other danger to JT’s tally.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Michael Morgan (25)

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys in action. Source: Getty Images

DRAGONS — Gareth Widdop

Ben Hunt is the $1.2 million marquee man but his arrival in Wollongong will actually help Gareth Widdop’s charge towards the Dally M.

Widdop was left to do most of the work himself last year. Now he has Hunt steering the ship, he can relax and play his natural running game, which can be electric when it works.

He was arguably the NRL’s best player over the opening rounds of 2017 and for a long time he was in serious contention for the top medal.

If he can equal or improve his 24 votes from last season Widdop will be right up there again.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Gareth Widdop (24)

RAIDERS — Josh Papalii



In all honesty, Canberra was the hardest club to pick one player from for this list.

Last year they had five players between 7 and 11 votes, pointing to the even spread of talent across the park.

Our tip would have been Josh Hodgson if he wasn’t sidelined with a knee injury until midway through the season.

We could have easily written down Jordan Rapana or Blake Austin.

But we figure it will be one of the forwards who leads the way on the tally board.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Junior Paulo (11)

BULLDOGS — Moses Mbye

This nod is banking on the switch to fullback to reinvigorate Moses Mbye’s career.

The Bulldogs are revamping their entire game plan in 2018 and Mbye will play a key role in that with his move to the No. 1 jumper.

He’ll be getting his hands on the ball plenty, and with his playmaking ability will add a dimension to the team’s attack.

On the flip side, the experiment could totally fail and he could fall to the wayside.

We’re tipping it won’t.

Your 2017 top vote getter: David Klemmer (12)

Moses Mbye of the Bulldogs in action. Source: Supplied

RABBITOHS — Dane Gagai

It’s hard for centres to collect Dally M votes generally, but Gagai has the ability to get involved in the game in a variety of ways.

He’s been Newcastle’s best player for some time — their only Origin representative last year — but now has a much better team around him than the one he’s accustom to.

He’s the type of player that will get in and take the hard carry to help the Rabbitohs out of their defensive end, then make a break and run half the field to score a try.

He will be reinvigorated with the move south and should have a big campaign.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Sam Burgess (16)

WARRIORS — Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

He was their best vote getter last year by a country mile and held the team together during another miserable season.

It looked like he would have the weight of contract speculation hanging on him, but that was put to bed with a big extension last week.

Now that’s out of the way RTS can focus on captaining the club and getting on with the job.

He’s one of the best players in the competition when he’s on, and let’s hope — for the Warriors sake — we see plenty of that this year.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (17)

TIGERS — Josh Reynolds

The top two vote getters from last year have left the club, while the third (David Nofoaluma) is reportedly on the fringe of first grade.

It’s tough to pick one outstanding player in this group, but Reynolds is the one most likely to spark something in the side.

He’s an energetic player and will jump between the halves and hooker, meaning he’ll never be far from the action.

Russell Packer could feature in the votes, while their backline is an absolute mystery.

Kevin Naiqama could be the best of the rest.

Your 2017 top vote getter: James Tedesco (17)

Josh Reynolds of the Tigers reacts after scoring a try. Source: AAP

KNIGHTS — Mitchell Pearce

Mitchell Pearce collected 15 votes while at the Roosters last year and is being tipped to go to a new level now at Newcastle.

He’s got his own team in his hands and should relish the responsibility of captaining an NRL team.

IT’s also one of the younger, more exciting lists in the competition, and the club’s forward pack has improved since last year.

If the club does well this season it will be Pearce leading the way.

Your 2017 top vote getter: Daniel Saifiti (8)