3 candidates this year are

1) Rangi Chase

2) Sam Tomkins

3) James Roby


Think tomkins will be picking up that award this year

Tomkins will probably win it but I'd like to see Roby pick it up myself. He's been twice the player he was when he won it the first time.

I'd have had Monaghan ahead of Chase on the shortlist, but realistically I can only see one winner. Sam Tomkins has been the stand-out player in the league by a distance. Roby has shouldered a huge amount of work this year, and in another year might well have been a shoe-in.

Agree I would have had Monaghan in there as well instead of chase, for me tomkins will win but agree with kirkstall would like to see roby win it

I'm with kirkstaller. His evolution is there for everyone to see. He grabbed the headlines early on and has kicked on. To replace a player like Cunningham was always going to be a tough ask.

Tomkins is another fine candidate.

2 horse race for me.

I reckon that there is more chance of the players voting for Roby than Tomkins (I believe thats still how its decided, but stand to be corrected) - Young Sam has not exactly endeared himself to his fellow professionals at other clubs.

Consider this year as Roby's payment for his slightly ill-merited victory in 2007. He will now have the correct number of MoS awards.....

I had forgot the players now vote. Agree roby would probably be a easier vot than tomkins.

Don't honestly see what Tomkins has done this season, certainly no better than last. Hasn't particularly shone in any of the important games Wigan have played. I'd go as far as to say that (if we're choosing a Wigan back) George Carmont has been more influential. Imagine if Tomkins had played for Cas this season & Chase had played for Wigan - do you think they'd both still be nominated?

Roby by a mile - at least he deserves it this year

I'd have had Chase before Tomkins. I agree with your Monaghan comment regarding on shortlist, but Chase has been a stand out in a team with far less assistance than the likes of Tomkins gets at Wigan. I do think that performances since end of July may well however hinder his chances of winning.

Rightly so.

Therein lies the problem with Chase for me. He started like a house on fire and finished like, erm, a house that wasn't on fire any more. I also think it can be easier to stand out in a smaller team sometimes.

Tomkins has been box-office, and very often the catalyst for what Wigan do well in attack. He can do things that no other player in SL can do. Where I think he has developed this year is his reading of the game in defence. He's impressed me with his positional play and reaction speed in particular in dealing with kicks to the in-goal.

Opinions are, as ever, like booty holes, but that is mine.

My opinion that is. Not my booty hole. Nobody needs to see that.