Players’ Champion nominations released

The new wave of NRL talent headline the 64-man short list for the RLPA’s prestigious Players’ Champion Award.

Under a revamped voting format, every contracted League player will have a vote.

Some of the game’s young stars are tipped to battle it out for the honour in 2018.

Newcastle wonderkid Kalyn Ponga, Rabbitohs rake Damien Cook, Roosters powerhouse Latrell Mitchell and Melbourne maestro Cameron Munster are expected to feature heavily in the final votes for the Player’s Champion.

Four players from each club have been nominated for opponents to vote via a 3-2-1 basis, with the RLPA's Top 13 Dream Team, rookie, women's and representative players of the year also to be announced at September 11 event.

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Retiring legends Jonathon Thurston and Billy Slater, as well as reigning Dally M winner Cameron Smith are also nominated for the top gong.

The full list of nominees is listed below:

Brisbane: Jamayne Isaako, Corey Oates, Joe Ofahengaue, James Roberts

Canberra: Josh Papalii, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Elliot Whitehead

Canterbury: Will Hopoate, Josh Jackson, David Klemmer, Josh Morris

Cronulla: Valentine Holmes, Matt Moylan, Matt Prior, Andrew Fifita

Gold Coast: Jai Arrow, Michael Gordon, Ryan James, Anthony Don

Manly: Joel Thompson, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans

Melbourne: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Cameron Munster, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater

Newcastle: Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Aidan Guerra, Kalyn Ponga, Sione Mata'utia

New Zealand Warriors: Issac Luke, Ken Maumalo, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Green

North Queensland: Kyle Feldt, Jason Taumalolo, Johnathan Thurston, Gavin Cooper

Parramatta: Daniel Alvaro, George Jennings, Tepai Moeroa, Mitchell Moses

Penrith: James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Isaah Yeo, James Maloney

South Sydney: Damien Cook, Angus Crichton, Cody Walker, Sam Burgess

St George Illawarra: Cameron McInnes, Tariq Sims, Gareth Widdop, Paul Vaughan

Sydney Roosters: Blake Ferguson, Luke Keary, James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell

Wests Tigers: Luke Brooks, Esan Marsters, Corey Thompson, Ben Matulino