Zero Tackle's 2018 Dally M Team of the Year

After 15 rounds of the 2018 NRL competition, it seems like a good time to see who the contenders are for the Dally M Team of the Year. Let's take a look at who has been the best of the best after the past 15 rounds. Fullback Kalyn Ponga - Newcastle Knights The Knights' biggest off-season recruit is paying dividends as Kalyn Ponga is the form fullback of the competition right now. Playing every single game of the 2018 season, Ponga has singled handily won games for Newcastle with 10 try assists and scoring five himself. With nine line breaks and 116 tackle bursts, the most for the competition, as well as a whopping 2247 running metres thus far, Ponga is no doubly a star and could win his first Fullback of the Year award at just the age of 20. [caption id="attachment_33671" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 02: Kalyn Ponga of the Knights in action during the round 13 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium on June 2, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)[/caption] Winger Blake Ferguson - Sydney Roosters Blake Ferguson has really let his football speak for itself as he has been one of the Roosters most influential players. Also, having played all 15 games for the Chooks this year, has seen the winger rack up 2976 running metres with an average of 198.4 metres. He also has 10 tries to his name as well as 11 line breaks. Ferguson’s ability to know where the ball will be and his awareness when carrying the ball back shows why he’s a huge contender for Winger of the Year. [caption id="attachment_32733" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Blake Ferguson of the Roosters celebrates after scoring a try during the round three NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium on March 25, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] Centre Latrell Mitchell - Sydney Roosters Give this man space and the ball and there is no stopping Latrell Mitchell. The strong centre has pushed his way over the try line six times this season from 14 appearances for the Red, White and Blue, along with kicking 50 goals at 82%. Seven line breaks confirms just how strong Mitchell really is as he's powered his way to 1131 running metres. The recently new NSW centre could also get the tick of approval for the Centre of the Year. [caption id="attachment_32584" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters scores a try during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Five-eighth James Maloney - Penrith Panthers In 2018, James Maloney has been going about his business as usual, which sees him become the favourite for Five-Eighth of the Year. The Penrith playmaker has eight try assists as well as an average of 278.6 kicking metres which has forced 11 drop outs. Just like attack, he has also been strong in the area of defence completing 167 tackles and sees he rack up 528 fantasy points for the year. [caption id="attachment_33204" align="alignnone" width="696"] PENRITH, NEW SOUTH WALES - APRIL 27: James Maloney of the Panthers prepares to catch the ball during the NRL round eight match between the Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs on April 27, 2018 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] Halfback Ben Hunt - St. George Illawarra Dragons Everyone wished the Dragons goodluck after signing Ben Hunt on a six-year deal reportedly worth six-million dollars, but thus far, he has been worth every penny. Appearing in all games for the Red V, Hunt has an average of 291.8 kicking metres as well as 23 offloads. He has double figure try assists with 10 and as crossed the line three times this year himself. Assisting to eight line breaks and having a fantasy score of 641, Hunt is proving his critics wrong in 2018, which could see himself land the Halfback of the Year award. [caption id="attachment_32788" align="alignnone" width="696"] WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Ben Hunt of the Dragons in action during the round four NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights at WIN Stadium on April 1, 2018 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)[/caption] Lock Jason Taumalolo - North Queensland Cowboys Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo is enjoying another good form burst, despite his side's disappointing season. Taumalolo has a staggering 1088.8 post contact metres with also 74 tackle breaks. He has an average of 16.3 hit ups over his 15 appearances for the Cowboys and has made 2584 running metres thus far. If Taumalolo continues with this great form, he will win a third Lock of the Year. [caption id="attachment_34213" align="alignnone" width="696"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys looks on during the round 12 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at 1300SMILES Stadium on May 25, 2018 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)[/caption] Second-rower Angus Crichton - South Sydney Rabbitohs Angus Crichton has come in leaps and bounds since debuting just two years ago. The young second-rower is averaging 126.9 running metres with a total of 1649 metres, while also making 453 tackles at 88.7% completion rate. He has also been a weapon in attack scoring two tries and three line breaks to his name, as well as contributing to three line break assists and 20 offloads. In such a short career, Crichton has earned an Origin call up (in which NSW has already won the series), and come the end of the year, he could also have the Second-Rower of the Year trophy to his name. [caption id="attachment_32441" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Angus Crichton of the Rabbitohs runs the ball during the round four AFL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on March 30, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Prop Martin Taupau - Manly Warringah Sea-Eagles Martin Taupau has been on fire for the Manly Warringah Sea-Eagles in 2018. Taupau has made a staggering 52 offloads with 15 appearances for Manly with an average of 13.9 hitups. At 90.7%, he has made 441 tackles along with tallying up 2416 total running metres and makings 66 tackle bursts. With so many props doing amazing work for their respective teams, the Prop of the Year award will be highly contested come seasons end, but if Taupau continues with his good form, he'll be a shoe in for sure. [caption id="attachment_34099" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Martin Taupau of the Sea Eagles looks dejected after defeat in the round three NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on March 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)[/caption] Hooker Cameron Smith - Melbourne Storm You can’t leave this guy out, right? Cameron Smith is already a legend of the game, and he’s just chugging right along in 2018. He might only have one try and one assist to his name, but its his defence which stands out the most. Smith has made 514 tackles at an astonishing 93% completion rate. His ability to take advantage out of dummy half allows him to have an average of 139.1 kicking metres, which is why the Storm hold steady on the ladder. With Smith not taking part in any more Origin series, it allows for him to just keep adding to his incredible stat sheet, which could have another Hooker of the Year on it come the end of 2018. [caption id="attachment_33825" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 10: Cameron Smith of the Melbourne Storm celebrates with supporters in the crowd after winning the round 14 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park on June 10, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)[/caption] Interchange David Klemmer - Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs David Klemmer is one of the only shining lights for the Dogs in what has been a dismal 2018 season thus far. The prop has made 14 appearances for Canterbury which has seen him rack up an impressive 2454 total running metres with an average of 15.9 hit ups. Klemmer has made 14 offloads with 20 tackle bursts and is the only prop to have over a thousand post contact metres, sitting at 1006.5 metres after 15 rounds. Starting the season at Prop, Klemmer has shifted to the interchange in hopes to provide a much needed spark and new dynamic for the Dogs, and with numbers such as these, it seems to be working. [caption id="attachment_33466" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - MAY 27: David Klemmer of the Bulldogs watches on during the round 12 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on May 27, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption]