My team of the year Fullback Nominations: Billy Slater, Brett Stewart, Darius Boyd Billy Slater has probably had better years, but has still provided tremendous impact for the Storm. When Brett Stewart is fit and well, he definitely sparks the Manly team. Darius Boyd's best performances have been as influential as any in this position. My Fullback of the Year: Greg Inglis. I can't go past the big bloke from South Sydney. He has had an amazing season. Right wing Nominations: David Williams, David Simmons, Sisa Waqa The "Wolfman" bounced back to former glory this season. Panther David Simmons, who scored 19 tries, was a major contributor in other facets of the game for his team. Sisa Waqa is one of the most improved players in the NRL. My Right Winger of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. This kid is a sensation. 18 line breaks, ranks sixth in the entire NRL; 89 tackle breaks, fourth in NRL; 331 hit-ups, sixth in NRL; 2985 metres, 10th in NRL through 26 rounds. These are for all players, all teams, all positions, not just right wingers. There is more to wing play than just scoring tries, even though RTS scored his share. Right Centre Nominations: Jamal Idris, Justin Hodges, Will Chambers, Brent Tate, Dean Whare Jamal Idris was well on the way to a stellar season before injury sidelined the big bloke. Justin Hodges was mighty again for both the Broncos and Queensland. Will Chambers has been very dangerous in attack. Brent Tate seemingly gets better with age. He is the complete professional. Once Dean Whare was able to play his favoured position at right centre for the Panthers he was outstanding. He had an incredible number of try assists late in the season. My Right Centre of the Year: Jamie Lyon. Objections anyone? What a classy player. Apart from his unique skill set, Lyon's leadership and toughness have provided the cornerstone of Manly's season. For a centre to have so much influence on a team's fortunes is quite remarkable. Left Centre Nominations: Bryson Goodwin, Michael Jennings, Kane Linnett Bryson Goodwin has been a whole-hearted performer in attack and defence for the Rabbitohs. Jennings has shown his class and speed enjoying the opportunities presented to him by a tremendous group of players at the Roosters. Kane Linnett from the Cowboys always impresses me as a real quality team man. My Left Centre of the Year: Steve Matai. He has again been an absolute powerhouse for the Sea Eagles this season. He has played his own position extremely well. However, his willingness to step out of his position and contribute to the team in all the tough areas of the game is second to none. This sets Steve Matai apart from the rest. Left Wing Nominations: James McManus, Daniel Tupou James McManus has had a great season for the Knights. His selection for NSW was just reward. Daniel Tupou is a sensational young player. His work rate is nothing short of outstanding. He willingly ventures infield looking to take pressure of his forwards with plenty of metre-gaining charges. His ability to finish off tries is getting better by the week. My Left Winger of the Year: Jorge Taufua. Another win for the Manly boys, but these back-line players are the strength of this tremendously skilful and courageous team. Taufua has been outstanding. So strong. Five-eighth Nominations: Todd Carney, Johnathan Thurston, James Maloney, Jarrod Mullen, Kieran Foran A few years ago it looked as though the position of five-eighth was going out of fashion. However, teams have now realised the immense benefit of having a good one in their team. Now we have an incredibly outstanding group of number sixes in the NRL. My Five-eighth of the Year: John Sutton. This might surprise a few but if you are looking for a five-eighth who has most influence over his team's results each and every week, I think John Sutton's role for South Sydney this year deserves such recognition. He has been a rock. Halfback Nominations: Cooper Cronk, Mitchell Pearce, Shaun Johnson, Adam Reynolds Cooper has been the consummate professional for the Storm and Queensland. He is so consistent. Shaun Johnson was brilliant in the back half of the season for the Warriors. Mitchell Pearce and Adam Reynolds have steered their respective teams admirably. My Halfback of the Year: I think we are about to move into the Daly Cherry-Evans era. He is about to become one of the dominant halfbacks of his time. I have been mightily impressed with his development and it won't be too long before that No.7 Maroons jersey is all his. Front Row Nominations: Jesse Bromwich, Matt Scott, George Burgess, Ryan James, Nigel Plum, Brent Kite Big men are still so important to a team's fortunes and these guys have all been tremendous contributors in 2013. Jesse Bromwich, Ryan James and George Burgess are on the rise. My Front Rowers of the Year: Andrew Fifita, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. It's been a few years since I've seen two big front-rowers have such an influence on the results of games. Fifita and Waerea-Hargreaves will be terrorising opposition teams for many years. Hooker Nominations: Jake Friend, Issac Luke Jake Friend has been the silent achiever at the Roosters this season and is only now starting to get the recognition he deserves. Issac Luke has been outstanding for the Bunnies. My Hooker of the Year: Cameron Smith. We can look at the best, and then there is Cameron Smith. Quite simply, the teams Cameron plays for, they win football games. It all starts with him. Lock Nomination: Sam Burgess, Anthony Watmough, Trent Merrin, Elijah Taylor, Shaun Fensom, Glenn Stewart, Jeremy Smith, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Adam Docker The lock's role has changed a lot over the years and many teams use this position differently. NRL coaches don't call them "locks" anymore. They refer to them as "middle players." Some use it as another front-row type. Others use it as another creative skill position. This makes it hard to compare performers. For example, Anthony Watmough wears jersey No.11 for Manly and Glenn Stewart wears 13, yet Watmough plays in the "middle" and Stewart plays "right edge." There are similar examples in a number of clubs. All of the above players though have contributed greatly to their teams. My Lock of the Year: Corey Parker. The Broncos didn't have such a great season, but it wasn't for the lack of trying from this bloke. For Brisbane and Queensland I thought he was outstanding. On the NRL Stats player ratings system, he emerged as the No.1 player in the game based on contribution levels. Second Row Nominations: Boyd Cordner, Ryan Hoffman, Matt Gillett, Josh Papalii, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart NRL coaches don't call them second-rowers anymore. They are called "edge forwards." This is a position we may soon have to isolate into left- and right-side categories because they are now specialist roles with rugby league teams. I've liked the performances of all these players. Boyd Cordner is fast emerging as a rep player of the highest order. My Second-Rowers of the Year: Sonny Bill Williams, Greg Bird. SBW has been a sensation. I never for one minute doubted that would be the case. As I said before a ball was kicked this season, SBW could lift the Roosters to a premiership victory. I have no reason to change that prediction. Greg Bird is such a competitor. For the Titans and NSW he has been a key figure. Coach of the Year Nominations: Michael Maguire, Geoff Toovey, Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary The top four teams in the competition have been outstanding. Credit must go to the coaches. At the start of the season all the experts predicted the Panthers would win this year's wooden spoon. I remember at a pre-season members' function Ivan Cleary told the audience, "I have a secret for you. We are going to have a good year. He certainly made good on that promise. My Coach of the Year: Trent Robinson The Roosters ran 13th last year with a for and against of minus 164. They conceded a whopping 626 points in defence, which ranked 15th in the NRL. This season, the Roosters were minor premiers. They had a for and against figure of plus 315. They conceded only 325 points for the season, which ranks No.1 in the NRL. Rookie Trent Robinson is the Coach of the Year. Rookie of The Year Nominations: Anthony Milford, Peta Hiku, Matt Moylan, David Nofoaluma, George Burgess, Tohu Harris We saw some outstanding young talent make their NRL debuts this season and many of them had immediate impact for their teams. I really liked what I saw from the above group. Let's hope they work hard to build on the tremendous potential they have shown us this season. My Rookie of the Year: Dylan Walker. I can't go past this kid from Souths. In such an important position as centre, which takes such a long time to learn at this elite level of competition, this kid amazed me with his ability and a maturity beyond his years. He is an outstanding young talent. Twitter - @gusgould91