Wests Tigers players Luke Brooks, Esan Marsters, Corey Thompson and Ben Matulino have been nominated as contenders for the The Players' Champion.
The Rugby League Players Association's (RLPA) The Players' Champion is a prestigious honour that recognises the best player in the National Rugby League – as voted by players. The event is renowned for its individuality — with it being the only peer-voted awards night on the Rugby League calendar — combined with its non-traditional theming that is built around celebrating the achievements of players.
The event also celebrates the achievements of the RLPA membership across a range of different areas – including The Dennis Tutty Award (named after the former Balmain forward), Elite Women's Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Representative Player of the Year and various Wellbeing and Education awards.
Working in conjunction with club delegates, the RLPA has provided more than 500 contracted NRL players with a list of 64 players (four from each club) in contention for the prestigious Players' Champion award and the recently introduced Players' 13 Dream Team.
The full list of players has been announced today, with players across the game now able to vote for their champion picks on a 3-2-1 system based on their performance across the entire 2018 season.
Brooks and Marsters are the only two players to feature in every game for Wests Tigers this season while Thompson and Matulino have also been superb in their first season in their new colours.
The Players' Champion will be announced on Tuesday, September 11 at Doltone House, Darling Island.
THE PLAYERS' CHAMPION AWARD NOMINATIONS
| TEAM | PLAYERS NOMINATED |
| Brisbane Broncos | Jamayne Isaako, Corey Oates, Joe Ofahengaue, James Roberts |
| Canberra Raiders | Josh Papalii, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Elliot Whitehead |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Will Hopoate, Josh Jackson, David Klemmer, Josh Morris |
| Cronulla Sharks | Valentine Holmes, Matt Moylan, Matt Prior, Andrew Fifita |
| Gold Coast Titans | Jai Arrow, Michael Gordon, Ryan James, Anthony Don |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Joel Thompson, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans |
| Melbourne Storm | Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Cameron Munster, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater |
| Newcastle Knights | Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Aidan Guerra, Kalyn Ponga, Sione Mata'utia |
| New Zealand Warriors | Issac Luke, Ken Maumalo, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Green |
| North Queensland Cowboys | Kyle Feldt, Jason Taumalolo, Johnathan Thurston, Gavin Cooper |
| Parramatta Eels | Daniel Alvaro, George Jennings, Tepai Moeroa, Mitchell Moses |
| Penrith Panthers | James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Isaah Yeo, James Maloney |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Damien Cook, Angus Crichton, Cody Walker, Sam Burgess |
| St. George-Illawarra Dragons | 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 |
