Hi All,

Some you may've already read this elsewhere, but four Magpies have been named in the leaguetv.com.au 2008 NSW Cup Team of the Year.

Bulldog bound winger Nick Taylor was selected on one wing, while forwards Corey Vlaciky and Stuart Flanagan were chosen in the starting line-up and Dane Laurie on the bench.

While missing out on a place in the team of the year, half back Nathan Waters did well to finish equal third in the player of the year polling behind overall winner, Wenty half James Maloney.

The full squad and honourable mentions can be found at http://www.leaguetv.com.au .

And for those who are interested, leaguetv will return in 2009, provided the global financial crisis doesn't swallow us all whole! We plan to be back bigger and better than ever in round 1. In the meantime, you can re-live a stack of Magpies games on the site. Just click on the video tab. We'll also be posting a 2009 season preview video in the coming weeks.

Great job guys and well done to the Magpies players selected :clapping:

How did Nu Akeripa, Josh Davis and Shannon Gallant miss out and those nothings get selected ?

Gallant was the standout fullback and close to the player of the year - he also would of been the leading point scoring if he wasn't selected for the Wests Tigers throughout the season.

Gallant and Verlinden from Norths both should be in the team.

On a separate point. Is Luke Young with us again this year?

Absolutely agree on Gallant and Verlinden. First (and easy) choices in the positions I would have thought. Bench needs a little "Magic" too.

Yes Luke is still with us. Looks in good shape.

Luke’s mum works with my wife, and he is really enjoying his footy at the club.

Over the summer he has done some training with Wests Tigers to give him a taste of the big time, and apparently that has heightened his enthusiasm.

Good to hear about Young. Nice style of a footballer. Always comes off looking buggered, like he's given everything. Covers a lot of holes bigger forwards don't in the middle of the line.

Both Verlinden and Gallant had strong claims. I had Verlinden in my side but was outvoted by the others. Another two picked Gallant, but they were outvoted. It's all subjective, and at this level, I'm not sure any of us are in a position to watch every match, every round. If you only saw Norths in the first ten rounds, you would've picked players like Verlinden, Jaiman Lowe and Jeremy Smith. But Lowe was struck down by injury, Smith's form deteriorated badly once Ben Rogers left and Verlinden, who always tries is heart out, was probably down on form in the second half the season, before lifting for the finals. To fit Verlinden in you'd have to drop Tandy, Latimore, Wright or Daine Laurie which is hard to do. As for Gallant, he was outstanding all year, but so too was Samu Wara. A real find, who would definitely have played NRL last year if not for Souths second tier salary cap problems. Akeripa, Davis and Gallant all received honourable mentions on the site. And you did get four in there, so it's not all bad. As we say there, you're never going to please everyone with team of the year lists, but the reason for doing this list (and the site in general for that matter) is to put some focus on this level of the game and give all us passionate NSW Cup fans something to talk about and debate in the lead-up to the 09 kick-off. And who knows, maybe we'll have a fans team of the year in 09!

Mate I reckon the entire Magpie team should have been named. From last place to semi finals, what a team!!! :magpies:

I watched a lot of State Cup games last season both at the grounds and on the leaguetv website. If Gallant wasn't the fullback of the year I'm not here. It was his best season in grade IMO and he should of played more games for the Wests Tigers when Hodgson was out.

The judges who thought otherwise should give themselves a uppercut.

I'm sure Mighty Mouse would forgo this honour for a 2009 Dally M Fullback on the year award ;)

Fullback was a strong field.

In rugby league news, the official NSW Cup magazine, they named a team of the week each after each round. Gallant was named fullback once. The two with the most selections were Wara four times, Tim Mortimer from Wenty four times. Also, Wara was the leading fullback in the player of the year votes when the voting went silent after Round 15.

The 2008 season was an incredible achievment for the club , considering the standings of the previous years . To have so many players considered in the best for the whole competition gives the club the credibility again .
How did Gallant and Waters miss out ? Well done by the coaching staff to turn things around big time .