The NRLs best team for 2016 will be decided in Sundays Grand Final, but who has been the best player?Votes went secret after round 16, since when ESPN has taken a closer look to see who will win the Dally M Medal. It is the most prestigious individual honour in the NRL but history suggests it might be seen as a positive omen NOT to win the medal. Only three players in the past 30 years,have the medal and premiership in the same year: Parramattas Peter Sterling in 1986, Manlys Matt Orford in 2008, and North Queenslands Johnathan Thurston in 2015.1. Cooper Cronk (Storm)The latest member of the 300-game club shows no signs of slowing down, no sign of complacency and no sign of letting his high standards slip.Cronk has been one of the NRLs biggest success stories since he arrived at Melbourne as a utility player before a lack of options saw him thrown in at halfback when Matt Orford left the Storm for Manly.Incredibly, the 32-year-old started the year as a $34 long shot to claim a second Dally M medal, but his excellent form saw him claim outright favouritism with UBET, at a very short $4, when votes went behind closed doors.2. Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)Debate might rage as to whether Johnathan Thurston is the greatest rugby league player of all time, but the North Queensland captain is certainly without peer judged on Dally M medals.Among Thurstons seemingly endless list of achievements is an incredible FOUR Dally M medals -- putting him alone at the top of the list of multiple winners, one ahead of Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling and Gavin Miller.JT started the 2016 season as UBETs $6 favourite to claim his fifth medal, but he found himself relegated to the second line of betting when votes went secret after round 16, despite firming in to $5.3. Cameron Smith (Storm)Cameron Smith, like his Storm teammate Cooper Cronk, is looking for his second Dally M medal -- 10 years after he was awarded his first.Smith is the most intelligent player in the NRL, the games best schemer, and there is no smarter organiser in rugby league when it comes to executing a game plan and sticking to team structures.If he were at any other club, and didnt have to compete with the likes of Cronk, Billy Slater and Jesse Bromwich for Dally M points, he would probably already have won the award more than once.Smith also started the season at a generous $34 with UBET, but he closed to $7 third favourite after round 16.4. Josh Hodgson (Raiders)Josh Hodgson was a major factor behind Canberras impressive 2016 NRL season, and the first two weeks of the finals showed his importance to the Raiders. They lost after he left the field with an ankle in jury against Cronulla in Week 1, but the Raiders regained form and confidence when he returned against Penrith a week later.Since the Dally M Medal was introduced in 1980, no Englishman has ever won the award but Hodgson will go as close as any before him.The 26-year-old started the year as a $15 outside chance but went into closed votes on the fourth line of betting at $8 -- and his form has only improved since.Smokey - Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)The Cowboys other JT could become the first running forward to win the Dally M since Cronullas Gavin Miller in 1989.?Taumalolo wont be favourite, but he is a genuine smokey; he is arguably the NRLs most explosive and hard-running forward with mesmerising footwork and superhuman strength, and he has been at the top of his game this season.And it isnt just NRL fans who have taken notice, with the 23-year-old reportedly catching the eye of several NFL franchises; Taumalolo has already stated an interest in the possibility of becoming the next NRL star to try his luck in the USA.The Cowboys back-rower was a healthy $13 with UBET when voting went secret.Brett Kimmorley says:Who I think will win: Cooper CronkCooper Cronk has been the mastermind behind the Melbourne Storm this season. He has Cameron Smith there, too, but I think Cronk has led the team around brilliantly and been their main man in 2016.Who Id like to win: Josh HodgsonJosh Hodgson could become the first Englishman to win the Dally M and I would love to see him do it. He has been a sensation for the Raiders, and I think it would be a great thing to grow the game internationally.Other notablesRyan James (Titans)Andrew Fifita (Sharks)Michael Ennis (Sharks)Darius Boyd (Broncos)Ben Barba (Sharks) Cheap Wholesale Sneakers Free Shipping . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Cheap Sneakers Website . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. http://www.sneakerscheap.net/ . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Cheap Sneakers Online China . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Cheap Sneakers For Sale Online . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. CHICAGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers were patient at the plate, and thats something they want to improve. Yet despite drawing a career-high seven walks from Jake Arrieta, they werent able to overcome a big day by Kris Bryant.Bryant homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs while going 5 for 5, and the Chicago Cubs overcame Arrietas wildness to beat the Brewers 9-6 Thursday for a four-game sweep.Milwaukee coaxed 10 walks, which kept it in the game against the Cubs ace and three relievers. The ninth spot in the order received four of the free passes.Other guys started to understand it and bought into it and grinded out at-bats, said manager Craig Counsell, whose team ranked seventh in on-base percentage (.326) at the start of the day. Weve done a good job. Were getting into three-ball counts, 3-2 counts. Were making (pitchers) work. Its a good start and a good step that our offense has taken.Bryant tied Colorados Nolan Arenado for the NL lead with 30 home runs. The Cubs won for the 18th time in 21 games and improved the best record in the majors to 77-43.Chicago led 5-0 when Arrieta (15-5) issued a pair of two-out walks in the fourth. Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with a three-run homer.Hernan Perez hit a solo homer in the sixth off Arrieta, who allowed four runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.We did a good job against Arrieta, Counsell said. Its not a day that we got a lot of hits, but the walks made a difference against him. We just couldnt slow down the top of their lineup. Obviously, Bryant had a great day.Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his seventh save.Bryant singled and scored in the first, hit a two-run homer in the third and had an RBI double in the fourth off Zach Davies (9-6). Bryant hit a solo homer off Blaine Boyer in the sixth and added an RBI single in the eighth off Corey Knebel for his second career five-hit game.I dont feel like this too often, but this was just one of those days when I was really locked in, Bryant said.Bryant, who hit 26 homers while winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, had his third multihomer game of the season. He has 78 RBI.(Bryants) one of the best hitters in the game, Davies said. He can hit any pitch, aany mistake.dddddddddddd Youve got to be extremely focused on every pitch when he does to bat.Anthony Rizzo doubled twice off Davies, who allowed a season-high seven earned runs and 10 hits in four innings.The Brewers got left fielder Ryan Braun back after he banged up his left knee and ankle chasing a foul ball Tuesday. But Braun went 0 for 5 and couldnt come up with Addison Russells fly that drifted to the wall and was ruled a single in Chicagos three-run third.Milwaukee was outscored 23-8 in the series and fell to 0-6 at Wrigley Field.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: RHP Chase Anderson (quadriceps) was scheduled to play catch, two days after leaving in the first inning when he was hit by a line drive. If hes healthy, well be able to use Chase out of the bullpen for a couple days this weekend and hell start at some point next week, Counsell said.... RHP Junior Guerra (tendinitis) will take part in a bullpen session before the game in Seattle on Friday night.Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said theyll decide in the next couple of days if RHP John Lackey (shoulder) will make his next scheduled start Tuesday.CONTRERAS MOVES UPWillson Contreras caught Arrieta for the first time. The 24-year-old rookie has moved ahead of struggling veteran Miguel Montero.Contreras hit an RBI double in the third and picked off Ramon Flores at first in the fifth. He also had two passed balls.CUBS TORMENTEROf Nieuwenhuis 11 homers, five have come against the Cubs. The center fielder also doubled and scored in the eighth.UP NEXTBrewers: Brewers: LHP Brent Suter will be recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs and make his major league debut Friday night at Seattle against LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.68 ERA). He has earned the shot to do it, Counsell said. In 26 games (15 starts) at Triple-A, he is 6-6 with a 3.50 ERA. He is scheduled to oppose LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.68 ERA).Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 2.19) starts Friday night at Colorado to begin a nine-game trip against the Rockies and LHP Tyler Anderson (4-4, 3.42). Chicago plays 18 of its next 25 on the road. ' ' '