Rugby League’s best and fairest player for this season will be honoured at the Dally M awards. One of the favourites is North Queensland’s Jonathan Thurston, who is in line for what would be his fifth title.

Jake Ten reports.

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Last year, the Cowboys captain was named the league’s best player for a record fourth time.

The thirty three year-old was a popular pick at the start of the season and remains in contention for the top honour this year.

He sat in ninth before voting went behind close doors after round seventeen in July.

Melbourne Storm duo Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are also firm favourites.

Cronk is preparing for his sixth grand final against the Cronulla Sharks this weekend.

Sharks captain Paul Gallen has decided to give the awards a miss, citing a need to rest a decade-old back injury.

In the A-F-L, the Swans have received a boost ahead of Saturday’s grand final.

Callum Mills and Jarrad McVeigh are both expected to take to the field, while Aliir Aliir missed training and remains a doubt.

Josh Kennedy, Swans Midfielder: “You certainly give them, the guys, the best opportunity and the most opportunity that they can to prove themselves fit”.

There was plenty of good news in the Bulldog camp.

Luke Beveridge won his second consecutive Coach of the Year.

And Matt Suckling has been declared fit to feature in the final, meaning someone will miss out.

Jordan Roughead is also expected to recover from his eye bleed in time to play against the Swans.

Jake Ten, QUT News.