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 Jordans Free Shipping . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. 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Melbourne wont take time to saviour the NRL minor premiership with their attention turning to their qualifying final against defending champions North Queensland.The Storm were at their ruthless best against the Cronulla, winning 26-6, to claim the minor premiership in the final round of the regular competition.Captain Cameron Smith said winning the JJ Giltinan Shield meant a lot to his team, but realised it would be quickly forgotten with the finals starting next weekend.The Storm will host the Cowboys at AAMI Park - the same venue where North Queensland inflicted a painful 32-12 loss in the preliminary final last year to end Melbournes title aspirations.The Storm have won both their clashes this year but Smith said finals were a different story.ddddddddddddThis is finals and these guys are the reigning premiers so they know how to play these big games, Smith said.In recent years theyve had a pretty good record down in Melbourne and when you win a competition you dont fear any team or any venue and were aware of that.But at the end of the day this is our home ground and weve got a pretty good record and our goal will be to keep that intact.The winner of the Storm-Cowboys final will have week two off and move straight through to the preliminary final. 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