Now that the successful and very entertaining 2017 Rugby League World Cup has been run and won by Australia, it seems a great time to wrap up the fun with our 2017 Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament.
We have followed every game of the tournament, and in each game have assigned 5-4-3-2-1 points in each match to find a player of the tournament – the Dowling-Tamati medalist.
That award was taken out by Jason Taumalolo, despite not featuring in the final, but he had done plenty for Tonga by then.
The Full Dowling-Tamati Medal results can be found at our Rugby League World Cup Home Page, which includes all results with links to a match review on every game.
From that full table we have decided our 2017 Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament. The highest ranked player/s in each position get the nod, with the top 4 players who missed out on their respective position getting on the bench. Except for Jarryd Hayne who we squeezed into the centre as we had enough halves, and he plays in the centres.
So enjoy our last contribution for this year’s World Cup with our 2017 Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament.
| 1 | Gareth Widdop | ENG |
| 2 | Jermaine McGillvary | ENG |
| 3 | Taane Milne | FIJ |
| 4 | Jarryd Hayne | FIJ |
| 5 | Valentine Holmes | AUS |
| 6 | Mitchell Moses | LEB |
| 7 | Liam Finn | IRE |
| 8 | James Graham | ENG |
| 9 | Cameron Smith | AUS |
| 10 | Sio Siua Taukieacho | TON |
| 11 | Viliame Kikau | FIJ |
| 12 | Boyd Cordner | AUS |
| 13 | Jason Taumalolo | TON |
| 14 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | NZ |
| 15 | Billy Slater | AUS |
| 16 | Rhyse Martin | PNG |
| 17 | Willie Minoga | PNG |
Some surprises in our 2017 Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament. Somehow getting Willie Minoga in there is not a surprise.
Gareth Widdop beat Billy Slater to the fullback position, little known Irish halfback Liam Finn did so well for the Irish in just three games, and not having another centre with enough votes means Hayne is rewarded with a start.
Mitchell Moses deserves his five eighth selection ahead of Jarryd Hayne, and Viliame Kikau was one we pointed out at the start of the World Cup. Think differently? Why not comment at the space at the bottom of this post.
2017 DOWLING-TAMATI MEDAL – PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT – FULL RESULTS
And below are the full results for the Dowling-Tamati Medal.
| Player | Country | Score |
| Jason Taumalolo | TON | 18 |
| Gareth Widdop | ENG | 16 |
| Mitchell Moses | LEB | 15 |
| Viliame Kikau | FIJ | 14 |
| Jermain McGillvary | ENG | 12 |
| Valentine Holmes | AUS | 10 |
| Jarryd Hayne | FIJ | 10 |
| Taane Milne | FIJ | 10 |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | NZ | 10 |
| Billy Slater | AUS | 9 |
| Liam Finn | IRE | 9 |
| Sio Siua Taukieacho | TON | 9 |
| James Graham | ENG | 9 |
| Boyd Cordner | AUS | 9 |
| Rhyse Martin | PNG | 8 |
| Cameron Smith | AUS | 8 |
| Garry Lo | PNG | 7 |
| Michael Morgan | IRE | 7 |
| Willie Minoga | PNG | 7 |
| David Mead | PNG | 7 |
| Liam Kay | IRE | 7 |
| Suliasi Vanivalu | FIJ | 7 |
| Cameron Munster | AUS | 6 |
| Matt Gillett | AUS | 6 |
| Josh Maguire | AUS | 6 |
| Martin Taupau | NZ | 6 |
| Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook | IRE | 5 |
| Joseph Tramontana | ITA | 5 |
| Thomas Burgess | ENG | 5 |
| Andrew Fifita | TON | 5 |
| Young Tonumaipea | SAM | 5 |
| Kallum Watkins | ENG | 5 |
| Lachlan Lam | PNG | 5 |
| Akuila Uate | FIJ | 5 |
| Shaun Johnson | NZ | 5 |
| Wade Graham | AUS | 5 |
| Lachlan Stein | SCO | 4 |
| Ata Hingano | TON | 4 |
| Api Koroisau | FIJ | 4 |
| Michale McIlorum | IRE | 4 |
| Api Pewhairangi | IRE | 4 |
| James Tedesco | ITA | 4 |
| Michael Jennings | TON | 4 |
| Manu M’au | TON | 4 |
| Michael Lichaa | LEB | 4 |
| Te Maire Martin | NZ | 4 |
| Kevin Brown | ENG | 4 |
| Bastien Ader | FRA | 3 |
| Luke Douglas | SCO | 3 |
| Konrad Hurrell | TON | 3 |
| Nelson Asofa Solomona | NZ | 3 |
| David Klemmer | AUS | 3 |
| Nene McDonald | PNG | 3 |
| Robbie Farah | LEB | 3 |
| Theo Fages | FRA | 3 |
| Alex Walmsley | ENG | 3 |
| Tui Kamikamica | FIJ | 3 |
| Mason Cerruto | ITA | 3 |
| Peter Hiku | NZ | 3 |
| Moses Meninga | PNG | 3 |
| Wellington Albert | PNG | 3 |
| James Segeyaro | PNG | 3 |
| Siliva Havili | TON | 2 |
| Junior Paulo | SAM | 2 |
| Daniel Alvaro | ITA | 2 |
| Nelson Asofa-Solomona | NZ | 2 |
| Reagen Campbell-Gillard | AUS | 2 |
| Ashton Sims | FIJ | 2 |
| Frank Pritchard | SAM | 2 |
| Corey Makelim | USA | 2 |
| Josh Mansour | AUS | 2 |
| Elliott Whitehead | ENG | 2 |
| Danny Brough | SCO | 2 |
| Josh Dugan | AUS | 2 |
| Alex Twal | LEB | 2 |
| Marcelo Montoya | FIJ | 1 |
| Mark Minichello | ITA | 1 |
| Anthony Lahoun | FRA | 1 |
| Scott Grix | IRE | 1 |
| Joey Leilua | SAM | 1 |
| Mark Kheirallah | FRA | 1 |
| Jordan McLean | AUS | 1 |
| Lucas Albert | FRA | 1 |
| Tim Mannah | LEB | 1 |
| Kevin Naiqama | FIJ | 1 |
| Stargroth Amean | PNG | 1 |
| Fa’amanu Brown | SAM | 1 |
| Russell Packer | NZ | 1 |
