Legendary Tigers fullback Garry Jack has slammed the shock snubbing of boom youngster Jahream Bula at last night's Dally M awards.
Bula was hot favourite to win the rookie of the year award after a superb maiden season at the back of a terrible Tigers team.
But he was pipped by Panthers winger Sunia Turuva in one of the biggest surprises on a controversial night.
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"As an old Tigers fullback myself, I honestly don't know what more Bula could have done," Jack told Wide World of Sports.
"I was just so impressed with the kid, he came from nowhere and wasn't just scoring and setting up tries.
"He was saving tries regularly, and when you are playing in the worst defensive side in the comp, that's not easy to do because they are coming at you every week."
Jack also questioned Turuva's qualifications to be classed as a rookie. The 21-year-old winger debuted for the Panthers in 2022 but remained eligible for the Dally M Rookie of the Year award under the criteria due to the fact that he played less than five first grade games last year.
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"He played a few first grade games last season… he played Test football for Fiji last season… how is he a rookie?" Jack asked.
"A rookie is a rookie – he should be ineligible.
"And he was playing on the end of the best backline in the comp – scoring tries in that Penrith team isn't hard."
Jack was also baffled by the major award winner, Kalyn Ponga, arguing Shaun Johnson should have taken out the top gong.
"He's a terrific player but missed a fair chunk of the season through injury," he said.
"Shaun Johnson was terrific for the Warriors every week and the game he didn't poll and points in late in the season, he was superb."
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