Will the Duane Monkley Medal affect the players?

Mitre 10 Cup players may start heeding their chats with the referees as the Duane Monkley Medal winner comes from their vote. Aaron Smith wouldn't change though. PHOTO/PHOTOSPORT.NZ

How many individual awards would Cristiano Ronaldo win if they were all determined by match officials? How about Cameron Smith? LeBron James? Aaron Smith? TJ Perenara?

Ronaldo in particular wouldn't be able to dive far enough to pick up an award and given his predilection for giving referees the old Sir Ben Ainslie "love-tap", he isn't exactly hot on their charts.

The Mitre 10 Cup has introduced the Duane Monkley Medal, their equivalent of the NRL's Dally M Medal and AFL's Brownlow Medal.

Named after the greatest player never to pull on an All Black jersey (a discussion for another time), the medal is given to the MVP of the Mitre 10 Cup as judged by the referees.

The Player of the Year awards will be determined by a season-points system, with match officials picking their players of the match awarding three points, two points and one point for the game's top three performers.

Previously the provincial player of the year has been determined at the end of the season by a judging panel but this year the onus falls on the continually maligned referees.

The Duane Monkley Medal will add another level of intrigue to an already exciting Mitre 10 Cup season. Whether they reveal the points after each week or wait until the end, pundits will keep a more watchful eye over who's the top player each game.

Could we be seeing the end of the garrulous halfback (at provincial level at least)?

It's in the job description for a halfback to be a nuisance. They have to be loud anyway as they marshal their troops but it rarely stops there.

Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara have turned talking into an art form. They're quick-witted, fast to frustration and would most likely be under some sort of list labelled "pests" hung up in the referee's changing room.

They are two of the premier halfbacks in the world - Smith is the best by some distance. Maybe it's that chat that propels him into the conversation of best halfbacks in a black jersey.

To go away from the base of the scrum, will the chance of an individual honour change the DNA of a player? Will we see more restraint from players chasing the medal?

Most, if not all, coaches would think and hope not. Rugby is a team game after all and you aren't going to get as many votes if your side isn't winning. If chatting to the ref elevates a player's game, a coach would not discourage it if it isn't affecting the team.

But there may be some players who change the way they talk to the referee.

They will be the few and proud, but they'll be there. Quietly working away a la Duane Monkley in his brilliant prime in the red, yellow and black.