League supporters have shown strong support for Melbourne to remain in the NRL, but their love doesn't spread to controversial figure Willie Mason or the Bulldogs.
In a Big League poll to be published today, more than 70 per cent of fans insist the Storm should stay in Melbourne, despite calls
for the club to relocate as part of a proposed 16th NRL franchise.
Bulldogs forward Mason was judged the most disliked player in the NRL, attracting 20.5 per cent of the vote ahead of Manly bad boy John Hopoate (15.7 per cent) and errant Sydney Roosters centre Justin Hodges (12.7 per cent).
The Bulldogs (23.6 per cent) are the most hated team in the competition, edging out the Roosters (23.2 per cent), who were also clear-cut favourites to win the grand final with more than 37 per cent of votes ahead of Brisbane (16.2 per cent) and St George Illawarra (16.1 per cent).
Storm chief executive Frank Stanton said it was encouraging to see league fans supported the game's development in AFL heartland Victoria.
"Hopefully, this will go some way to silencing those people that assume the public don't want a team in Melbourne.
"We know that is simply not the case and these figures illustrate that."
More than 80 percent of fans surveyed called for an expansion of the NRL, with the Gold Coast the preferred choice for a 16th team over Central Coast and Wellington.
Brisbane five-eighth Darren Lockyer (44.5 per cent) was voted the best player in the NRL, ahead of Newcastle captain Andrew Johns (23 per cent) and Sydney Roosters pivot Brad Fittler (8.5 per cent).
Best emerging talent went to Broncos teenager Karmichael Hunt (43.5 per cent) who polled well better than Melbourne fullback Billy Slater (17.9 per cent) and Wests Tigers utility Benji Marshall (10 per cent).
Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett (32 per cent) was voted best NRL coach, way ahead of Sydney's Ricky Stuart (19.9 per cent) and Doggies coach Steve Folkes (11.7 per cent).
