Western Suburbs coach Matt Lantry reckons it's a touch of "class" that sets halfback Luke Walsh above the rest.
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And at the midway point of the 2019 Newcastle Rugby League season, the player of the year points tally also has Walsh ahead of the pack.
The former NRL and English Super League pivot has accumulated 15 points, including another maximum three on Sunday, from seven outings and Wests still have a game in hand.
"He just has those class touches," Lantry said.
"One of the highlights for me was against Souths, when he knocked over a field goal late to make sure we couldn't get beat.
"This came after having a hand in both tries before that. And we'd been behind.
"It's those key moments when he knows what needs to take place."
Walsh, who turned 32 last month, sits five clear of his nearest rival in Cessnock's Steve Waetford (10). Central's Brad Murray (8), Souths' Ryan Glanville and Maitland's Geordie Connelly (7) round out the top five.
Lantry thinks Walsh still has improvement left in him this campaign.
"He [Walsh] reckons he has been a bit off by his standards and can be better in the second half of the year," Lantry said.
Three of the previous four winners of the prestigious prize - Adam Clydsdale (2018), Ryan Walker (2017) and Chris Adams (2015) - have NRL experience.
PLAYER OF YEAR: Luke Walsh 15; Steve Waetford 10; Brad Murray 8; Geordie Connelly, Ryan Glanville 7.
