South Sydney captain Cameron Murray believes Jye Gray is capable of winning the Dally M in his first full year as South Sydney fullback, in a ringing endorsement of the new Rabbitohs No.1.
Gray will officially become Souths' first-choice fullback against the Dolphins on Sunday, as part of a backline reshuffle that will allow Latrell Mitchell move to centre.
AAP conducted a survey of captains at this year's NRL launch on their favoured player for the Dally M Medal, with Nathan Cleary the most popular pick.
But Murray was unequivocal in his praise of Gray, making the 21-year-old his Dally M selection.
"He impressed me last year, so it's based off that," Murray told AAP.
"He made it as easy as it could be to sit on the sidelines injured and watch last year, the way he was holding himself and representing the club.
"I was just so impressed by him. He's one of the players that I'm really keen with to share the field this year."
The Rabbitohs' backline shake up will give them the most potent try-scoring edge in history, with the left side of Cody Walker, David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston having 480 tries among them.
It also gives Gray the opportunity to take his chance at the back, having even led the Dally M count after six rounds last year when he wore the No.1 before Mitchell's return from injury.
"He played his heart out," Murray said.
"He's just a young kid, a lot of enthusiasm and wanted to represent himself and his teammates as good as he could.
"I don't have enough raps for him for what he did last year. So, hopefully he can do the same."
Murray said he was not concerned that the extra hype would impact Gray, who now has 32 games at the top level.
"The form he showed and the pressure and the expectation that he dealt with last year has proven he handles the NRL scene fine," Murray said.
"All he has to do now is be consistent in how he's handled himself. And he's shown the talent and the effort that he can produce in the field.
"He's been the same Jye Gray we have known for the last couple of years.
"He's a pretty switched-on guy. He's got a good head on his shoulders and doesn't let too much distract him."
