AFB doubles up at Dally M awards

One New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake was last night named in the Dally M Team of the Year for the second time running.

The 28-year-old Mate Ma’a Tonga captain capped his fourth and final campaign at the club with another outstanding season.

Canberra’s Joseph Tapine was named as the other prop ahead of Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota along with Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins.

Named the players’ player of the year at the One New Zealand Warriors’ annual awards last month, Fonua-Blake and Warriors teammate Mitchell Barnett were both selected as the props in the RLPA’s Players’ Dream Team as voted by players from across the NRL.

Just days out from the NRL grand final, Melbourn's Kiwi halfback Jahrome Hughes was crowned the 2024 Dally M Medallist, winning by a solitary point over Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco.

While Tedesco fell just short, fellow Sydney Rooster Olivia Kernick won the women's Dally M Player of the Year award.

Kernick, who like Hughes is just days away from a grand final performance, earned 22 points, shading Parramatta's Abbi Church (20 points) and Gold Coast's Lauren Brown (20 points).

Fullback |James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)Wing | Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)Centre | Stephen Crichton (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)Centre | Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)Wing | Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)Standoff | Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)Halfback | Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm)Prop | Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)Hooker | Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)Prop | Addin Fonua-Blake (One New Zealand Warriors)Second row | Angus Crichton (Sydney Rooster)Second row | Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)Loose forward | Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)