Big voting changes set to shake up Dally M race as thrilling count ...

27 Sep 2023

Fox Sports

Shaun Johnson will look to cap his stunning career renaissance by winning the Dally M Medal awarded to the NRL’s player of the year on rugby league’s night of nights on Wednesday.

The Warriors playmaker is the favourite to win the NRL’s top male individual honour but could face stiff competition from the likes of Payne Haas, Nathan Cleary, Harry Grant and Kalyn Ponga.

Haas was leading the Dally M race when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12, however a six-game points deduction for a suspension will hurt his chances of winning the award.

There have been several changes to the Dally M voting process for the main awards and the team of the year and it could make for some high drama. Read below for more information and follow all the action live as the NRL and NRLW awards are presented from 8pm AEST tonight.

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NRL AWARDS AND NOMINEES

COACH: Kevin Walters (Broncos), Andrew Webster (Warriors), Ivan Cleary (Panthers)

CAPTAIN: Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

ROOKIE: Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), William Warbrick (Storm), Sunia Turuva (Panthers)

TEAM OF THE YEAR

FULLBACK: James Tedesco (Roosters), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

WINGERS: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Brian To’o (Panthers), Dominic Young (Knights), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)

CENTRES: Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Bradman Best (Knights), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Izack Tago (Panthers)

FIVE-EIGHTH: Ezra Mam (Broncos), Cameron Munster (Storm), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

HALFBACK: Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

HOOKER: Wayde Egan (Warriors), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Harry Grant (Storm)

PROPS: Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Payne Haas (Broncos), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)

BACK ROWERS: Liam Martin (Panthers), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles), David Fifita (Titans), Hudson Young (Raiders)

LOCK: Tohu Harris (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

TRY OF THE YEAR

TACKLE OF THE YEAR

THE FORMAT

The big change in the Dally M voting process this year — for both men and women — has been two independent judges handing out six points each per game on a 3-2-1 basis, rather than just one.

It could mean that a player who is five votes behind in the final round of the NRL regular season could somehow overtake the leader if they manage to pull in six votes.

Judges will also vote for their best player in each respective position throughout the season, deciding who is named in the team of the year, as opposed to previous seasons where positional awards were determined by the Dally M count.

The exception, however, is that if a player comes in the top three of the overall leaderboard, they automatically earn selection in their respective position.

Players who are suspended for two or more games also become ineligible to earn a Dally M nomination, ruling out the likes of Reece Walsh, Scott Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes this year.

HOW TO WATCH

The 2023 Dally M Awards will take place in Sydney tonight from 8pm AEST. Rugby league fans will be able to catch all the action from the sport’s night of nights LIVE on Kayo Sports.

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MEN’S DALLY M LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 12

Payne Haas 30

Nathan Cleary 27

Harry Grant 25

Nicho Hynes 25

Reece Walsh 24

Latrell Mitchell 23

Ben Hunt 22

Cody Walker 22

Dylan Edwards 22

Shaun Johnson 22

Payne Haas led the Dally M Medal tally at the end of Round 12 before the votes became private. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

PREVIOUS MEN’S DALLY M WINNERS

2022 Nicho Hynes

2021 Tom Trbojevic

2020 Jack Wighton

2019 James Tedesco

2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

2017 Cameron Smith

2016 Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo

2015 Johnathan Thurston

2014 Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston

2013 Cooper Cronk

2012 Ben Barba