Dally M Awards
Encyclopedia
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League
competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal
which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players. As well as honouring the player of the year, awards are also given to the premier player in each position, the best coach, the best captain, representative player of the year and the most outstanding rookie of the season. The awards are named in honour of former Australian rugby league
great Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger
.
The awards were introduced in 1980 by News Limited
. Their journalists vote on the best performing players in each match on a 3, 2, 1 points system. The scores of the voting are visible to the public and media up until Round 16 of the NRL season. In 1998, following the merger of the Super League and the Australian Rugby League
(ARL), the awards became the official awards of the newly formed National Rugby League
. Prior to 1998, the official award of the game was voted on by the referees and were known as the Rothmans Medal
from 1968–1996 and the Nokia Provan-Summons Medal in 1997.
Between 1980 and 1996, when both the Dally M Medal and Rothmans Medal were awarded, the same player won both awards on only three occasions - Peter Sterling
in 1987, Gavin Miller
in 1989 and Ricky Stuart
in 1993.
In 1997, when the game was split between the News Limited-organized Super League
competition and the ARL, News Limited did not hold the awards.
The only other time the awards night has not been held was in 2003, following a dispute with the Rugby League Players Association. After the players had threatened to boycott the event unless the NRL met their demands, the NRL cancelled the Dally M awards two days prior to the ceremony. Brad Fittler
would have been named player of the year had the awards not been cancelled.
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players. As well as honouring the player of the year, awards are also given to the premier player in each position, the best coach, the best captain, representative player of the year and the most outstanding rookie of the season. The awards are named in honour of former Australian rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
great Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
.
The awards were introduced in 1980 by News Limited
News Limited
News Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The publicly listed company's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, Pay TV, National Rugby League, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television production trading assets.News Limited...
. Their journalists vote on the best performing players in each match on a 3, 2, 1 points system. The scores of the voting are visible to the public and media up until Round 16 of the NRL season. In 1998, following the merger of the Super League and the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
(ARL), the awards became the official awards of the newly formed National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. Prior to 1998, the official award of the game was voted on by the referees and were known as the Rothmans Medal
Rothmans Medal
The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
from 1968–1996 and the Nokia Provan-Summons Medal in 1997.
Between 1980 and 1996, when both the Dally M Medal and Rothmans Medal were awarded, the same player won both awards on only three occasions - Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
in 1987, Gavin Miller
Gavin Miller
Gavin John Miller is an Australian former rugby league footballer who at his peak was regarded as the most dangerous attacking force in the NSWRL owing to his great ball skills...
in 1989 and Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
in 1993.
In 1997, when the game was split between the News Limited-organized Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
competition and the ARL, News Limited did not hold the awards.
The only other time the awards night has not been held was in 2003, following a dispute with the Rugby League Players Association. After the players had threatened to boycott the event unless the NRL met their demands, the NRL cancelled the Dally M awards two days prior to the ceremony. Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
would have been named player of the year had the awards not been cancelled.
Dally M Recent Results
- 2004 Dally M Awards2004 Dally M AwardsThe 2004 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 7 September 2004 at the Sydney Town Hall in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports. Warren Smith presided as Master of Ceremonies.-Dally M Player of the Year:Dally M Player of the Year...
- 2005 Dally M Awards2005 Dally M AwardsThe 2005 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 6 September 2005 at the Sydney Town Hall in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports. Warren Smith presided as Master of Ceremonies.-Dally M Player of the Year:Dally M Player of the Year...
- 2006 Dally M Awards
- 2007 Dally M Awards
- 2008 Dally M Awards
- 2009 Dally M Awards2009 Dally M AwardsThe 2009 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at the State Theatre in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal-Player of the Year:Dally M Player of the Year-Player votes tally :-Dally M Awards:...
- 2010 Dally M Awards2010 Dally M AwardsThe 2010 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 7 September 2010 at the State Theatre in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal:The Dally M Medallion was presented by former Australian rugby league player, Robert Laurie....
- 2011 Dally M Awards2011 Dally M AwardsThe 2011 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 6 September 2011 at the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal:The Dally M Medallion was presented by former Australian rugby league player, Robert Laurie....
See also
- Dally M MedalDally M MedalThe Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
- List of Dally M Awards Winners
- National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...