The NRL’s and NRLW’s best gather in Sydney tonight to crown rugby league’s biggest stars at the Dally M Awards.
Here is what you need to know.
What time is the Dally M ceremony?
The NRL’s Dally M Awards ceremony will start at 6:30pm AEST at The Cutaway in Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour.
Players are set to start arriving on the red carpet at 5:30pm.
How can I watch?
Wednesday’s ceremony will be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.
ABC Sport will be live-blogging the red carpet and the vote count.
Who are the Dally M favourites?
Brisbane Broncos fullback Tamika Upton is favoured to win her third women’s award in four years, while Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is the frontrunner for the men’s award, which would be his first.
Cleary, who is in hospital after surgery on his badly broken leg, and Upton led the men’s and women’s counts before voting went behind closed doors earlier in the season.
Cleary led with 38 points after round 12. Warriors prop Jackson Ford was his closest competitor on 35, but suffered a pectoral injury in round 16 and missed the rest of the regular season.
Cleary’s next closest competitors are a trio of fullbacks — Penrith’s Dylan Edwards (32), North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater (29) and defending winner James Tedesco (27) of the Roosters.
Upton had 12 points from four NRLW games when voting became secret and faces tough competition from Roosters playmaker Tarryn Aiken (11), Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher (11), Brisbane halfback Jesse Southwell (10) and rugby sevens star turned Titans five-eighth Teagan Levi (9).
Players can earn a maximum of six points per game, so margins can be closed or extended quickly.
Who are the previous Dally M medallists?
| Year | Men | Women* |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | James Tedesco | Tamika Upton |
| 2024 | Jahrome Hughes | Olivia Kernick |
| 2023 | Kalyn Ponga | Tamika Upton |
| 2022 | Nicho Hynes | Raecene McGregor |
| 2021 | Tom Trbojevic | Millie Boyle, Emma Tonegato |
| 2020 | Jack Wighton | Ali Brigginshaw |
| 2019 | James Tedesco | Jessica Sergis |
| 2018 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | Brittany Breayley |
*Before the start of the NRLW in 2018 the best female player was awarded the game’s top international women’s player.
What other awards will be handed out?
There will be NRL and NRLW Team of the Year named, highlighting the leagues’ best in each position, as well as:
- Rookie of the Year
- Captain of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Try of the Year
- Tackle of the Year
The Ken Stephen Medal and Veronica White Medal will also be awarded to the men’s and women’s players who made the biggest contribution to their rugby league communities.
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