View source for Dally M Medal

{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{infobox award
| name           = Dally M Medal
| current_awards = 2024 Dally M Awards
| image          = 
| imagesize      = 150px
| caption        = 
| awarded_for    = The [[Player of the year]] in the [[National Rugby League]]
| presenter      = 
| country        = Australia
| year           = 1979
| year2          = 
| holder        = {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Jahrome Hughes]] (2024)
| most_awards  =  {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[Johnathan Thurston]]<br>(2005, 2007, 2014, 2015)
| network        = [[Fox Sports Australia|Fox Sports]]
}}

The '''Dally M Medal''' is awarded each year (annually) to the player voted for as the '[[Player of the year]]' over the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) regular season. The awards are named in honour of Australian former [[rugby league]] great [[Dally Messenger|Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger]]. The award has existed since 1979, but has only been adopted as the official award for the Player of the Year in the NRL since 1998. Prior to that the official Player of the Year, in both the [[New South Wales Rugby League|New South Wales]] and the [[Brisbane Rugby League]]s, received the '''[[Rothmans Medal]]''' whilst the Dally M Medal was awarded by the ''[[The Daily Mirror (Sydney)|Daily Mirror]]'' newspaper.

==Voting==
After each game, rugby league sports commentators vote to award three votes to the best player, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player. Additionally, a player will lose three votes for each week of suspension that he incurs during the season. The votes for each round are made public up to Round 12 (26-round season), then are kept secret; this allows the final winner to be kept secret until the [[Dally M Awards]] ceremony.

==History==
===Rothmans Medal===
{{Main|Rothmans Medal}}
The Rothmans Medal was the first official player-of-the-year award to be established in rugby league in Australia. The medal was sponsored by [[Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.]], a tobacco production company. There were two Rothmans Medals awarded each year: one for the best player in the [[New South Wales Rugby League]], and one for the best player in the [[Brisbane Rugby League]]. The voting for the Rothmans Medal was the same basic format as the modern day Dally M, except that the votes were determined by the referees, rather than the media.

The two Rothmans Medals were first awarded in 1968, and were awarded each year until 1996. In 1997, the Rothmans Medal in New South Wales became known as the Provan-Summons medal, because all tobacco advertising and sponsorship was prohibited in Australia in 1992, under the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992; the medal then disappeared altogether in 1998 with the merger of the [[Australian Rugby League]] and the [[Super League (Australia)|Australian Super League]]. The Queensland Rothmans Medal was also last awarded in 1996, as the [[Queensland Cup]] superseded the [[Brisbane Rugby League]] as Queensland's premier rugby league competition in 1997.

===Dally M Medal===
The Dally M Medal was named after [[Dally Messenger|Henry Herbert 'Dally' Messenger]], who was instrumental in the establishment of rugby league football in Australia. The award was originally established by ''[[The Daily Mirror (Australia)|The Daily Mirror]]'' newspaper in 1979. For many years, it was the second major individual award in the New South Wales Rugby League behind the Rothmans Medal. It was awarded each year between 1979 and 1996. With the Super League [[:wikt:schism|schism]] in 1997, the medal was not awarded.

Since the National Rugby League (NRL) was formed from the merger of the Australian Rugby League and the Australian Super League in 1998, the Dally M Medal has been the single official player-of-the-year award for that league, and the highest individual honour in Australian rugby league. The medal is awarded, usually by the [[Australian Prime Minister]], at the annual Dally M Awards night where as well as honouring the player of the year, the NRL recognises the premier player in each position, the best coach and the most outstanding rookie of the season.

The medal was notably not awarded in 2003, with the players association threatening to boycott the event during a pay dispute with the league. This backfired badly on the players, with the league responding by swiftly cancelling the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-09-04/accusations-fly-as-nrl-cancels-dally-m-awards/1474666|title=Accusations fly as NRL cancels Dally M awards|work=ABC News |location=Australia|access-date=15 August 2011 |date=5 September 2003}}</ref> Penrith's [[Craig Gower]], who led by one vote entering the final round and was unofficially considered [[man of the match]] in the final round, is the player thought to have missed out on winning the award as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefanatics.com/sports.news.view.php?id=19987|first=Daniel|last=Pace|title=Freddie backs players' stance|access-date=27 November 2011|date=9 September 2003|publisher=The Fanatics}}</ref>

== Dally M Medal winners ==
{| class="wikitable"
| style="background-color:#CFECEC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em" |
|Denotes player who is still active in the NRL
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em" |
|Inducted into the [[National Rugby League Hall of Fame]]
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em" |
|Denotes player whose team won premiership that year
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" summary="Season (sortable), Player (sortable), Position (sortable), Nationality (sortable) and Team (sortable)"
! scope="col" |Season
! scope="col" |Player
! scope="col" |Position
! scope="col" |Team
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[NSWRFL season 1979|1979]]
|[[Steve Morris (rugby league)|Steve Morris]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:St. George colours.svg|16x16px]] [[St George Dragons]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1980|1980]]
|[[Robert Laurie (rugby league)|Robert Laurie]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1981|1981]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]]
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[NSWRFL season 1982|1982]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Ray Price (rugby league)|Ray Price]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Parramatta Eels]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1983|1983]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Terry Lamb]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs Magpies|16}} [[Western Suburbs Magpies]]
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[NSWRL season 1984|1984]]
|[[Michael Potter]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1985|1985]]
|[[Greg Alexander]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Penrith Panthers]]
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[NSWRL season 1986|1986]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Parramatta Eels]] (2)
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1987|1987]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]] (2)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Parramatta Eels]] (3)
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1988|1988]]
|[[Gavin Miller]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] (2)
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1989|1989]]
|[[Gavin Miller]] (2)
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] (3)
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1990|1990]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cliff Lyons]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1991|1991]]
|[[Michael Potter]] (2)
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:St. George colours.svg|16x16px]] [[St George Dragons]] (2)
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1992|1992]]
|[[Gary Freeman (rugby league)|Gary Freeman]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs Roosters]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1993|1993]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Ricky Stuart]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} [[Canberra Raiders]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1994|1994]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cliff Lyons]] (2)
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] (2)
|-
|[[Australian Rugby League season 1995|1995]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Laurie Daley]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} [[Canberra Raiders]] (2)
|-
|[[Australian Rugby League season 1996|1996]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Allan Langer]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Brisbane Broncos]]
|-
|[[1998 NRL season|1998]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Andrew Johns]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Newcastle Knights]]
|-
|[[1999 NRL season|1999]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Andrew Johns]] (2)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Newcastle Knights]] (2)
|-
|[[2000 NRL season|2000]]
|[[Trent Barrett]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:St. George colours.svg|16x16px]] [[St George Illawarra Dragons]]
|-
|[[2001 NRL season|2001]]
|[[Preston Campbell]]
|{{Rlp|HB|FB}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] (4)
|-
|[[2002 NRL season|2002]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Andrew Johns]] (3)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Newcastle Knights]] (3)
|-
|[[2003 NRL season|2003]]
| colspan="3" |''Not awarded due to industrial action''
|-
|[[2004 Dally M Awards|2004]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Danny Buderus]]
|{{Rlp|HK}}
|[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Newcastle Knights]] (4)
|-
|[[2005 Dally M Awards|2005]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Johnathan Thurston]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16x16px]] [[North Queensland Cowboys]]
|-
|[[2006 Dally M Awards|2006]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Cameron Smith]]
|{{Rlp|HK}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]]
|-
|[[2007 Dally M Awards|2007]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Johnathan Thurston]] (2)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16x16px]] [[North Queensland Cowboys]] (2)
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[2008 Dally M Awards|2008]]
|[[Matt Orford]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] (3)
|-
|[[2009 Dally M Awards|2009]]
|[[Jarryd Hayne]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] (4)
|-
|[[2010 Dally M Awards|2010]]
|[[Todd Carney]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Sydney|16}} [[Sydney Roosters]] (2)
|-
|[[2011 Dally M Awards|2011]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Billy Slater]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] (2)
|-
|[[2012 Dally M Awards|2012]]
|[[Ben Barba]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] (2)
|-
|[[2013 Dally M Awards|2013]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cooper Cronk]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] (3)
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2014 Dally M Awards|2014]]
|[[Jarryd Hayne]] (2)
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] (5)
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Johnathan Thurston]] (3)
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16x16px]] [[North Queensland Cowboys]] (3)
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[2015 Dally M Awards|2015]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Johnathan Thurston]] (4)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16x16px]] [[North Queensland Cowboys]] (4)
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2016 Dally M Awards|2016]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cooper Cronk]] (2)
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] (4)
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Jason Taumalolo]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|[[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16x16px]] [[North Queensland Cowboys]] (5)
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[2017 Dally M Awards|2017]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99" |[[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Cameron Smith]] (2)
|{{Rlp|HK}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] (5)
|-
|[[2018 Dally M Awards|2018]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Roger Tuivasa-Sheck]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|16}} [[New Zealand Warriors]]
|-
| scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD" |[[2019 Dally M Awards|2019]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[James Tedesco]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Sydney|16}} [[Sydney Roosters]] (3)
|-
|[[2020 Dally M Awards|2020]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Jack Wighton]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} [[Canberra Raiders]] (3)
|-
|[[2021 Dally M Awards|2021]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Tom Trbojevic]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Manly|16}} [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] (4)
|-
|[[2022 Dally M Awards|2022]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Nicho Hynes]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] (5)
|-
|[[2023 Dally M Awards|2023]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Kalyn Ponga]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|16x16px]] [[Newcastle Knights]] (5)
|-
|[[2024 Dally M Awards|2024]]
| scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC" |[[Jahrome Hughes]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] (6)
|}

==Multiple winners==
The following players have won the Dally M Medal multiple times.

{| class="wikitable"
! Medals 
! Player 
! Team 
! Seasons
|-
! 4
| [[Johnathan Thurston]] 
| {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[North Queensland Cowboys]] 
| 2005, 2007, 2014, 2015
|-
! 3
| [[Andrew Johns]] || {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Newcastle Knights]] || 1998, 1999, 2002
|-
! rowspan="7" |2
| [[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]] || {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] || 1986, 1987
|-
| [[Gavin Miller]] || {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] || 1988, 1989
|-
| [[Michael Potter]] || {{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]], {{leagueicon|St George|16}} [[St George Dragons]] || 1984, 1991
|-
| [[Cliff Lyons]] || {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]] || 1990, 1994
|-
| [[Jarryd Hayne]] || {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] || 2009, 2014
|-
| [[Cooper Cronk]] || {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]] || 2013, 2016
|-
| [[Cameron Smith (rugby league, born 1983)|Cameron Smith]]
| {{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]]
|2006, 2017
|}

==Wins by Club==
{| class="wikitable"
! Medals 
! Team 
! Seasons
|-
!6
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} [[Melbourne Storm]]
|[[2006 Dally M Awards|2006]], [[2011 Dally M Awards|2011]], [[2013 Dally M Awards|2013]], [[2016 Dally M Awards|2016]], [[2017 Dally M Awards|2017]], [[2024 Dally M Awards|2024]]
|-
! rowspan="4" | 5
| {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} [[Parramatta Eels]] 
| 1982, 1986, 1987, 2009, 2014
|-
| {{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} [[North Queensland Cowboys]] 
| 2005, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016
|-
| {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} [[Cronulla Sutherland Sharks]] 
| 1981, 1988, 1989, 2001, 2022
|-
|{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} [[Newcastle Knights]]
|1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2023
|-
! 4
| {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} [[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] 
| 1990, 1994, 2008, 2021
|-
! rowspan="2" |3
| {{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|16}} [[Sydney Roosters]] 
| 1992, 2010, 2019
|-
|{{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} [[Canberra Raiders]]
|1993, 1995, 2020
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2
|{{leagueicon|St George|16}} [[St George Dragons]]
| 1979, 1991
|-
| 
{{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} [[Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs]] 
| 1984, 2012
|-
! rowspan="7" | 1
| {{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] 
| 1980
|-
| {{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16}} [[Western Suburbs Magpies]] 
| 1983
|-
|{{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} [[Penrith Panthers]]
|1985
|-
| {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]] 
| 1996
|-2
| {{leagueicon|St George|16}} [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] 
| 2000
|-
| {{leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|16}} [[New Zealand Warriors]]
| 2018
|}

* No award in 1997 and 2003
* Multiple winners in 2014 and 2016

== Venues and Broadcasters ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Broadcaster(s)
! Venue
|- 
| 2003
| No broadcaster
| Not held
|- 
| 2004
| [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]
| [[Sydney Town Hall]]
|- 
| 2005
| Fox Sports
| Sydney Town Hall
|- 
| 2006
| Fox Sports
| Sydney Town Hall
|- 
| 2007
| Fox Sports
| Sydney Town Hall
|- 
| 2008
| Fox Sports
| [[Hordern Pavilion]]
|- 
| 2009
| Fox Sports
| [[State Theatre (Sydney)|State Theatre]]
|-
| 2010 
| Fox Sports
| [[State Theatre (Sydney)|State Theatre]]
|-
| 2011
|Fox Sports 
| Royal Hall of Industries,<br>[[The Entertainment Quarter]]
|-
| 2012
| Fox Sports
| Sydney Town Hall
|-
| 2013
| Fox Sports
| [[The Star, Sydney|Star Casino]]
|-
| 2014
| Fox Sports
| Star Casino
|-
| 2015
| Fox Sports
| Star Casino
|-
| 2016
| Fox Sports
| Star Casino
|-
| 2017
| [[Fox League]]
| Star Casino
|-
| 2018
| Fox League
| [[Overseas Passenger Terminal]]
|-
| 2019
| Fox League
| Star Casino
|-
| 2020
| Fox League
| Virtual Ceremony
|-
| 2021
| Fox League
| Howard Smith Wharves, [[Brisbane]]
|-
| 2022
| Fox League
| [[Randwick Racecourse]], [[Sydney]]
|-
|2023
|Fox League
|[[Randwick Racecourse]], [[Sydney]]
|-
|2024
|Fox League
|[[Randwick Racecourse]], [[Sydney]]
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
*[[Dally M Awards]]
*[[Clive Churchill Medal]]
*[[Man of Steel Award]]
*[[Brownlow Medal]]

==References==
{{reflist|40em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081009071450/http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/award_winners.php Rothmans Medal at qrl.com.au]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025245/http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/aus/ausaward.htm#Dally%20M%20Awards Dally M Medla at hunterlink.net.au]

{{Dally M Awards}}
{{NRL}}
{{Rugby league in Australia}}

[[Category:Rugby league trophies and awards]]
[[Category:National Rugby League]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1980]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Australian sports trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Dally M Awards| ]]

[[fr:Dally M Medal]]