2022 Dally M Medal: Preview, favoured contenders and how to watch

A highlight of NRL Grand Final week is the Dally M Medal awarded to the player judged the competition’s best. Scroll down for preview and how to watch rugby league’s night of nights on Wednesday. Scroll down for more.

David Gavin

2 min read

September 28, 2022 - 3:25PM

Tom Trbojevic won the men’s Dally M last year. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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Men’s Dally M Medal

Introduced in 1979 by News Corp and initially voted on by journalists up until 1998 when the Dally M Awards were introduced.

What are the other awards?

Women’s Dally M Award
Provan-Summons Medal (People’s Choice)
Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Captain of the Year
Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year
Ken Irvine Medal for Top Try-scorer
Top Point-scorer
Try of the Year
Tackle of the Year

Alex Johnston’s 30 tries during the 25 regular season rounds will be recognised on Wednesday night. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Who is the reigning Men’s Dally M Medallist?

Tom Trbojevic.

The Manly fullback’s 2022 season was ended prematurely in May with a dislocated shoulder. He was five votes clear of Nathan Cleary last year.

Trbojevic leaves the field in round 11 during May. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Vote count before going “behind closed doors”

The medal count goes behind closed door after 12 rounds of the competition. This is how it stood then in May:

Ben Hunt – 19 points

Isaah Yeo – 17

Nicho Hynes – 16

Mitchell Moses – 15

Ryan Papenhuyzen – 15

Full leaderboard. The case for all contenders here.

St George Illawarra’s Ben Hunt led the count when the count went behind closed doors. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

When are the Dally M Awards?

Wednesday 28 September starting at 7.30pm (AEST), 7pm (ACST) and 5.30pm (AWST).

Where are the Dally Ms?

Randwick Racecourse, Sydney.

Reigning Women’s Dally M Medal winners?

Millie Boyle (then Brisbane Broncos) and Emma Tonegato (St George Illawarra) became the first joint winners at the standalone women’s event for the NRLW catch-up 2021 season held earlier this year.

Boyle and Tonegato with their Dally M medals in April. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Past 10 winners of the Men’s Dally M

2021 – Tom Trbojevic

2020 – Jack Wighton

2019 – James Tedesco

2018 – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

2017 – Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith with his medal in 2017. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

2016 – Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo

2015 – Johnathan Thurston

2014 – Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne

2013 – Cooper Cronk

2012 – Ben Barba

Thurston won the Dally M Medal on four occasions (2005, 2007, 2014 and 2015). Andrew Johns is the only man that can rival his record at present with three in 1998, 1999 and 2002.

Follow the count live here.

Thurston won his fourth and final Dally M in 2015. Picture: Cameron Laird/Getty Images

Why no medal in 2003?

The medal was not awarded in 2003 due to an industrial dispute between the Rugby League Players’ Association and the National Rugby League over wages. The 1997 Super League war also prevented the medal from being awarded that year.

2003 premiership winner with Penrith, Craig Gower, was heavily favoured to win that year. Picture: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Past winners of Women’s Dally M

2021 – Millie Boyle and Emma Tonegato

2020 – Ali Brigginshaw

2019 – Jess Sergis

2018 – Brittany Breayley-Nati

2017 – Jenni-Sue Hopper

2016 – Kezie Apps

2015 – Simaima Taufa

How does it work?

Each match is awarded votes 3-2-1 by a Dally M judge assigned by the NRL for each match of the 25 rounds. The judges are some of the game’s best players of the past which have included Andrew Johns, Greg Alexander and Darren Lockyer.

Follow the count live here.