Al the glitz and glam from the 2021 Dally M Awards red carpet

There was no lack of glam on the red carpet this year despite the 2021 Dally M Awards being a stripped-back affair.

There was no lack of glam on the red carpet this year despite the 2021 Dally M Awards being a stripped-back affair.

It was touch and go up until the last minute as to what the red carpet would look like in a Covid-safe world. However, the show went on with the partners of our top players in the sport on show at rugby league’s night of nights at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves’ Rivershed.

The annual Dally M Awards are where the top male and female in the sport are honoured for their performances over the season.

Designer Nicky Apostolopoulos, of Velani by Nicky, dressed several of the women, including Courtney Cook, Miranda Cross and Kelly Turner.

They are the partners of Rabbitohs players Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai respectively and acccesorised their looks with the latest Oscar De La Renta by Pierre Winter and Olga Berg handbags.

Daly Cherry-Evans alongside Vessa Rokliff. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Reuben Garrick and Riley Wishart. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Isaiah Papali'i of the Eels. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sam Walker and Bella Allan. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Velani explained that due to border closures and the fact the details on who would be able to attend the awards were up in the air until the last minute, preparations were more difficult than usual.

Some women, she said, received their invites mid to late last week.

“We opted for a chic, sophisticated look for the red carpet in dramatic red and black,” Apostolopoulos told Confidential.

“Corsetted bustiers, high splits, and an oversized sequined bow were some of the details on the gowns I created. More generally on the Dally M’s red carpet, we’ve seen a lot of colour because, well, it has been a tough two years and why wouldn’t you want to make a statement by standing out?”

Jason Saab of the Sea Eagles, Jake Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles and Ben Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Tom Trbojevic and Kristi Wilkinson. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Due to the late notice, many of the guests sourced their outfits from local Brisbane boutiques.

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella has in previous years dressed many of the players and their partners for the awards night.

This year, being based in Sydney, he will be watching from afar.

“The Dally M’s are of course all about the NRL players, the men and women that take to the field through the season, but it is also an amazing night for all the partners to have their moment on the red carpet,” Galella said.

“This is the first big red carpet in Australia in a long time, so I think the guests will be going all out glam. Lots of the partners only found out about the Dally Ms while in the QLD hotel quarantine, so preparations this year are a little different. I was excited though to see the glamour unfold on the red carpet.”

Reuben Garrick’s girlfriend, Riley Wishart said the couple only found out last week the Dally M Awards were going ahead.

“I literally came up with nothing, I bought this two days ago,” she said of her dress.

The carpet wasn’t without a touch of drama with Wishhart accidentally standing on Tom Trbjovec’s partner Kristi Wilkinson’s dress and almost causing a huge rip in the garment.

Upbeat after the fashion crisis was averted, Wilkinson rated her partner’s season an 11 out of 10.

“We got told about a week ago, we weren’t really prepared but it’s all come together and it’s really good to be here,” she said of the awards going ahead.

Cameron Munster wore a fabulous Scotch and Soda suit, although he said it was a friend of Craig Bellamy’s that actually chose the outfit.

He said: “Nah, he’s got a bit of a quirky taste ... so yeah he’s the one that picked it out for me”.