Yvonne Sampson, Lara Pitt, Jessica Yates and Hannah Hollis to host prestigious Dally M Awards

WHAT’S THE BUZZ I: For the first time rugby league’s prestigious Dally M Awards will be hosted by female presenters, led by Yvonne Sampson.

Lara Pitt, Yvonne Sampson, Jess Yates and Hannah Hollis will host the Dally M Awards. Picture: Toby Zerna

FOR the first time rugby league’s prestigious Dally M Awards will be hosted by female presenters with the team from Fox Sports’ League Life program compering the gala black-tie presentation in grand final week.

Yvonne Sampson, Lara Pitt, Jessica Yates and Hannah Hollis will present their weekly show from the red carpet at The Star before taking the stage to present the awards in an honour previously reserved for male broadcasters.

Sampson will MC the evening while other members of the League Life panel conduct interviews and present awards.

The NRL’s Head of Commercial Andrew Abdo said the girls had been asked to head the awards because they know the game backwards.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Saint, sinner, shoosh

Lara Pitt, Yvonne Sampson, Jess Yates and Hannah Hollis will host the Dally M Awards. Picture: Toby Zerna

“League Life has been a revelation this year … and that’s because the panellists are authentic and know their rugby league,” he said.

“So we can’t think of anyone better placed to head up the awards.

The Dallys are more than just an awards ceremony … they are a way of thanking everyone who has contributed to the success of the season.

“That includes the partners of the players and people like Yvonne, Lara, Jess and Hannah who have given a new perspective to rugby league this year.

“We are an inclusive game and we are always looking for ways to attract even more people to follow rugby league so we think the League Life team are ideal to head up the year’s biggest awards night.”

The NRL is confident all players will attend despite earlier threats by the RLPA to boycott the event.