NRL Dally M medal awards 2024: ‘Goosebumps’ as haka steals show

The Dally M Medal came down to a fight between Jahrome Hughes and James Tedesco and was capped by a surprise performance.

Jahrome Hughes, you star.

The 2024 Dally M Awards night has been run and won in Sydney, with the glamour event of the NRL calendar coming down to just one vote.

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Just like last year, a Kiwi was the red hot favourite to win the award, with the Storm halfback Hughes expected to take the top honour.

Unlike last year, that formguide rang true this time around, 12 months after Kalyn Ponga pipped raging favourite Shaun Johnson in the final round.

In a thrilling count on Wednesday night, both Hughes and Roosters veteran James Tedesco polled a maximum six points for best on ground in the final round 27 matches.

Jahrome and Molly Hughes at the 2024 Dally M Awards. Picture: NewsWire / Christian Gilles

But Hughes’ earlier form meant he claimed the award on 62 points, just one ahead of Tedesco, leading to an impromptu haka by some of Hughes’ countrymen and fellow NRL stars.

The 29-year-old Hughes also overcame an earlier controversy, when he moved to the top of the leaderboard before being docked six points for a round two suspension.

Daly Cherry-Evans was a distant third on 51 points, while there were also a load of other honours handed out on the night, including coach, team, try and tackle of the year.

Read how it all unfolded below.

Originally published as NRL Dally M medal awards 2024: ‘Goosebumps’ as haka steals show