Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo crowned joint Dally M medallists
THEY couldn’t be more different: the hulking Jason Taumalolo and the diminutive Cooper Cronk. But they were the same as they tied for the Dally M crown. FULL WRAP UP OF LEAGUE’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS.
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THEY are the NRL’s odd couple who couldn’t be separated.
At a glittering function inside The Star , Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk and North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo were crowned joint Dally M Medallists.
Cronk stands just 178cms tall and weighs only 89kgs. The colossal Taumalolo is 191cms tall and weighs a hulking 113kgs.
They certainly appear different on the playing field but last night they looked just the same — with Dally M Medals draped around their necks.
Cronk and Taumalolo polled 26 points — four clear of their nearest rivals — to secure the prestige award.
Taumalolo becomes the first running forward to win since Cronulla’s Gavin Miller back in 1989. This was Cronk’s second Dally M Medal after his 2013 success.
“I have mixed emotions at the moment. If anything, I am more grateful to my teammates,” said Taumalolo.
“What better way to share the award than with the great man himself.
“I just try to run hard — that’s my game plan every game and I don’t think it will change for a few years. I am just as surprised as everyone else is in this room.”
Cronk added: “I said to Jason that I hoped to share it with him. It’s just a privilege to be associated with Dally Messenger on a night like this. It’s a humbling honour to stand here and share it with a guy ... I know a lot of kids who play junior rugby league aspire to be Johnathan Thurston and the guys that score the tries but there’s a lot of kids that want to be like Jason Taumalolo.”
“All my good times and good memories are because of Melbourne Storm.”
It is only the second time in Dally M history there have been joint winners — the other coming two years ago when Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston finished level.
Thurston and Melbourne’s Cam Smith finished equal runners-up on 22 points. Victory would have given Thurston his fifth Dally M Medal.
Gold Coast’s Ryan James and Brisbane’s Anthony Milford finished next, together on 19 points.
Late movers included Wests Tigers star Mitchell Moses — who moved from 15th to seventh over the closing rounds — and Penrith’s Matt Moylan, who stormed home from 35th place into ninth. The early favourite, Canberra’s Josh Hodgson, finished equal seventh on 18 points.
Cronk’s victory comes as the Storm halfback prepares for Sunday’s grand final against Cronulla at ANZ Stadium.
North Queensland has now supplied the past three winners — Taumalolo this year and Thurston the previous two seasons.
Cronk and Taumalolo were equal leaders on 16 points — along with Smith and James — when closing went private after round 16.
Taumalolo now joins some of the greatest players ever to claim the Dally M, including Thurston, Hayne, Smith, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater, Danny Buderus, Allan Langer, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Cliff Lyons, Peter Sterling, Greg Alexander, Terry Lamb, Steve Rogers and Ray Price.
Many thought Hodgson would become the first Englishman to win the award. He led early and Canberra finished the season strong but he was overrun by rugby league’s elite. A round 23 suspension — where he was deducted three Dally M points — damaged his chances. He also missed the chance to poll more points during his one game suspension.
Taumalolo played every game this season for North Queensland, powering for 160 running metres each match. He is a human rhino.
A who’s who of rugby league walked the red carpet at last night’s black-tie event. The Dally M Medal is rugby league’s most prestigious and sought-after individual award.
Some of the greatest players ever are judges with players having fought for the award since its inception back in 1980. Through winning the major gong, Cronk was also halfback of the year, Taumalolo lock of the year.
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Originally published as Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo crowned joint Dally M medallists
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