Ultimate guide to Dally M Medal
Glitz, glam, frocks, shocks and the best players in rugby league. Everything you need to know about the 2019 Dally M Medal, all in one spot.
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Date: Wednesday October 2
Time: 8.30pm - 10pm
TV: Live on Fox League
Venue: Horden Pavilion, Moore Park, Sydney
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TEDESCO SET FOR FIRST DALLY M
The rise of the fullback is expected to continue on Wednesday night, with James Tedesco priced at a skinny $1.30 to win the Dally M Medal as the NRL’s best player.
It would make it back-to-back wins for fullbacks after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stormed the field in 2018, and would be the eighth time a No.1 has taken out Australian rugby league’s most prestigious individual award.
Of the top six contenders in line to take out the Dally M Award, only Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo ($21) does not play in the spine.
Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith ($4.25) is expected to be Tedesco’s biggest rival, while Warriors fullback Tuivasa-Sheck ($17) is a chance of going back-to-back.
Tedesco would become the latest in a long line of fullbacks to win the top gong, with Mick Potter (1984 and 1991), Jarryd Hayne (2009 and 2014), Billy Slater (2009), Ben Barba (2012) and Tuivasa-Sheck (2018) previous winners.
Preston Campbell also switched between fullback and halfback in his 2001 victory.
Smith is in contention to bag a hat-trick of Dally M wins after claiming the award in 2006 and 2017.
DALLY M BETTING (via TAB)
James Tedesco $1.30
Cameron Smith $4.25
Mitchell Moses $13
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $17
Cameron Munster $19
Jason Taumalolo $21
Mitchell Pearce $23
Damien Cook $26
DALLY M ROUND 12 LEADERBOARD
Mitchell Pearce 15
Cameron Munster 14
Damien Cook 14
Jason Taumalolo 12
Cameron Smith 12
James Tedesco 12
Mitchell Moses 11
Cody Walker 10
Clint Gutherson 10
Chad Townsend 10
Payne Haas 10
Sam Burgess 10
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 10
John Bateman 9
Cameron Murray 9
Siosiua Taukehaio 9
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 9
* Votes went behind closed doors after Round 12
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
News Corp Australia’s team of rugby league experts have put in their votes for the NRL’s night of nights.
Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco romped home in taking the top gong with all but one vote. But there are plenty of contentious calls over coach of the year and team of the year.
COACH OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS
Daily Telegraph rugby league writers Phil Rothfield and Fatima Kdouh have backed Canberra coach Ricky Stuart to take out the best coach gong.
“It depends if you judge it over the 25 rounds,” Rothfield said on The Monday Bunker. “I’m coming in late and because of that I’m going with Ricky Stuart for lifting Canberra. But what Hasler and Arthur did was just phenomenal.”
Kdouh added: “Ricky Stuart has had the toughest job of all because he’s given the Raiders a completely new identity. It could easily have taken a season or two, but it didn’t. He managed to make it happen in a four month pre-season.”
The contenders are Craig Bellamy ($1.80), Des Hasler ($2.36), Stuart ($6), Brad Arthur ($23) and Trent Robinson ($34).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS
Payne Haas: Despite making his debut in 2018, Haas is still eligible to be league’s greatest new blood. The Broncos’ big man stormed on to the State of Origin scene for the Blues this year. The 19-year-old was selected to play for NSW after just 10 NRL games and helped secure a famous series win.
Maika Sivo: Signed on a minimum wage deal from Penrith, Sivo stormed the NRL to become the season’s top try scorer. A flying Fijian with a sledgehammer fend, the 25-year-old became arguably the Eels’ most popular player.
Bronson Xerri: At just 18, Xerri became an instant sensation when he burned down the flank to show his stunning speed in his NRL debut. The Cronulla junior has since established himself as one of the fastest men in rugby league and a genuine rival for Josh Addo-Carr and James Roberts. His left foot step is dynamite.
Briton Nikora: Fellow Shark Nikora became a New Zealand Test player in his first season. Possessing footwork and speed rarely seen in a forward, the 21-year-old is the prototype for a new wave of edge players.
Ryan Papenhuyzen: This 21-year-old flyer came from nowhere to become the heir apparent for Billy Slater at the Melbourne Storm. With blistering speed and a knack for the sensational, Craig Bellamy dropped starting halfback Brodie Croft to make way for Papenhuyzen in a bold reshuffle.
DALLY M HONOUR ROLL
1979 Steve Morris
1980 Robert Laurie
1981 Steve Rogers
1982 Ray Price
1983 Terry Lamb
1984 Michael Potter
1985 Greg Alexander
1986 Peter Sterling
1987 Peter Sterling
1988 Gavin Miller
1989 Gavin Miller
1990 Cliff Lyons
1991 Michael Potter
1992 Gary Freeman
1993 Ricky Stuart
1994 Cliff Lyons
1995 Laurie Daley
1996 Allan Langer
1997 Not Awarded
1998 Andrew Johns
1999 Andrew Johns
2000 Trent Barrett
2001 Preston Campbell
2002 Andrew Johns
2003 Not awarded due to industrial action
2004 Danny Buderus
2005 Johnathan Thurston
2006 Cameron Smith
2007 Johnathan Thurston
2008 Matt Orford
2009 Jarryd Hayne
2010 Todd Carney
2011 Billy Slater
2012 Ben Barba
2013 Cooper Cronk
2014 Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston
2015 Johnathan Thurston
2016 Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo
2017 Cameron Smith
2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Originally published as Ultimate guide to Dally M Medal
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