What’s the Buzz: Secrecy behind Dally M Medal overhaul

After years of controversy surrounding the awarding of the Dally M Medal, rugby league’s prestigious prize is getting a long overdue revamp.

Phil Rothfield

@BuzzRothfield

less than 2 min read

March 4, 2023 - 8:00PM

News Corp Australia Network

Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and NRLW star Raecene McGregor were worthy Dally M Medal winners in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

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Judging for the NRL’s Dally M player of the year award is undergoing its biggest overhaul since its inception 43 years ago.

For the first time two judges will watch each game — but no-one will know who they are.

It takes away the controversy of one judge making a howler, as has happened in the past, and a player getting points who doesn’t deserve them.

The judges will be ex-players, with or without media commitments, and they will both award points on a 3-2-1 basis.

Judging for the Dally M Medal has been overhauled.

It means a player can earn up to six points in one match.

Or a player leading the count by five with one round remaining could be pipped at the post.

The question is why the secrecy over the judges? Why the lack of transparency?

Shouldn’t fans know who is handing out the points each weekend at the eight games.

The changes involved the NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley and integrity unit boss Jason King.

For many years controversy has marred the award.

The overhaul is long overdue, although there’s been few arguments about the worthiness of the overall winners in recent years — including Nicho Hynes and Tom Trbojevic.

Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and NRLW star Raecene McGregor were worthy Dally M Medal winners in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

It’s more that some of the positional award winners have baffled fans.

Points from the opening 12 rounds of the competition will be published each Monday in The Daily Telegraph and online, before voting goes behind closed doors.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the changes were made as a result of an off-season review to “further enhance independence and objectivity in voting.”