‘System is broken’: Kalyn Ponga wins Dally M Medal in shock upset

The NRL’s highest individual honour has been awarded, with a thrilling Dally M Medal upset stunning rugby league fans.

5 min read

September 28, 2023 - 7:36AM

Kalyn Ponga won the Dally M Medal in a shock upset. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga has won the 2023 Dally M Medal in a shock upset.

Ponga wasn’t even on the leaderboard when votes went behind closed doors in round 12, but he came from the clouds to steal the top gong from New Zealand Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson.

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Johnson took the lead with a handful of rounds remaining, only for Ponga to pip him by just one point in his last game of the season.

In their last round of the season, Johnson received three points to go to 55 points, only for Ponga to leapfrog him at the death with a maximum six points in Newcastle’s final game of the regular season.

Many thought Johnson was a certainty to take out the Dally M, given he steered the Warriors to a top four finish in a resurgent season that ended in last weekend’s preliminary final loss to the Broncos.

But a new voting system, where two independent judges could award a maximum of six votes per game on the 3-2-1 basis, played in Ponga’s favour as he was able to make up ground more quickly.

Newcastle Knights fullback Tamika Upton won the NRLW Dally M Medal, completing a rare club double.

NRL and NRLW Dally M medallists Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Fans and commentators were genuinely stunned by the result, with some calling for a change in the voting system.

Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb said on X: “Extraordinary! The bloke nearly retired earlier this year because of concussion. One of the greatest comebacks Australian sport has ever seen. Truly sensational.”

Boom Rookies podcast host Matt Bungard: “The Dally M system is broken. It was broken last year and the year before that & doubling the points created the same outcome.

“I love Kalyn Ponga and he was excellent in the final few weeks, but he wasn’t the best player over the whole year. Just switch to MVP voting, it works.”

Kalyn Ponga storms home late to win Dally M Medal. Thought Shaun Johnson may have pinched it but no argument with KP
— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) September 27, 2023

10.01pm - Final Dally M leaderboard

Kalyn Ponga: 56 points

Shaun Johnson: 55

Scott Drinkwater*: 50

Nicho Hynes: 48

Harry Grant: 47

Daly Cherry-Evans: 46:

Addin Fonua-Blake: 44

Dylan Edwards: 42

Nathan Cleary: 42

Payne Haas: 42

NRL Team of the Year

FULLBACK: Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

WINGERS: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors) and Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)

CENTRES: Stephen Crichton (Panthers) and Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)

FIVE-EIGHTH: Ezra Mam (Broncos)

HALFBACK: Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

HOOKER: Harry Grant (Storm)

PROPS: Payne Haas (Broncos) and Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)

BACK ROWERS: Liam Martin (Panthers) and David Fifita (Titans)

LOCK: Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

9.32pm - Dally M leaderboard after Round 23

Shaun Johnson: 51 points

Scott Drinkwater*: 44

Kalyn Ponga: 43

Nicho Hynes: 42

Harry Grant: 41

Nathan Cleary: 39

Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Payne Haas: 37

Reece Walsh*: 36

8.50pm - Coach of the Year named

New Zealand Warriors coach Andrew Webster has been named Coach of the Year in recognition of his side’s brilliant season.

8.35pm - Dally M leaderboard after Round 18

Dylan Edwards: 35 points

Nicho Hynes, Scott Drinkwater, Shaun Johnson: 33 points

Ben Hunt, Cody Walker: 32 points

Cody Walker, Payne Haas: 31 points

Harry Grant, Isaah Yeo: 29 poitns

8.15pm - First awards announced

There’s been some early controversy, with St George Illawarra’s Mathew Feagai a surprise winner of the NRL’s Try of the Year for his matchwinning effort against the Roosters in Round 12.

It was thought Newcastle flyer Dominic Young was a certainty to take out the award for his gravity-defying try in the corner against the Dragons in round 27.

Dom Young didn’t win try of the year for this effort. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

One fan wrote on X: “How is that try of the year? I’ve seen better tries every week. Dom Young had the best try.”

Another simply said: “Dom Young robbed.”

One disgruntled fan wrote: “This was just luck with a jaxson paulo assist. Dom young robbed so bad.”

Another said: “Dom Young’s try is probably the best finish there’s ever been but doesn’t win try of the year??”

NRL Try of the Year: Mathew Feagai

NRL Tackle of the Year: Haumole Olakau’atu

NRL Provan-Summons Medal: Nicho Hynes

NRLW Try of the Year: Teagen Berry

NRLW Tackle of the Year: Jakiya Whitfield

NRLW Provan-Summons Medal: Lavinia Gould

7.50pm - Mum throws Ponga under the bus

Kalyn Ponga is considered a smokey to win the Dally M after leading the Knights to a nine-game winning streak to end the NRL season.

Ponga was at the forefront of the turnaround in form, leading many to predict he could make a late charge up the Dally M leaderboard.

The Newcastle fullback brought his mum Adine to the awards, and she wasn’t so confident.

Fox League’s Jake Duke asked: “Adine, I know you didn’t want to say anything but do you think he’s a chance tonight? Hopeful?”

Mrs Ponga laughed “No”, adding: “I’ll be proud no matter what.”

Kalyn Ponga was thrown under the bus by his mum. Photo: Fox Sports.

5.45pm - Stars on arrive on red carpet

NRL stars and commentators are starting to arrive on the red carpet at Royal Randwick in Sydney.

The Panthers and Broncos face off in Sunday’s Grand Final and Brisbane’s players have travelled down to Sydney for the Dally M.

Kotoni Staggs of the Broncos and his partner Brittany. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Dylan Edwards of the Panthers and his partner Nadine Haggart. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Fox League commentators Lara Pitt and Jess Yates looked the part — Pitt wearing a scaled dark and green dress and Yates a bright red number.

Fox League’s Jess Yates in red on the red carpet. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Lara Pitt on the red carpet. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Gold Coast Titans star David Fifita opted for no tie and white sneakers, while Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best brought his mum along.

Bradman Best of the Knights and his mum Tobi Best. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Isabelle Kelly of the Roosters and her husband Jake Callister. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray stepped out with his fiance Miranda Cross, who was wearing an off the shoulder white dress.

The couple recently announced they are expecting their first child.

Cameron Murray of the Rabbitohs and his partner Miranda Cross. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and his wife Rebecca. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

It’s a big week for Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who posed alongside wife Rebecca.

His son Nathan is a contender for the Dally M but is unlikely to win due to a hamstring injury late in the season.

Lindsay Collins wife partner Kaylah. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Jarrod Croker of the Raiders and his wife Brittney Wicks. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

5.15pm - Voting change set to wreak havoc

The Dally M voting system has changed this year, with two independent judges handing out six points for each game on a 3-2-1 basis, rather than just one judge.

With six votes up for grabs per game, it means there could me more flucuation in the leaderboard and leaves the door open for a player like Kalyn Ponga to make a late charge for the medal.

Players suspended for two or more games are ineligible, ruling out Reece Walsh, Scott Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes.

Shaun Johnson is the favourite to win the Dally M Medal. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

HOW TO WATCH

The Dally M Medal takes place in Sydney on Wednesday night. Fans can watch the action on Kayo Sports — coverage of the red carpet begins from 6pm AEST before the ceremony starts at 8pm.

DALLY M LEADERBOARD (AFTER ROUND 12)

Payne Haas 30

Nathan Cleary 27

Harry Grant 25

Nicho Hynes 25

Reece Walsh 24

Latrell Mitchell 23

Ben Hunt 22

Cody Walker 22

Dylan Edwards 22

Shaun Johnson 22

NRL AWARDS AND NOMINEES

COACH: Kevin Walters (Broncos), Andrew Webster (Warriors), Ivan Cleary (Panthers)

CAPTAIN: Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

ROOKIE: Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), William Warbrick (Storm), Sunia Turuva (Panthers)

TEAM OF THE YEAR

FULLBACK: James Tedesco (Roosters), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

WINGERS: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Brian To’o (Panthers), Dominic Young (Knights), Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)

CENTRES: Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Bradman Best (Knights), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Izack Tago (Panthers)

FIVE-EIGHTH: Ezra Mam (Broncos), Cameron Munster (Storm), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

HALFBACK: Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

HOOKER: Wayde Egan (Warriors), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Harry Grant (Storm)

PROPS: Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Payne Haas (Broncos), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)

BACK ROWERS: Liam Martin (Panthers), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles), David Fifita (Titans), Hudson Young (Raiders)

LOCK: Tohu Harris (Warriors), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)