‘Farce’: Uproar over ‘ridiculous’ Eels playmaker’s Dally M vote

The NRL is under fire over a “ridiculous” Dally M medal voting detail that has left commentators shaking their heads.

Dylan Brown of the Eels. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

The NRL is under fire again over another Dally M medal voting “farce”.

Rugby league commentators on Monday morning were blowing up after it emerged Dylan Brown was awarded one vote despite the Eels being torn apart by the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday night.

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Brown has been tasked with the halfback role in the absence of injured playmaker Mitchell Moses, but the Parramatta’s attack has lacked plenty of spark and direction in the side’s two losses against the Tigers and Raiders.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur leapt to the defence of Brown after the game when asked if the Kiwi international needed to be moved back to the five-eighth role because of his struggles in leading the team around the park in the traditional halfback role.

The scrutiny on Brown’s performance is part of the reason many fans have been left shaking their heads at the sight of his name appearing on the Round 5 Dally M medal votes.

One of the two judges awarded Brown a point despite the 23-year-old finishing the contest with one tackle bust, one try assist and 62m gained from eight runs.

The votes handed out for the game were: Joseph Tapine 3, Matt Timoko 3, Xavier Savage 2, Morgan Smithies 2, Dylan Brown 1, Ethan Strange 1.

Dylan Brown has a secret admirer. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

The NRL has in recent years made moves to protect the integrity and prestige of the Dally M Player of the Year award, but they don’t appear to be helping.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss led the chorus of outrage on Monday morning.

“Parramatta are out-played in pretty much every department,” Voss said on SEN Breakfast as he set the scene for his rant.

“Two Dally M judges sit down to give points. Now I’m going to make a claim, this judge could not have been at the match.

“Put it this way, he must have had it on at home and not watched the whole game, he’s not sitting in front of the TV. Because one of the judges has given a point to Dylan Brown. In a side beaten 41-8 Dylan Brown snares a point.

“Enough is enough. You’ve got to let us know who the judges are and whether they’re watching the game. That’s a farce. That is absolutely an attack on the integrity of the award that Dylan Brown would pick up a point last night.”

Dylan Brown tackles James Schiller of the Raiders. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

He went on to say: “People are going to be reading that today and they’re going to say that is ridiculous. Anonymous judges and all that”.

SEN Breakfast co-host Greg Alexander, who has been a member of the Dally M medal voting panel for 20 years, also said the identity of the judges should be made public.

The NRL changed the Dally M voting system last year with two judges awarding votes, with a player eligible for a maximum six points per game.

But unlike the past where fans knew who dished out the votes, the NRL has decided to keep it a secret to protect former players from heavy scrutiny online.

The award was dragged through the mud last month when Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was awarded one vote despite a poor performance against the Cowboys.

Questions have also been asked about whether Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes has deserved the 12 votes he has received so far this season.

Now it’s happening again.

OMG !
You have got to be kidding me.
His team lost 41-8.
Would love to know which judge is taking the piss. pic.twitter.com/AEcKzDWJHL

— The Oracle (@BigOtrivia) April 7, 2024

Dylan Brown got 1 Dally M point tonight.

His team lost 41-8

Bin this damn award already 🤦🏻‍♂️ #NRL

— Brad (@bradfogarty101) April 7, 2024

Did Grant Atkins somehow get to give the Dally M votes for the Raiders v Eels game?

He showed how clueless he is after the knock on debacle and now Dylan Brown receives a Dally M point for last night

There is no way the world has two people who are equally out of touch

— 91 03 21 22 23 PREMIERS 🐾🏆 (@SnoogThe) April 7, 2024

Meanwhile, Arthur said on Sunday night he is not tempted to pick rookie halfback Ethan Sanders to take the pressure off Brown.

Young gun Blaize Talagi has played five-eighth for Parramatta in the past two games without Moses, but he was essentially unsighted against Canberra.

When asked about possible changes, Arthur said: “No, because I thought Dylan was very good tonight.

“He kicked well, he ran well, he scrambled well. Like I said, when you have everyone across the board not owning their fundamentals, that does put pressure on Dylan. That’s not going to help us.”

Matty Johns said after the game on Sunday Night with Matty Johns, that Brown is not ready to be a halfback at the moment.

“Dylan is a fantastic runner of the football … I just don’t think at this point in he’s a career that he’s a seven. Not the sort of the player at this point of his career to steer the side around the park. I think it’s weighing on him,” Johns said.

Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh thinks Brown is more than capable of wearing the No. 7 jersey, but says the talented 23-year-old needs to play to his strengths.

“He can lead this side around. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea,” Hindmarsh said.

“He’s a better ball runner than a organiser so put the ball in your hand and run. Do it more.”

The Eels will aim to get their season back on track at home against the Cowboys next Saturday.