Jack Wighton wins NRL Dally M medal after late drama

Raiders star Jack Wighton has taken out the 2020 Dally M medal, despite coach Ricky Stuart accidentally throwing him a major curve ball.

Canberra's Jack Wighton, Penrith's Nathan Cleary at the 2020 Dally M Awards at Fox Sports studio, Artarmon. Picture: Brett Costello

Raiders star Jack Wighton is the 2020 Dally M medal winner after a night of high drama.

The star playmaker on Monday night won a cliffhanger at the official event at Fox Sports studios in Sydney where he held off Panthers star Nathan Cleary and Eels utility Clint Gutherson in a fight that went right down to the wire.

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Wighton (26 votes), who also pocketed the Clive Churchill medal as the best player in a losing side in last year’s grand final, was one vote clear of Gutherson (25) and two ahead of Cleary (24) heading into the final round of the season.

However, the drama reached fever-pitch when it was revealed Wighton was rested for the Raiders’ final game of the season — a Round 20 win over the Sharks.

It left the door wide open for Gutherson and Cleary — but neither polled in the final round.

“I can’t really explain, I’m actually speechless,” Wighton said.

“Coming here tonight with these guys, I really didn’t think I was going to walk away with this award. I don’t know what to say.”

Canberra's Jack Wighton speaks during a live cross during the 2020 Dally M Awards at Fox Sports studio, Artarmon. Picture: Brett Costello

It comes after the result was accidentally leaked before the count.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield explained the mix-up on Twitter.

“Owing to a production error that was out of my control, The Daily Telegraph website accidentally published the winner of the Dally M award before the official announcement tonight,” Rothfield posted.

“We apologise sincerely for the mistake.”

Cleary was the early favourite to take out the NRL's top individual honour after he was just two votes behind Wests Tigers star Harry Grant (13 votes) when voting went behind closed doors in Round 11.

Wighton was one further behind on 10 votes.

DALLY M AWARDS 2020

Dally M Player of the Year: Jack Wighton (Raiders)

Female Player of the Year: Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos)

Coach of the year: Ivan Cleary (Panthers)

Provan-Summons Medal Winner: New Zealand Warriors

Highest pointscorer: Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)

Rookie of the Year: Harry Grant (Tigers)

Ken Irvine Medal (Top Try Scorer): Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)

Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year: Project Apollo

Captain of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)

NRLW Try of the Year: Madison Bartlett (Warriors)

NRLW Tackle of the Year: Hannah Southwell (Roosters)

Try of the Year: Kotoni Staggs (Broncos)

Tackle of the Year: Josh Papalii (Raiders)

Team of the year:

Props of the Year: Josh Papalii (Raiders) and James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)

Second rowers of the Year: Villiame Kikau (Panthers) and Tohu Harris (Warriors)

Lock of the Year: Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

Wingers of the Year: David Nofoaluma (Tigers) and Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

Centres of the Year: Kotoni Staggs (Broncos) and Stephen Crichton (Panthers)

Hooker of the Year: Cameron Smith (Storm)

Fullback of the Year: Clint Gutherson (Eels)

Five-Eighth of the Year: Jack Wighton (Raiders)

Halfback of the Year: Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

FINAL DALLY M LEADERBOARD

26 Jack Wighton

25 Clint Gutherson

24 Nathan Cleary

22 Cameron Smith

18 Luke Keary, Shaun Johnson

17 Adam Reynolds, Jarome Luai

16 Kalyn Ponga