Jahrome Hughes and Olivia Kernick take top honours at Dally M awards

Jahrome Hughes was relieved a suspension for pushing a referee at the start of the year – and being docked six votes – did not cost him the Dally M Medal from a fast-finishing James Tedesco.

Hughes was the hot favourite to take out rugby league’s top award after a brilliant season for the Melbourne Storm, and won the prize by one vote from Tedesco after both players polled maximum points in the final round.

Roosters forward Olivia Kernick was crowned the Dally M Female Player of the Year, racking up 22 points, just ahead of Parramatta’s Abbi Church (20) and the Gold Coast’s Lauren Brown (20).

Hughes finished with 62 votes, which would have been more had he not shoved referee Chris Butler in round two.

“I didn’t know that was a thing and you lose six points,” Hughes said.

“I did the crime and did the time and lost the points. Fortunately, I was lucky to hold on.

“To beat out someone like James who has been such a good player for so long. They say he’s getting on, but he’s getting better with age.

“I didn’t come here with too much expectation, but when it got down to the wire, I was really nervous.

“Looking at the players who have won it, and the quality of players we have in the game, to be up there, it’s a true honour. I’m really humbled.”

Storm teammate Will Warbrick led an impromptu haka, along with fellow Melbourne forward Eli Katoa and Canberra’s Joe Tapine.

Warbrick told this masthead: “It was fitting to acknowledge him. We’re proud Maori boys, it was us representing our culture.

“I knew one of the boys would jump in, but I was scared for a moment – I was on my own for a bit, so I was a bit worried.”

The only person who had given Tedesco a hope of winning his second Dally M – ‘Teddy’ was the 2019 champion – was Hughes himself.

Speaking after Friday night’s preliminary final win over the Roosters, Hughes gestured to the opposition sheds when asked about his biggest threat.

Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes.Credit: Getty Images

Hughes, 29, has been nothing short of excellent for the Storm, and guided them around the park for a large chunk of the season without his regular half partner Cameron Munster and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen because of injury.

He made his debut in 2013 against a Penrith team that featured 17 players no longer at the club.

What has made his form in recent weeks even more admirable is the fact he has played with an injured neck.

Roosters second rower Olivia Kernick won the 2024 NRLW Dally M Player of the year.Credit: Getty Images

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans finished on 51 votes and Sea Eagles teammate Tom Trbojevic 50 votes, despite only playing 18 regular-season games all season. He was followed by North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater (45), Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo (42), last year’s winner Kalyn Ponga (42) and Penrith’s Dylan Edwards (34). Tedesco and Hughes also won fullback and halfback of the year.

In accepting the award for Dally M Female Player of the Year, Roosters forward Kernick said: “I definitely didn’t expect that this year.”

”Sort of caught off guard but I think this year the women’s NRL has really proven, and we’ve really produced a really good product this year, and I think we’ve taken the competition to another level.”

Craig Bellamy got the nod over Canterbury’s Cameron Ciraldo who was a warm favourite after leading the Dogs’ to the finals for the first time in eight years, while Bulldogs’ skipper Stephen Crichton was captain of the year. Dolphins winger Jack Bostock was the Dally M rookie winner.

Ponga apologises for Roos blue

Kalyn Ponga and Gaby DunnCredit: Getty Images

Kalyn Ponga insists there was no “malice” behind his decision to put club before country, and was more than happy to represent Australia after speaking with coach Mal Meninga.

Ponga came under fire when he revealed last week he would not make himself available for the Pacific Championships, and wanted to focus on a full pre-season for the Newcastle Knights.

The NRL made it clear to the Knights and their star No. 1 he risked being sanctioned if he refused to make himself available for selection without a genuine injury.

Ponga backflipped late Friday, and revealed on the red carpet at the Dally Ms he had made peace with Meninga.

Meninga is unsure whether to pick Ponga, with James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards in the mix for the Australian No.1 jersey.

“My decision had no malice behind it, I was trying to do the best thing, and I understand the process was wrong,” Ponga said.

“I apologise for that. But I was trying to do the best thing by myself and some people who look after me.

“I put the phone down from Mal and realised why people want to play for him. He’s very understanding; he’s just a good human.

“Those phone calls I had with him, I really understood why people want to play for him. But there are no regrets. I definitely learned my lesson. All I can do now is get the process right.

“Where my head was at, after what happened with the concussion years ago, I looked at my, footy, what it meant to me, what my biggest goal ultimately is, and I feel like this period of my life, I want to dedicate to winning that [premiership].”

Ponga is the game’s top-paid player yet to taste premiership glory. The Knights bombed out in the elimination final against North Queensland, but Ponga was close to the best player in the game the final month of the regular season.

Even New Zealand Rugby League officials sensed his brilliance and wanted him to switch allegiance, which was not able to happen because he had already played in the World 9s for Australia. Pledging his allegiance to the Kiwis also would have ended any involvement with Queensland and State of Origin.