dally m 2023 red carpet
Menswear was ever-classic, leading to inspiration and dazzling colour to flow from the WAGs at the 2023 Dally M Medal awards.
As one of, if not Australia’s toughest sporting codes, the NRL has an image far apart from the glitz and glamour of an awards night. But, tonight for the Dally M Medal, NRL players and their guests showed they were capable of putting tackles behind them, and scrubbing up for a ritzy affair.
With a dramatic finals series, and longer-than-ever regular season now in the rearview, only the Grand Final awaits on Sunday, where the Penrith Panthers will take on the Brisbane Broncos.
But before kick-off, it was time for the red carpet to be unrolled for the NRL’s night of nights. With sweat-stained jerseys rightly left at home, for the men it was all sharp tailoring, polished shoes, the only residual look from the pitch a stray mullet from time to time, and the occasional black eye.
A season spent focusing on the talent and brilliance of individual players, it was refreshing to see focus switched to the number one supporters of the players. Wives, girlfriends, family members, who have all filled the stands, week in, week out, now have their time to shine on the biggest red carpet in the league. Radiant gowns, glittering dresses, and bright pops of colour everywhere you turn.
It’s favourites Payne Haas and Nathan Cleary leading the charge with pundits to take home the Dally M Medal. Both key players of the grand finalists Brisbane Broncos and the Penrith Panthers respectively, but there were plenty of other standout looks from players, coaches, and legends of the game, coming together to celebrate the 2023 season.
Menswear was ever-classic for the NRL’s top players. Satin lapels draped over crisply-pressed white shirts with neat black bow ties. There was a touch of velour — on last year’s Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes, and Warriors star Shaun Johnson, both firm favourites to win the award this year. Despite the hardy and rugged persona many of these players have on the pitch, all scrubbed up beautifully for the awards.
It wasn’t all white shirts, some young stars opting to keep a monochrome look with their evening fare.
There were splashes of sheer moments everywhere on the WAGs, cutout corset style dresses. Payne Haas alongside his fiancee Leilani Mohenoa, both playing on beige detailing and matching black detailing on Haas’ evening look. Elsewhere, there were flowing white dresses with feathered detailing, like on Brittney Wicks, wife of Raiders veteran Jarrod Croker. Lengthwise, the ravishing looks went from floor-sweeping, old-school eveningwear to shorter takes on future classics, everyone ready to play around with cut and fit on the night.
The shiny Dally M medal was shown up by some of the top looks on the red carpet. Several gold, silver and jewelled looks were glittering under the flash of cameras and the bold lights. Selwyn Cobbo and his partner, playing simple with the all-black look, and a sweeping silver gown with a plunging neckline.
Whether you err to the side of the classic, or find hope in the few NRL players that tap into their more adventurous fashion interests, the 2023 Dally M medal shows that things are changing for the players — if slowly. For wives, girlfriends, and family members brought along to the big show, there’s always interesting looks to rely on.
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