Sport Confidential: Why award winner Latrell Mitchell video didn’t make cut for Dally Ms

Latrell Mitchell was smashed on social media for not being at the Dally Ms and failing to provide a video like other absent award winners. But here’s what really happened.

Shaun Johnson at the Dally M Awards ceremony. Picture: NRL Photos

Latrell Mitchell won the Ken Stephen medal but was smashed by some on social media for not being at the Dally Ms and failing to provide a video for the ceremony, like some of the other absent award winners.

Sport Confidential can reveal Mitchell did in fact send a video to the NRL.

But it was unable to be used because it was in the wrong format and the quality wasn’t up to broadcast standard.

TOP COACHES SNUB DALLY Ms

Let’s call it the snub of the supercoaches. Rugby league’s night of nights — the Dally M Awards — is meant to bring together the best of the best but there was no sign of some of the biggest names in the game in the Winx room at Randwick Racecourse.

Premiership winners and coaching heavyweights Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson were among the no-shows. So too Ricky Stuart, Brad Arthur and Anthony Seibold.

Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Todd Payten were also among the absentees. It is understood the Eels had a board meeting on Wednesday night, which explains why Arthur, chair Sean McElduff and chief executive Jim Sarantinos missed the Dally Ms.

Those coaches who were in the room included Andrew Webster, Ivan Cleary, Kevin Walters, Adam O’Brien, Cameron Ciraldo, Jason Demetriou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ryan Carr and Jim Lenihan.

Andrew Webster was among the NRL coaches to attend the Dally M Awards. Picture: Getty Images

NRL STAR BLASTS DALLY M COUNT AS JOHNSON MISSES OUT

Warriors player Jazz Tevaga has hit out at Kalyn Ponga’s Dally M Medal win, declaring his teammate Shaun Johnson was “robbed”.

In a since deleted Instagram story post, Tevaga outlined his frustrations that Johnson was beaten at the death by Ponga who walked away with the medal on Wednesday night.

“Congrats Kalyn but everyone knows it,” Tevaga wrote. “SJ (Johnson) was robbed. This is almost as bad as that forward pass.

“Congrats to all our boys for their awards. Cracker szn (season) brothers.”

Jazz Tevaga's Instagram story post.

Shaun Johnson arrives at the Dally M Awards ceremony. Picture: NRL Photos

Johnson only received four points against the Gold Coast in a game where he scored two tries and had tw try assists. He was also overlooked for any points in the Wests Tigers game, where he had two line break assists and two try assists.The new voting system, where points from two judges are combined, played perfectly into the hands of Ponga who came home with a wet sail in a side where he dominated the action.

Meanwhile Dally M winner Ponga has revealed how close he came to skipping the ceremony after informing the NRL that he wanted to watch the event from home.

“I wasn’t going to go – I actually sent the NRL an email that morning saying I didn’t want to go,” Ponga told 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.

“I just wanted to sit back and watch it at home. They then said I had to go. Back in 2018 I said the same thing, and (the) NRL insisted that I had to go and that year I came second.

“So I thought I was there to keep the numbers up. “

Far from it. Ponga stormed home to win the award to cap a stellar comeback season for the Newcastle star, whose career was in doubt after a series of head knocks.

Shaun Johnson was edged out in the Dally M Medal race by Kalyn Ponga. Picture: NRL Photos

WHY WAS KEY PANTHER BRUSHED?

He is the boss of arguably the greatest rugby league side of the modern era but Matt Cameron was surprisingly brushed from the Dally Ms on Wednesday night.

It came as a surprise that Cameron was missing from the Panthers table which included the likes of Panthers Group boss Brian Fletcher and coach Ivan Cleary.

We’ve come to learn that Cameron was not invited despite being the chief executive of the football club. Club bosses and coaches from each club are invited.

Fletcher is CEO of the Panthers group which is why he landed an invite but not the hard-working Cameron who has been among the most influential in helping set up the Panthers golden era.

Cameron could have done with the early night given the all-encompassing grand final week.

PVL’S PRESENTING BAN REVEALED

Peter V’landys has been banned from presenting at the Dally Ms, with the ARL Commission chairman a surprise non-talker at the awards ceremony.

Instead it was left to Fox League stars Yvonne Sampson and Braith Anasta to take charge as the countdown reached its crescendo, while Andrew Abdo opened the night.

We’re told the ban is more of a self-imposed sin-bin by V’landys.

He has given himself at least two years as a spectator only at the event given his highly publicised – and very funny – gaffe in 2021 when he pronounced Manly prop Josh Aloiai’s name as “Oshay Olay”.

Yvonne Sampson and Braith Anasta took charge of the Dally M Awards countdown. Picture: NRL Photos

SHOOSH: Which NRL official and well-known media identity had an icy moment when they crossed paths before the ceremony began?

SHOOSH: Which NRL club CEO accidentally knocked over a tray of beers at the Dally M Awards?

SPOTTED: South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray in deep discussion with Cronulla Sharks star and former Dally M winner Nicho Hynes. Murray was apparently a fan of Hynes’ magnificent blue velvet jacket.

SPOTTED: Warriors coach and former Penrith assistant Andrew Webster in conversation with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary at the bar.

FLASHBACK

Penrith were in celebration mode on this day 20 years ago. Back then it was the likes of Ryan Girdler, Craig Gower and Scott Sattler leading the Panthers side into a grand final after their 28-20 preliminary finals win against the Warriors.

Penrith won the grand final on this date in 2003.

SHARKS MAY LOSE BACKLINE UNDERSTUDY

The Sharks have got ahead of the November 1 transfer window by giving permission to utility Connor Tracey to speak with rival clubs.

Cronulla have told Tracey he is free to receive offers from rival clubs for the 2025 season alone with the 27-year-old contracted until the end of next year. The Sharks have no plans to move Tracey on early.

What the Sharks have done is essentially fast-tracked negotiations surrounding Tracey’s future by allowing him to speak with other clubs more than a month before the November 1 window opens.

If he does receive a written offer the Sharks will still have a 10-day window to keep Tracey under the new contract rules brought in by the NRL.

The Sharks see Tracey as a valuable member of their backline but understand they may struggle to keep him at the club long-term as he looks to establish himself as a regular first-grade member. Cronulla have their back five tied down to long-term deals already after re-signing all of them recently.

That leaves Tracey as the unlucky man-out. The likes of the Dragons are expected to pursue Tracey if he does opt to leave.

Naturally, if a club does land Tracey they could push for an early release for 2024.

The Sharks would be reluctant to cut Tracey loose early given he can cover every position in the backline.

Only injury allowed Tracey to become a regular starter this year having played just two games in the opening 20 rounds. He finished the year strongly at fullback in the absence of regular No.1 Will Kennedy.

The Sharks will also welcome back Kade Dykes from injury next year after the fullback missed the entire 2023 season because of a knee injury.

REYNOLDS’ GYM RECORD AT BRONCOS

He might be in the midst of his twilight years in the NRL but Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds can mix it with the best of them when to comes to throwing around the weights.

Sport Confidential can reveal that Reynolds is still the king of the halves and utilities at the Broncos when it comes to the traditional test of the strength – the bench press.

Reynolds holds the current record at 140kg for the adjustables – the moniker given to the halves, hookers and utilities – just ahead of Corey Paix and Tyson Smoothy.

Thomas Flegler holds the overall club record at 160kg, still 20kg shy of the all-time record of Carl Webb.

Herbie Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo share the current bench press record for the backs at 150kg. The current chin-up record is shared between Corey Jensen and Cory Paix at 60.

The Brisbane Broncos’ strength leaderboard. Adam Reynolds holds a bench press record.

LUAI DECISION HAS CONTRACT DOMINO EFFECT

Jarome Luai feels sick when he thinks about the prospect of leaving Penrith but his decision to put off contract talks until after the grand final has had a domino effect for the likes of Mitch Kenny, Taylan May and Sunia Turuva.

The Panthers are keen to extend the contracts of Kenny, May and rookie of the year Turuva, who are all off contract at the end of next season and therefore free to sign with rival clubs when they enter the final year of their deals on November 1.

However, Penrith won’t know exactly how much money they have to spend in 2025 until they sort out whether Luai is staying or going. The Panthers and NSW superstar is likely to garner million-dollar interest on the open market and if he stays, he will have to take less money.

His comments this week suggest he is no hurry to depart. Asked how it made him feel to think about playing in another jersey, Luai replied: “Sort of feel sick hey. I don’t really want to think about it anyway, not with the week we have in front of us and what is at stake.

“They are my teammates and my brothers.”

The likes of Kenny, May and particularly Turuva would all be expected to command improved deals given the way they played for the club.

Turuva was a standout and was rewarded with the Dally M rookie of the year award on Wednesday night. The Fijian flyer was a target for the Dolphins before he elected to remain at Penrith and his reward is the chance to win a premiership ring.

However, clubs are certain to come knocking for Turuva on November 1, meaning Penrith will have a matter of weeks to extend his deal after the grand final or face a potential bidding war to keep him in their ranks.

PANTHERS SET TO LOSE YOUNG GUN

Despite doing a great job the Panthers have shown they can’t keep all their players. This time it is Newcastle set to pounce on Penrith winger Tom Jenkins. The 22-year old is expected to link up with the Knights next season and push to replace Roosters-bound flyer Dominic Young on the wing.

Jenkins played one game last year but scored five tries from as many appearances this year. He is part of Penrith’s 22-man squad for Sunday’s grand final. The Knights have continued to add to their roster for next season with Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan), Will Pryce (Huddersfield), Jack Cogger (Panthers) and Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs).

Newcastle officials also poured cold water on injured rake Jayden Brailey leaving the club early. He was linked with a move to the Dragons earlier this week but Newcastle are adamant Brailey will remain at the club.

MEET THE GRAND FINAL DJ

You might not know Stephen Ferris but you certainly would have heard his work. Ferris will take up his customary position at the grand final on Sunday and play all the music heard across Accor Stadium.

Ferris has been the long-time DJ and gave Sport Confidential a little look behind the curtain ahead of the NRL decider.

“It goes without saying that explicit language, sexist lyrics, and KISS are all in the bin,” Ferris said when asked on which songs are banned. “I have been reprimanded for playing The Beatles’ ‘I’m a Loser’ when Paul Gallen dropped a sure-thing try and was questioned by a certain team for the classic ‘Hit the Road Jack’ by Ray Charles in a grand final send-off. No names.”

Stephen Ferris (right) will be the DJ at the grand final.

The 2015 dramatic grand final win by North Queensland against Brisbane also stood out for Ferris.

“Johnathan Thurston by winning the game in emotional and dramatic circumstances proceeded to stroll over to where his family were seated,” Ferris said. “I was just above them and quickly put Glen Campbell’s ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ on to find a huge number of the crowd singing along.”

Ferris, who co-hosts, the popular Fire Up! Podcast alongside Kris Gale, nominated Talking Heads’ ‘Life During Wartime’ and The Saints ‘I’m Stranded’ as his go-to songs.

COWBOYS YOUNG GUN BECOMES SIGNING TARGET

A 19-year-old from North Queensland with only 12 first grade games to his name is only weeks away from becoming one of the hottest properties in the game.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki made his debut earlier this season for the Cowboys while on a development deal and he has turned heads since, suggesting he will become a target for rivals as he prepares to enter the final year of his deal on November 1.

The Cowboys will have their hands full in a few weeks. Finefeuiaki aside, half Tom Dearden, forward Coen Hess and back rower Heilum Luki – he has a player option in his contract for 2025 – all have the ability to sign with rival clubs from November 1.

Dearden is a clear priority but Luke and Finefeuiaki present an intriguing dilemma for the Cowboys given the back row is one of their positions of strength.

Jeremiah Nanai and Luciano Leilua would be expected to command starting spots when both are fit, meaning Finefeuiaki faces a fight to find his way into the side.

He is likely to be offered that opportunity elsewhere.

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Why award winner Latrell Mitchell video didn’t make cut for Dally Ms