Kalyn Ponga’s late-season form has helped the Newcastle skipper claim a shock Dally M Medal, pipping heavy favourite Shaun Johnson to snatch the NRL’s top individual gong.
Johnson was widely tipped to take home the award after steering the Warriors into the top four in their first year back in New Zealand since 2019.
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But fullback Ponga, who was part of a Newcastle side that locked in a finals spot with nine straight wins, pipped Johnson at the post at Royal Randwick on Wednesday night.
Ponga’s victory came despite the 25-year-old missing six weeks in the early part of the season to seek treatment in Canada for repeated concussions.
The Newcastle skipper did not enter the top 10 in voting until after Round 22 and only snatched the lead in the penultimate round of the regular season.
Both he and Johnson rested in the final week of the season.
North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater polled third but was ruled ineligble due to suspension.
There was some solace for the Warriors with Andrew Webster named coach of the year after an impressive maiden campaign.
NRL grand finalists Brisbane had four players in the NRL team of the year, while their opponents Penrith had to make do with just two spots.
Electrifying Newcastle fullback Tamika Upton was awarded the NRLW Dally M Medal after helping the Knights into a second-straight grand final.
Rising Cronulla star Annessa Biddle was named winner of the Dally M NRLW rookie of the year, while Gold Coast mentor Karyn Murphy was hailed as the best coach in the women’s game after guiding the Titans into their maiden grand final.
Dally M Honour Roll
MEN
Player of the year: Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle)
Rookie: Sunia Turuva (Penrith)
Captain: Adam Reynolds (Brisbane)
Coach: Andrew Webster (Warriors)
NRL team of the year: Kalyn Ponga, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Herbie Farnworth, Stephen Crichton, Jamayne Isaako, Ezra Mam, Shaun Johnson, Payne Haas, Harry Grant, Addin Fonua-Blake, Liam Martin, David Fifita, Patrick Carrigan.
WOMEN
Player of the year: Tamika Upton (Newcastle)
Rookie: Annessa Biddle (Cronulla)
Captain: Simaima Taufa (Canberra)
Coach: Karyn Murphy (Gold Coast)
NRLW team of the year: Tamika Upton, Jakiya Whitfield, Isabelle Kelly, Mele Hufanga, Julia Robinson, Tarryn Aiken, Ali Brigginshaw, Shannon Mato, Destiny Brill, Sarah Togatuki, Yasmin Clydsdale, Olivia Kernick, Simaima Taufa.
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