As seen on nrl.com
The National Rugby League (NRL) has announced the nominees for the 2023 NRL Dally M Team of the Year as well as several individual Dally M awards for the NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Dally M Awards recognise the game’s most outstanding performers from both the NRL Telstra Premiership and NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership each year, with this year’s awards to be presented on Wednesday, September 27 in Sydney.
Significant changes to the Dally M voting process for both the NRL and NRLW competitions were introduced for the 2023 season.
This season, two independent judges each gave out votes on a 3,2,1 basis for every game, meaning players were able to earn a maximum of six votes per game compared to three in previous years.
The decision to add in a second judge to assess each game in 2023 will increase the final total of points to players, but also the level of fairness in further removing potential variances that arise from a single judge voting on a game.
Any player suspended for a total of two NRL regular season games becomes ineligible to claim any Dally M award, while a one-game suspension brings with it a deduction of six points this year (compared to a deduction of three points in past seasons). Players who become ineligible for awards due to suspension are still able to pick up points in subsequent games so as not to distort the voting process throughout the regular season.
However, players who are suspended for two games will be ineligible to collect any awards, deeming Kiwi players such as Jeremy Marshall-King, Jahrome Hughes, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Marata Niukore, and Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala not available.
The NRL Dally M Team of the Year recognises the best player in each position across all rounds of the regular season. Judges vote on the best player in each position at regular intervals throughout the year with a further vote conducted at the end of the regular season.
The player who polls the highest number of votes in each position is included in the Team of the Year, while players who finish in the top three of the overall Dally M Medal leaderboard receive their respective position in the Team of the Year if available.
Winger of the Year (two winners) – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand Warriors), Jamayne Isaako (Redcliffe Dolphins), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks)
Halfback of the Year – Shaun Johnson (New Zealand Warriors)
Prop of the Year (two winners) – James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
Second Row of the Year (two winners) – Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks)
Lock of the Year – Tohu Harris (New Zealand Warriors)
Captain of the Year – Tohu Harris (New Zealand Warriors)
Rookie of the Year – William Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)
YOUI Tackle of the Year – Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)
Centre of the Year (two winners) – Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks), Mele Hufanga (Brisbane Broncos), Shanice Parker (Newcastle Knights)
Five-Eighth of the Year – Gayle Broughton (Brisbane Broncos)
Halfback of the Year – Raecene McGregor (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Second Row of the Year (two winners) – Otesa Pule (Sydney Roosters)
Lock of the Year – Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans)
Captain of the Year – Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans)
Rookie of the Year – Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)
Try of the Year – Leianne Tufuga (Wests Tigers)
Read more on nrl.com
