Dally M. Awards
The Dally M Awards were introduced in 1980 by News Limited. The awards are named in honour of former Australian rugby league great Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger. The most prestigious award is the Dally M Medal which is awarded to the Player Of The Year.
News Limited journalists vote on the best performing players in each match on a 3, 2, 1 points system. In 1998 the awards were re-introduced as the official awards of the newly formed National Rugby League. Prior to 1998, the official award of the game was voted on by the referees (Rothmans Medal (1968-1996) and Nokia Provan-Summons Medal(1997))
Between 1980 and 1996 when both the Dally M medal and Rothmans medal were awarded, the same player won both awards on only 3 occasions - Peter Sterling in 1987, Gavin Miller in 1989(Joint Winner of the Rothmans Medal), and Ricky Stuart in 1993.
In 1997 when the game was split between the News Limited run Super League competition and the ARL, News Limited did not hold the awards.
In 2003 due to a dispute with the Rugby League Players Association the NRL cancelled the Dally M awards 2 days prior to the ceremony. Previously the players threatened to boycott the event unless the NRL met their demands.
Winners Of the Player of the Year
Prior To Becoming The Games Official Award
- 1980 - Robert Laurie
- 1981 - Steve Rogers
- 1982 - Ray Price
- 1983 - Terry Lamb
- 1984 - Michael Potter
- 1985 - Greg Alexander
- 1986 - Peter Sterling
- 1987 - Peter Sterling
- 1988 - Gavin Miller
- 1989 - Gavin Miller
- 1990 - Cliff Lyons
- 1991 - Michael Potter
- 1992 - Gary Freeman
- 1993 - Ricky Stuart
- 1994 - Cliff Lyons
- 1995 - Laurie Daley
- 1996 - Allan Langer
- 1997 - Not Awarded
Since Becoming The Games Official Award
- 1998 - Andrew Johns
- 1999 - Andrew Johns
- 2000 - Trent Barrett
- 2001 - Preston Campbell
- 2002 - Andrew Johns
- 2003 - Not Awarded
- 2004 - Danny Buderus
- 2005 - Johnathon Thurston