When the legendary Dally Messenger decided to switch Rugby codes to play League in 1907 for Eastern Suburbs, it would start an avalanche of on field success that would see the NRL’s premier individual honour named after ‘the master’ himself.
The Dally M award is a token of appreciation from Rugby League, for the effort and skill that Messenger displayed during the early stages of the nineteenth century.
Indeed it was Messenger’s presence in League that allowed the code to secure its substantiation in Australia, and become the exciting spectacle it is today.
Fast forward just over 100 years and it is clear to see that Messenger’s involvement in the game is still alive and strong.
One only had to watch Friday night’s golden tussle between the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels to see why the NRL continues to produce the most skilful and exciting set of players out of all four football codes in Australia.
The hype surrounding the individual duel of Tigers and Eels superstars Benji Marshall and Jarryd Hayne allowed both players to produce the scintillating form that allowed Rugby League to get on its feet over a century ago.
And judging from their respective performances on Friday night, it appears the NRL will prosper for centuries to come.
Marshall’s first half against the Eels produced an array of sublime skills and instinctive genius that allowed Backline players Beau Ryan and Blake Ayshford to score brilliant tries.
Ryan’s four pointer in particular showcased Marshall’s freakish ball playing attributes, with the Tigers half producing an outrageous dummy and flick pass to send the winger crashing over in the nineteenth minute.
Marshall’s brilliance no doubt set the tone for what was to become an enthralling hour of Rugby League, with both sides displaying the form that had garnered them eleven consecutive victories between them.
Indeed the Tigers had the first chance to take control of the match, courtesy of Ayshford’s try that gave Tim Sheen’s men an eight nil lead.
A controversial eight point try to Eels winger Luke Burt however, turned the tide Parramatta’s way, and it proved enough to spark the brilliance of fullback Jarryd Hayne.
At the start of the second half, Hayne produced a gem of a cut out pass that allowed revitalised winger Krisnan Inu to score a great try that put the Eels in the lead.
Hayne was in the thick of the action again, regathering a high kick from Tigers half Robert Lui, that saw the NSW winger go on a fifty metre weaving run.
That passage of play however seemed to thrust the Tigers into action, and they responded with a wonderful try to John Morris that put Tim Sheen’s men back in the contest.
While it was evident to all that this encounter was living up to its billing as one of the game’s of the season, a special passage of play from the Eels only enhanced its status to become one of the NRL’s best advertisements.
On the back of the brilliant offloading prowess of players such as Feleti Mateo, Krisnan Inu, Nathan Cayless, Daniel Mortimer and Jarryd Hayne, Eels half Jeff Robson scored one of the tries of the 2009 season that many thought would prove to be the final nail in the Tigers coffin.
Although the Tigers do not make do with the supreme offloading abilities of their rivals, hooker Robbie Farah produced a sublime cut out pass that saw Beau Ryan score his second try with ten minutes remaining on the clock.
It was a passage of play that once again showed why the Tigers are the most dangerous attacking unit in open field play.
With the game teetering on a knifes edge, the 30,000 strong crowd knew it would take a play worthy of remembrance to decide which team was to go away with a vital two competition points.
And so it was Jarryd Hayne that produced a chip kick that saw the Eels fullback regather the football and score the match winning try that has confirmed his status as the hottest player in the NRL at the moment.
No doubt if he continues on his merry ways for the rest of his career, then Hayne may just emulate the legendary feats of the one Dally Messenger, who just over a century ago, made the showpiece that is the NRL possible.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Around five weeks ago I started up an online betting account to put 100 on Soward to win the Dally M. Luckily I was told that the betting has closed, because Im pretty sure Hayne will catch him. Hayne would have to get at least 2, probably three points for each of the last six matches, let alone the few before that (incl. the final origin). Thurston had a pretty big lead when counting went behind closed doors, but I think he would have been overtaken pretty quick. So its definitely out of Hayne and Soward - tonights match could decide it!
GaryGnu
Guest
Doh! Mortimer! Of course. I feel like a bloke who is looking for his glasses but can't find them because they're on the end of his nose. Have enjoyed watching him play too.
adrien66
Guest
Ok ok thanks for all your answers. Well next saturday after the game i'll try to talk with jason croker about his distant cousin!
Lewie
Guest
didn't Idris play alot last year? I think the rookie rule allows players to have played 4 games the previous season ???
Lewie
Guest
Haven't had the opportunity to see Dugan play (i don't have Foxtel) but have heard nothing but good things. Showing extreme Eels bias here, but i would throw Mortimer and Mannah in to the mix.
Lewie
Guest
Hayne played only the first 4 rounds at five eighth. Rounds 5 to 7 he played in the centres. Anderson shifted him to fullback in round 8, and of course he played all three Origin matches from the wing.
Lewie
Guest
Hayne was on 10 points when the scores went behind closed doors (after round 16). Despite the comments of many, Hayne has in fact been in fine form since he was finally shifted to fullback by Daniel Anderson in the Rd 8 match against the Knights. He duly collected 3 Dally M's for that performance. He also picked up 2 points in the round 10 loss to Manly, and a further 3 in the Eels round 11 win over Souths. He was awarded 2 points for his Origin 2 performance, but as Parramatta had a Bye scheduled for the preceding round 15, he does not get to keep these points (weird). Since then he has put in man of the match performances against Melbourne, Cronulla, NZ, and Wests. That's a further 12 points just there. He also would be quite likely to have received 2 points in Origin 3 (behind Watmough), in the loss to Penrith (behind Jennings) and against the Bulldogs (behind Moimoi). That's possibly a further 6 points which would take him to 28 points. There was also a game against the Knights, where i didn't particularly find him worthy of points, but the next day the papers were raving about his stats. I think he is up to his neck in the running for this prestigious award.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Adrien: The Crokers are distant cousins but Jarrod says he hasn't met his more illustrious relative!
adrien66
Guest
Ok thank you alan! And has jarrod croker a link with catalans dragons and ex raiders jason croker?
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Adrien Jamal Idris has had a great year indeed but he did play late last season for the Bulldogs, therefore he is not a first year rookie. Jarrod Croker i think also played last season. Regardless, they look very promising players indeed. Let's just hope that the Raiders can manage to hold on to their prized rookies for once.
adrien66
Guest
I'm living far away from Australia so it's not easy for me to watch every NRL rounds but as for the Rookie of the Year Award, What about Jamal Idris (Bulldogs) or Jarrod Croker (Raiders) ?? Also i've watched the Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney, and i agree it was a very good advertissement for the NRL and more generally for Rugby League! Should the NRL use some highlights of the TRI NATIONS 09 for his 2010 season Ad ? It could be a good idea...
alan nicolea
Guest
Garygnu The rookies you mention have been great but i think you have missed Daniel Mortimer from the Eels. I think he is the hot favourite now. Broncos winger Antonio Winterstein is another that has been terrific.
GaryGnu
Guest
One of my favourite bits of the Rugby League Season is watching all the new players coming through and guessing the rookie of the year recipient on Dally M night. To follow their progress through the following years is just as fun. Sometimes they live up to the award (K. Hunt) sometimes they don't (T. Smith). Most years there are a few candidates to chose from. However, this year there seem to be only two in my eyes. Kieran Foran of Manly and Josh Dugan of Canberra. Admittedly my game watching time has been restricted this year so are there any others that I may have missed? Please illuminate for me. More generally, I think the Wests- Parra game is even better when contrasted with the Bledisloe Match the night after. The more I think about it the better the game was even if my team didn't get up in the end.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Eleven tries scored in the entire Tri Nations series so far .... 10 tries scored in one rugby league match last night.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Mick Indeed it is frustrating to watch the Wallabies or the All Blacks for that matter, play at the moment. I only say this because i know that these two nations have showcased some brilliant running rugby over the years and are both capable of playing fantastic Union. It is not evident at the moment though. Maybe the game at Suncorp Stadium will see a try or two. It is a stadium that encourages running Rugby and i hope the Wallabies follow suit.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Alan, I've always followed the Wallabies but gee they're getting hard to watch these days. In fact I turned it off at half time last night, can't ever remember doing that before. The frustrating thing is that the rugby that's shown on the ABC on Saturday arvos (Sydney club rugby) is a great advertisement for the game. But I'm afraid international rugby has lost me, at least until the concept of scoring tries is re-introduced to the game.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Mick I think a survey a few seasons ago from either the SMH or the Daily Telegraph showed that the NRL was the hardest contact sport on the planet , let alone in Australia. Don't hold me to it though. Watching the Rugby Union last night was also a great advertisment for the NRL. Have the All Blacks forgotten how to pass a ball? I echoe your comments about Marshall. It will be hard to see him in the finals though, considering the Tigers play the Titans away from home next week and they are counting without Tuiaki, Galloway, Gibbs and Heigington due to injury and possible suspension. I hope they do make it though. As for the Eels, a local derby against the Panthers awaits them in what should no doubt be another great spectacle.
Crosscoder
Guest
The NRL marketing dept,if they had their collective heads screwed on, should package some of these Marshall and Hayne highlights on their 2010 promos.However it is not just confined to the unique and exciting skills of those stars but throw in the likes of Slater,Thurston ,Prince,Campbell,Mortimer,Soward,Mullen,Lockyer,El Masri,the Raider's young backline .The code is literally dripping with exciting talent and all of these stars are worthy of a Dally M. I have been following rl for years,but to see the combined skill expected and provided on friday night by the talent of Marshall and Hayne,when it was needed, blew me completely.Absolutely rivetting stuff.would love two see these two at it again in a g/F ,wishful thinking i guess.would keep trunstiles clicking wherever they played.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Alan, The skills on display were indeed breathtaking. I've never seen a more individually gifted footballer than Marshall. And what really sets our game apart from the rest is the fact that all this brilliance is carried out in the face of brutal defence. No other game asks such questions of an athlete.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Johns was a different kettle of fish, even on his off weeks, I am sure he picked up 1 point in the count just on reputation early in that season. While Hayne stunk while he was playing 5/8th. It was only when he went to fullback that he started showing his skill.