History has been created at the Dally M awards, with Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne crowned the first-ever dual winners of the NRL’s most-coveted individual honour.
For heavy favourite Thurston, it was his third Dally M triumph but his first since 2007.
The Cowboys co-captain joins Andrew Johns as the only players to earn a hat-trick of Dally M wins.
The recognition further cements his place as a rugby league great, despite the fact a premiership still eludes him since becoming the marquee star at the North Queensland Cowboys.
It’s the second time Hayne has won the major award after the Parramatta superstar was also crowned the game’s best in 2009 when he led the Eels on a hot streak right through to the grand final.
In a thrilling finish, Thurston and Hayne finished the 26 NRL premiership rounds on 32 points – three points ahead of third-placed Sam Burgess.
The pair were the overwhelming stars of a glittering night at Sydney’s The Star on Monday night, sweeping several awards each.
Thurston was also named five-eighth of the year and the Provan Summons People’s Choice medal winner, as the best player in the game as chosen by the fans.
He also finished top point-scorer for the season with 208 points.
Thurston said the thrilling countdown, read out by Hollywood actor and South Sydney owner Russell Crowe, was agonising.
He paid tribute to Hayne and said he was humbled to be named alongside Johns.
“I’m alright now… Russell just hurry up mate geez,” laughed Thurston.
“Obviously Haynesy has had a great year, congratulations to the big fella. Hopefully I’ll play alongside him over next few weeks (for Australia).
“Joey, he’s an Immortal and just to have half the career he had I’d be ecstatic.
“To have my name mentioned alongside his with the highest honour the Dally M medal, it’s mind blowing and humbling. I’m shaking.”
Hayne, who had father Manoa Thompson in the crowd, said he was proud to be up there alongside Thurston.
“It’s a huge honour and I consider myself very lucky to even be next to Thursto,” he said.
“I thought he had it wrapped up and to be able to hang in there to the death makes it even more special.
“I’d like to thank my teammates, my coach Brad Arthur. He’s been a huge influence on the way I play.”
Hayne took out Best Representative Player for his influential role for NSW in their breakthrough State of Origin triumph.
The 26-year-old was also named fullback of the year and top try-scorer for 2014, with 20.
Thurston won a premiership with Canterbury as a bench player 10 years ago, but this year was the latest chapter in a sorry history of falling short for the Cowboys.
That said, Thurston’s form to finish the year was as dominant as any player in modern history.
Hayne is yet to taste premiership success, but winning an Origin as the longest-suffering Blues player took the enigmatic custodian to another level of class.
In other award categories, Manly skipper Jamie Lyon was named captain of the year – for his role in keeping a bickering Sea Eagles side together enough to finish second in the minor premiership – and the game’s best centre.
Daly Cherry-Evans claimed the best halfback crown, despite his form lapse late in the year amid rumours he was at the centre of Manly’s internal dramas.
Ivan Cleary was named coach of the year for taking the Penrith Panthers to within one match of one of the biggest fairytales in rugby league grand final history.
Wests Tigers teenager Luke Brooks was recognised as rookie of the year, and can now look forward to working with a former halfback as his coach – the newly appointed Jason Taylor.
English stars James Graham and Sam Burgess were named best prop and lock respectively, ahead of their blockbuster clash in Sunday’s grand final between Canterbury and South Sydney.
berthe
Guest
Congrats to JT who will become a legend even though he is still alive .Hayne may well win another daly M again. I thought the WAGS at the AFL Brownlow were better than the WAGS at the Daly M but this may be that the AFL players are better paid than those in the NRL; after all better feathers make better birds.
The Barry
Guest
Lafai's been getting better each year. He's been fantastic particularly in the latter half of the season. He's big, strong, fast, has good footwork and is a good defender. What more do you want?
djcooper
Roar Guru
Haha good call Barry
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The term hat-trick isn't only from cricket and hasn't been only from cricket for about 100 years.
Chris
Guest
Matai needs to learn how to tackle first.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Seen Lafai mentioned a few times. Bloody hell, the centre stocks must be VERY low in the NRL at the moment. Very low indeed.
Wasim Ranamadroota
Roar Pro
"The Cowboys co-captain joins Andrew Johns as the only players to earn a hat-trick of Dally M wins." No they didn't. A hat-trick is taking three wickets in three consecutive balls. Not taking three wickets with a seven year gap. If you must use a cricket term for a Rugby League award, at least try to understand what the cricket term means.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I would've gone Matai and Guerra Or even walker and Lafai in the second half of the season
Benny
Guest
I think the awards need to be done a lot more like the brownlow. For me, the team of the year just seems wrong and I don't know who selects it. Mansour should have received it over radradra Walker, Lafai, or Hurrel over Lyon Hunt over DCE Jackson or Guerra over Scott Mini over Lyon for captaion (Did Lyon get captain that complains the most?) And I also don't know how robinson wasnt even nominated for coach of the year but anyway. I think the team of the year should not be done on the night and should be either announced at the end of the 26 rounds in the paper or on the field after the last game or something like that, and they should mention the runners up for their position as well because they would clarify things a bit more. In regards to the actual voting, I think the Dally M and maybe a couple of the other non positional awards should be the only ones mentioned on the night. They should therefore make the night longer and go through the points for each game of each round for the whole year, like the brownlow. You therefore see how every player in the comp fared and which games they received points for. Because last night, it looked to me like a lot of the time when a team won, the star player of the team would just automatically get 3 points. Anyway, that's my thoughts
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
No offence to either player, because both are very, very good, but... If Jamie Lyon and Beau Scott are the best centre and 2nd rower in the game respectively... well, that would indicate that the NRL is struggling for talent in those positions.
Scrubbit
Guest
How did DCE get halfback of the year? I know he was hobbled by injuries but he was terrible after origin.
The Barry
Guest
Good point. If Parra win those games he gets 3 points and wins the medal. A good player in an ordinary team can get points but it can cost them too.
up in the north
Guest
I started channel surfing last night to catch a bit of it, was it only on fox? Anyway, I'm sure all the winners are rapt with their awards. And very pleased for JT, unfortunately there will be at least one wally who will denigrate the achievement because it is shared with the equally well deserved Jarryd Hayne, good on him too.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
He was there when needed. He almost dragged parra back into that last game against Canberra when they were behind and got 2pts accordingly and against bulldogs last few rounds too. He was let down by teammates, Hayne did all he could and the medal shows that
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I think you're just looking back with nostalgic rose coloured glasses Robbo probably only sterlo and johns who are better than JT and maybe even just Joey
Andrew
Guest
I have only been able to read about the night, but from all reports the night was successful. I agree mate, Hayne had a great first 24 rounds and JT had a great finish to his season, I can live with the dual result. I dont think DCE was half of the year and cant beileve im saying this, but Mitchell Pearce had a very good year. Ben Hunt or Pearce should have scored half of the year for me.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Thurston and Hayne finished 32 all -- a bit surprised they didn't go to Golden Point. Maybe they could have had a field goal contest in the car park.
Andrew
Guest
robby must be a troll, not worth commenting on further.
The Barry
Guest
Coops - How did you select that one out of the whole mess as being the one that pushed his credibility?
djcooper
Roar Guru
Have you watched much footy Robby? Suggesting that Lewis carried langer has pushed your credibility down a fair bit.