Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith has claimed his second Dally M medal by eight votes.
Smith, who won his first Dally M in 2006 was five votes ahead when it went behind closed doors at the end of Round 14.
He extended his lead during the second half of the season though, with Michael Morgan and Gareth Widdop rising above the rest of the pack to finish second and third respectively.
The veteran hooker, who broke the record for most NRL games this season, going past Darren Lockyer’s 355 scored only one vote between Round 15 and 19, but piled on plenty in the final seven rounds of the season to skip back away from his competition.
At one point, the Dragons half Widdop had taken over the lead, but that was short-lived.
Luke Keary and Paul Gallen, who both finished the season strongly claimed the final positions in the top five.
The team of the year saw Morgan and Widdop claim the halves positions, with Smith and Gallen also in the side. Billy Slater was named fullback of the year, while Jordan Rapana and Dylan Walker completed the backline. Aaron Woods was named up front, Matt Gillet in the second row and Reagan Campbell-Gillard claimed the gong as interchange player of the year.
It was a brilliant night for Melbourne, who also claimed coach and captain of the year through Craig Bellamy – who finished ahead of Trent Robinson, Brad Arthur and Trent Barret as coach – and Smith, who edged out Tim Mannah, Daly Cherry-Evans and Paul Gallen.
Nick Cotric also capped off a fantastic rookie season handing the Raiders their only award of the night as he edged out Dylan Edwards to be named rookie of the year, while Clint Gutherson was voted ahead of Nathan Ross for the Provan-Summons medal.
Dally M top five
1. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) – 33 points
2. Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys) – 25 points
3. Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons) – 24 points
= 4. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters) – 22 points
= 4. Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks) – 22 points
Dally M Team of the year
Fullback: Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
Winger: Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)
Centre: Dylan Walker (Manly Sea Eagles)
Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Halfback: Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
Prop: Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
Second Row: Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
Lock: Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
Interchange: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)
Coach of the year: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm)
Captain of the year: Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
Provan-Summons medal: Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)
Rookie of the year: Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)
Peter Frilingos Memorial Award (headline moment of the year): Mitchell Pearce field goal on ANZAC Day
Holden Cup player of the year: Jake Clifford (North Queensland Cowboys)
Female player of the year: Simaima Taufa (Jillaroos)
Tackle of the year: Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
Try of the year: Kyle Feldt (North Queensland Cowboys)
Top point-scorer: Nathan Cleary (228)
Top try-scorer: Suliasi Vunivalu (23)
Albo
Guest
Dean, every NRL team in the comp would have loved to have had Smith in their team for the past 15 years. I know my Panthers could have done with him, and perhaps since 2006 we might have bettered our great record of one(1) win from the past 18 matches against the Storm !
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Nice try to denigrate the Australian Captains name however, your argument has little substance as most of his peers recognize him as one of the greatest players of all time.
Dean
Guest
The trouble with Matt is he hates everything about Melbourne, especially their champion players for some reason. Blind hatred and jealousy are always going to blind people from the very obvious. As a Melbourne fan, we love it. People can scorn our club, our players, but we thrive on that.
Albo
Guest
"The true sign of the champion is the one who doesn’t whinge." Come on, Matt ! I think you are confusing a "whinge' with a bit of well implemented gamesmanship, designed to benefit his team with a rest, or a reminder to the referee to remain consistent next time ! If he was doing anything illegal he would be penalised . That's why Smith is not only the best player to have played our great game, but also the best captain and leader as well. His record speaks for itself in all aspects and at all levels of our game, with consistent high level performances in every match he as played for club, state and nation over 15 years, to date. If he is not a champion of our sport, no one is.
Dean
Guest
C'mon Randy, give the guy a break. There were a few players from both sides who were pretty average in Origin. Don't know how you can single out just one player. For all the negative comments thrown his way, he still makes good metres in most games he plays.
Dean
Guest
Okay then. Perhaps we'll settle for best player to play the game. Oh, I just thought of something. I guess that makes him a champion.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Correct you are, Cheers mate.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great win by Smith. He has been playing great footy this year and a deserved winner. Just a correction on Raiders winning only 1 award. Rapana picked up winger of the year so both wingers got awards.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Brilliant player and well deserved Dally M. There won't be too many records he won't hold if he keeps going. 11 years between medals is pretty impressive too. Mick Potter would have had close to that between his two but I can't think of anyone else. Smith definitely enters my discussions as the greatest player I've ever seen, along with Lewis, Johns, Lamb and JT (in no particular order).
RandyM
Guest
woods should be stripped of the medal for his pathetic origin performance in game 3.
Matt
Guest
Congrats to Smith but he will never go down in my books with the champion tag next to his name because of his continuous carry-on about decisions on the field, and the negative tactics when his team is in front. No doubt it's gamesmanship, sometimes a bit of time wasting, but therein lies his weakness. It's basically an open admission that he doesn't have enough faith in his own talent and in those around him to get the result. If he did, he would just get on with it. The true sign of the champion is the one who doesn't whinge. Just gets up and plays the ball regardless of wearing a cheap shot in the tackle. Just gets back in the line and is ready for the next play when a penalty goes the other way. Think of Lockyer and how he played the game, then think of Smith and his approach, and you'd never again be caught mentioning both their names and the word champion in the same sentence.
Jarijari
Roar Rookie
Hey Scott, didn't initially quite get the Mitchell Pearce field goal on ANZAC Day for the Peter Frillingos (Frilingos, or Chippy to everyone who knew him) Memorial Award (headline of the year). Ah, the award's for headline moment of the year, for Pearce nailing one after missing 18 in a row, which as an old bloke with fading memory, I'd forgotten about. Certainly not bagging you mate and considering your prolific output on The Roar, I reckon the Mercury should give you a job to write most of its sports pages.
Trillion Euro Extreme
Roar Rookie
Shame about Gallen! Dally M lock of the year and ran over 4500 meters! Will not be included in the Kangaroos squad! SAD!
Dean
Guest
A true champion and an ornament to thr game of rugby league.