The NRL is just three weeks from the end of the regular season and the race for the Dally M Medal looks like coming down to a battle between two halfbacks and a couple of Panthers stars.
Dragons skipper Ben Hunt is the favourite to win the game’s highest individual honour but will face stiff competition from Penrith duo Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards, who have been at the forefront of the premiers’ dominance in 2022.
The dark horse for the medal is Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes, who has been instrumental in his side’s rise to a share of second spot on the ladder.
Hynes, who was not even guaranteed to be in Melbourne’s first-choice line-up last year, could cap a meteoric rise if he can get his hands on the Dally M Medal.
He was third on 16 behind Hunt (19) and Yeo (17) when the NRL stopped publicising the weekly voting after Round 12.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Of the other contenders at the mid-point of the season, Mitchell Moses and Ryan Papenhuyzen have had their campaigns curtailed by injury while Nathan Cleary is no longer in the running due to his dangerous throw ban.
Storm star Cameron Munster has been in fine form over the second half of the season and should rise up the leaderboard while teammate Jahrome Hughes and Roosters skipper James Tedesco will likely poll plenty of votes in the latter stages of the year to be outside chances.
Here’s how the awards are shaping up heading into the final few rounds.
Player of the year
(2021 winner – Tom Trbojevic): Hunt has been magnificent as pretty much a one-man band at the Dragons and will not have the problem of teammates taking votes away.
Yeo and Edwards could harm each other’s chances while Hynes, playing for a Sharks team which has risen into a share of second spot after eight wins in nine matches, is likely to have polled strongly in a lot of those games.
Hunt will have to overturn recent history to win with St George Illawarra missing out on the finals.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
The last Dally M Medallist from a team that didn’t make the playoffs was fallen Eels star Jarryd Hayne, when he shared the award with Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston in 2014.
Knights hooker Danny Buderus (2004) and Dragons five-eighth Trent Barrett (2000) are the only players to have won the award in the NRL era without playing in the finals that season.
Hunt should win but Hynes is a strong chance of an upset – he would have polled plenty of votes as the Sharks have been victorious in eight of their past nine games, plus they have three non-finals teams to finish the season.
Dally M leaderboard (after Round 12)
| Ben Hunt (Dragons) | 19 |
| Isaah Yeo (Panthers) | 17 |
| Nicho Hynes (Sharks) | 16 |
| Mitchell Moses (Eels) | 15 |
| Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm) | 15 |
| James Tedesco (Roosters) | 14 |
| Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) | 13 |
| Dylan Edwards (Panthers) | 13 |
| Cameron Munster (Storm) | 12 |
| Adam Reynolds (Broncos) | 11 |
Coach of the year
(2021 winner – Craig Bellamy): A few coaches have solid claims but the fact that Todd Payten has taken the Cowboys from 15th last season to a top-four finish, likely second spot, means he is a shoo-in for this award.
Captain of the year
(2021 winner – James Tedesco): Always a tough one to pick, this one could go to Daly Cherry-Evans for his efforts in keeping Manly together despite many hurdles they’ve faced this season, particularly the Tom Trbojevic injury and the “inclusivity jersey” boycott fiasco.
Rookie of the year
(2021 winner – Sam Walker): Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has blitzed it this year and will run away with this award.
Fullback of the year
(2021 winner – Tom Trbojevic): Dylan Edwards has been the No.1 among the No.1 jerseys this season – while some contenders have flashes of brilliance, his consistent excellence and durability has been at the forefront of Penrith’s success. Roosters skipper James Tedesco is his only rival for this year’s award following Ryan Papenhuyzen’s fractured kneecap last month.
Wingers of the year
(2021 winners – Brian To’o and Reuben Garrick): Alex Johnston must surely top this category for his try-scoring efforts at South Sydney but the other candidate is likely to come down to a battle between Corey Oates, Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou, Josh Addo-Carr and Selwyn Cobbo. Based solely on club form, Oates will probably get the nod for his renaissance at the Broncos.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Centres of the year
(2021 winners – Justin Olam and Matt Burton): Justin Olam is a no-brainer, not just for his bone-jarring defence but his all-round game at Melbourne. Valentine Holmes should be the other centre given his strong form for North Queensland and the Maroons on the left edge after an unhappy 2021 at fullback … although Roosters star Joey Manu will be hard to deny.
Five-eighth of the year
(2021 winner – Cody Walker): Cameron Munster will win this one by the length of the straight. Walker’s form has been solid again this year year at Souths and Jarome Luai has done well but Munster is a class above.
Halfback of the year
(2021 winner – Nathan Cleary): This will be a three-horse race between Hunt, Hynes and Moses. All three have been integral to their respective team’s success and even though Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans will be Australia’s two halfbacks in the World Cup, Hunt, Hynes or Moses would not look out of place if an injury to the Origin duo means they’re needed in that role for the Kangaroos.
Nicho Hynes is tackled by Ben Hunt. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Hooker of the year
(2021 winner – Brandon Smith): Api Koroisau has been the form hooker in the NRL this year ahead of his Origin counterparts Damien Cook and Harry Grant, and Cowboys young gun Reece Robson.
Props of the year
(2021 winners – Payne Haas and James Fisher-Harris): The incumbent duo have missed a few games here and there but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they remain top of the props. Canberra’s Joseph Tapine is the front-rower most likely to break their stranglehold.
Second-rowers of the year
(2021 winners – Viliame Kikau and Isaiah Papali’i): Kikau is on track for a third straight spot in the Dally M Team of the Year while Nanai will probably edge out Kurt Capewell, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton and Hudson Young to be his honorary second-row partner.
Jeremiah Nanai scores. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Lock of the year
(2021 winner – Isaiah Yeo): Yeo, bro, he aint gonna lose this, y’all. Apologies, that was terrible. The Penrith skipper has again been the dominant roving forward in the NRL although Patrick Carrigan is closing the gap.
Top Points Scorer
(2021 winner – Reuben Garrick): Val Holmes (188) has a substantial lead on Roosters half Sam Walker (165). The sharp-shooting Cowboy will be almost impossible to track down.
Top Try Scorer – Ken Irvine Medal
(2021 winner Alex Johnston): He’s used to racking up hat-tricks and Johnston will top the try-scoring charts for a third straight year after hauls of 30 and 23 the past two seasons. He has 27 after Thursday night’s double against Penrith, eight clear of Corey Oates, and could even widen that gap by season’s end.
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JGK
Roar Guru
It would be a weird quirk in the system if Manu doesn’t make the team of the year just because he’s played in so many positions.
LachyP
Guest
Robson has been unreal this season. Does all of the basics at a high level and every week is getting more confident and more dangerous.
JVGO
Guest
Hynes has just hit the lead on the Sharks fans website player of the year poll coming from 4th overtaking Brailey who has been leading most of the year, as well as Talakai and Moylan who have both been missing for a few weeks. His goal kicking has improved the last month which was probably holding him back in a lot of Sharkies fans eyes, although those other guys have been fantastic too. Looks like he is coming home with a wet sail.
TJ
Guest
If Manu isn't one of the centres I'll be shocked. Clearly the best centre in the game. I think Robson could be a chance for hooker of the year. He's been great for the Cowboys and I don't think he's missed a game all year.
Pete
Guest
Edwards has had a great year but I'm not sure he's done enough to make up the points on Yeo, Hunt and Hynes. I'd suspect that one of those 3 will get it but I think Teddy is a bit of a smokey. He's been great since Origin finished and has probably picked up points in just about every Roosters game.
Albo
Roar Rookie
It looks like a 2 horse race for Dally M in my opinion- Hynes or Hunt . They dominate individual performances in both their teams. Most other stars have to share their points with other good team mates from week to week.
Chris
Roar Pro
Dally M Positional Awards are usually different from the actual standouts- eg Tedesco has arguably been the best FB this year, but Edwards picks up Dally M points. I think your points team is close- Manu may edge Olam for points.
ja ja klazo
Guest
Even though Hunt has been great, and in my eyes deserves it, how many times would he get the 3 points when the dragons lose (even when he is the best on the park). I feel like the judges just automatically give 3 points to a player from the winning team. For that reason I think Hynes will win the award, which I wouldn't have a problem with. Tedesco could come from the clouds as well - just based on his pure consistency. The problem for Edwards and Yeo is they take a lot of points off each other, as does Cleary.
Dionysus
Guest
I would also have Walters in there as a potential for Coach of the Year. He has done a tremendous job in the last two years given what Seibold saddled him with. Not the finished article for sure but he is getting there.
Paul Suttor
Expert
Hunt deserves it but Dally Ms have a habit of someone coming from the clouds like Jack Wighton a couple of years ago when everyone thought Nathan Cleary would win it. You're right, Manu should be the other centre ahead of Holmes & I hope The Foxx gets a nod on the wing because he should have been in NSW side.
LachyP
Guest
A good analysis. As a Dragons supporter I hope Ben Hunt gets the Dally M. He's copped so much for getting a good contract with a club that is an absolute rabble. On and off the field he hasn't really put a foot wrong, his biggest foible is he seems a quiet sensible bloke rather than a big personality. Of your other selections my main differences are that I'd put Manu in as one of the centres, he's the best in the game for my mind. The Fox would get my other wing spot, I had low expectations of him on a struggling team but he has been great in the games I've watched. Tapine has been immense and deserves a spot at prop.